Cross learning between Bhutan and Nepal and Graduation Day

Concept note

About the event

The Air Pollution Solution (APS) Initiative under the Regional Programme on Atmosphere is organising a four-day programme to mark the closure of the Climate Action4Clean Air (CA4CA) incubation programme. We jointly organised the incubation programme with Antarprerana Pvt. Ltd. (Nepal) and Institute for Learning Solutions (Bhutan) for youth business entrepreneurs from Bhutan and Nepal. The programme will allow participants of both countries to learn from each other on how they can approach and tackle air pollution-related business solutions.

Expected outcome

The CA4CA programme aimed to build understanding among youth business entrepreneurs about how their air pollution mitigating solutions can contribute to improving air quality and create awareness among peers towards promoting clean air. The three-day closing and graduation programme will involve cross-learning visits, roundtable discussions, experience-sharing presentations, and business health check-up.

Background

The CA4CA programme primarily aimed to find solutions to reduce the impact of air pollution affecting the Hindu Kush Himalaya (HKH) region. Through the programme, youth business startups from Bhutan and Nepal submitted their pitches detailing their business solutions for mitigating air pollution. Following an overwhelming number of applications, the top 30 applicants were selected by an independent selection panel for the boot camp. The selected businesses participated in a business-pitching competition, from which a panel of experts selected five winners each from Bhutan and Nepal. The young winners then engaged in a business incubation and mentorship programme, which encouraged the entrepreneurs to develop their commercial business, adopting green solutions while ensuring their ideas and solutions are commercially viable and marketable.

CA4CA connected these entrepreneurs with mentors who guided them to increase their product’s adaptability, scalability, and sustainability. This programme encouraged entrepreneurs and developed an ecosystem for the young entrepreneurs to explore markets and focus on their approach towards reducing emissions and pollution – all towards addressing the global air pollution issue.

Overall event agenda

5–7 July 2022

Graduation day agenda

Wednesday, 6 July 2022 | 09:30–16:30 (Nepal Standard time) | Kailash Hall, ICIMOD