Call for Proposals: Small Business Champions 2025 (Funded to Geneva)

Organizations supporting circular business models, NGOs empowering small businesses to embrace sustainability can apply for Small Business Champions 2025. This initiative recognizes and supports businesses and organizations committed to driving positive environmental and social impact. Selected participants gain access to valuable resources, mentorship, and visibility to expand their sustainability efforts. By joining the program, changemakers can connect with like-minded leaders and contribute to a more sustainable future. Applications are now open for those dedicated to making a lasting difference.

Launched for the first time in 2021, the World Trade Organization’s Informal Working Group of Micro, Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises, together with the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) and the International Trade Centre (ITC), and this year in partnership with UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD), are calling for innovative ideas that help small businesses participate and contribute to the circular economy.

With this competition, your ideas will not only raise awareness among businesses and policymakers of the diversity and opportunities for a circular economy but will also promote best practices in supporting the sustainability and resilience of small businesses, and their participation in international trade through efficient, innovative and zero-waste business models.

Benefits of Business Champions

• The winner(s) will be invited to travel to Geneva for the award ceremony on 26 June 2025, sponsored by ICC and ITC. The International Trade Centre will additionally award each winner $4,000 prize money to support the development or further scaling of their winning project and issue an award certificate.
• Moreover, training and mentoring opportunities will be discussed with each winner according to their needs, while winning submissions will be promoted by ICC, ITC, UN Trade and Development and the WTO MSME Group through their communication channels.

Check : UN Tourism Global Artificial Intelligence Challenge 2025

Eligibility

• Proposals are open to small businesses, enterprises, industry associations, chambers of commerce and non-governmental organizations.
• Applications should have a clear link to international trade and include an action plan.

Join us on Telegram for more opportunities !