Panama. – The Central American Commission for Environment and Development (Ccad) and the German Cooperation for Development, GIZ, together with Integrate and the Federation of Industrial Chambers and Associations of Central America and the Dominican Republic (Fecaica), launched the Second Regional Contest Ideas for a Recovery Green, an initiative that seeks, together with the private sector, to promote and accelerate a green and sustainable recovery during and after the covid pandemic for the Sica region.
This second contest, like its first edition during 2021, is carried out on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and its counterpart is the Central American Commission for Environment and Development (Ccad) of the Central American Integration System. (Sica).
Companies or business networks legally established and with operations in one or more countries of the SICA region can compete. To participate, proposals must present innovative ideas that create and maintain jobs and are related to the circular economy, biodiversity, climate change, climate innovation, renewable energy and energy efficiency, among others. Those projects that include gender equality and digitization in their proposal will receive a special assessment.
Those interested can submit their idea by completing the application form from May 18, and the deadline is August 15. Those projects that present their ideas before June 15 (early bird), will be considered for technical advice that allows them to promote and develop their innovative idea before the closing date of the contest. For more information, you can consult the regulations on the official page of the contest: www.ideasrecuperacionverde.com.
The winning ideas will receive technical and financial assistance and are chosen for their ability to foster innovation, create or maintain jobs, and for their contribution to environmental, economic, and social sustainability. The proposals must promote environmentally friendly business models that foster resilience, climate neutrality, and the application of solutions that help overcome the damage caused by the covid pandemic.
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The projects will be selected by a GIZ team in collaboration with national committees from the respective countries made up of political actors and representatives of the private sector. The validation of the selection at the national level is carried out through a regional committee made up of Ccad, Integrarse, Fecaica and the Green IR program of GIZ.
The first contest was held in 2021 and received 44 proposals, of which 15 projects were selected, including 3 business network projects and 3 regional projects.
The German Development Cooperation, GIZ, will invest more than USD$2 million in these projects and it is estimated that they will contribute to maintaining and creating more than 1,500 jobs in the region.
Jair Urriola Quiroz, Secretary of the Central American Commission for Environment and Development (Ccad), indicated that: “The objective of this contest is to strengthen and unify a regional vision that promotes a green recovery through synergies and exchanges with the private sector, which Thanks to the implementation of concrete measures, it can have a positive and lasting impact on the green recovery of the region, especially in the vulnerable sectors most affected by the health crisis”.
On her side, Svenja Paulino, director of the Biodiversity and Business Program in Central America and the Dominican Republic, explained that: “Through the second Green Recovery Ideas Contest, GIZ seeks to execute actions that contribute to promoting business measures that, together with private sector, ensure a green recovery from covid.
This initiative shows how companies can benefit from the integration of more sustainable practices within their business model, which also demonstrates the importance of regional and international cooperation to seek a more responsible business future with biodiversity”.
Solutions for a green recovery
The consequences of the covid pandemic require an effort from both the private and public sectors, which is why the need to generate collective actions that promote economic reactivation in the Sica region becomes urgent.
Through the technical assistance and support of the GIZ, the selected companies or business networks will be able to implement innovative ideas that seek a fast and efficient long-term green recovery.
In the Central American region, 8% of the world’s biodiversity is concentrated, so natural resources and their biodiversity become key to overcoming the effects left by the pandemic.
The private sector has been one of the most affected by the crisis, which is why it must promote the integration of sustainable practices with the aim of contributing to economic reactivation and the promotion of sustainable business models that contribute to the generation and maintenance of employment.
