Youth Ecopreneur Programme 2026–2027: Applications Open for Young Green Entrepreneurs Worldwide

The International Trade Centre's Ye! Community, in partnership with the G20 Global Land Initiative and the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification, is accepting applications for the 2026–2027 Youth Ecopreneur Programme.

The initiative supports young entrepreneurs developing innovative businesses that address environmental challenges, particularly land degradation, ecosystem restoration and sustainable green business development.

The programme combines entrepreneurship training, mentorship and opportunities for young businesses to strengthen their environmental and commercial impact.

Nigerian entrepreneurs can participate in the globally open bootcamp stage, subject to the programme's application requirements. Progression to the accelerator is subject to a separate eligible-country list.

Benefits

Selected participants can access:

• Entrepreneurship and business development training.
• Mentorship from experienced entrepreneurs and industry experts.
• Opportunities to strengthen their business models.
• Exposure to international green business networks.
• Support in developing sustainable and scalable enterprises.
• Opportunities to participate in the programme's competitive acceleration and awards stages, subject to eligibility.

The programme is designed to help young founders build commercially viable businesses while contributing to environmental sustainability.

Programme Categories

Applications are invited from businesses operating in two major categories.

1. Land Restoration

Businesses developing solutions for:

• Reforestation.
• Soil rehabilitation.
• Land degradation.
• Ecosystem restoration.
• Sustainable land management.

2. Green Business Solutions

Businesses developing environmentally sustainable products and services, including:

• Renewable energy.
• Waste management and recycling.
• Circular economy solutions.
• Sustainable production.
• Other innovative green technologies.

Eligibility Requirements

Applicants must:

• Be below 35 years of age by the application deadline.
• Be a founder, co-founder or CEO of the business.
• Have a business that is majority run by a young person.
• Operate a legally registered business.
• Develop solutions falling under land restoration or green business solutions.

Required Documents:

• A valid passport.
• Business registration certificate.
• Business pitch deck.

Application Deadline November 22, 2026.

How to Apply

Interested entrepreneurs should review the programme guidelines and complete the online application through the official Ye! Community application portal.

Official programme information:

https://social.yecommunity.com/topics/49027/page/yeco

Application portal:

https://social.yecommunity.com/topics/49027/page/apply-now

Important Programme Information:

The programme's bootcamp is open globally.However, the accelerator stage is restricted to entrepreneurs from specified eligible countries.

Applicants should check the official country list before assuming they qualify for every programme component.

The bootcamp is scheduled to begin during the week of December 14, 2026.