Applicants are invited to participate in the WE Empower UN SDG Challenge for Women Entrepreneurs 2019. The WE Empower Challenge for Women is the first of its kind. Additionally, it is a global business competition to honor, support and celebrate women entrepreneurs who are advancing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and inspiring entire communities to create the world we want by 2030.

Eligibility for Challenge for Women:

To be eligible to enter this competition, applicants must meet all of the following criteria. Finalists will be required to provide evidence of sales (i.e. tax returns and/or audited financial records).

• you are a woman entrepreneur with lead decision-making ability in a business
• Your business has been in operation for more than three years
• you employ at least three full-time staff (or full-time equivalent)
• My business generates at least $100,000 USD in annual sales
• you are proficient in spoken and written English
• you’re at least 21 years old
• you are available to travel to NYC between Monday 22 September 2019 – Sunday 29 September 2019

Considerations:

Applicants will be assessed based on a variety of factors, including the following considerations.

• • Ability to commit to the entire week of in-person program – no exceptions
  • Willingness to help shape the community dialogue about women’s advancement and the SDG’s in their region, and wield the influence necessary to do so.
  • Must be able to secure a US visa.

Benefits form Challenge for Women:

• All flights, accommodations, and incidentals while in New York
• A special curated week-long agenda in New York with individualized training. Also, high-level dialogues at the UN, and coaching on communications and speech prep in preparation for the pitch evening night
• Participation in an evening event hosted by Diane von Furstenberg that brings together top business leaders. Along with, celebrities and the media for a dynamic pitch competition where each Regional Awardee presents her business to pitch for a $40,000 cash grant
• Attendance at a high-level dialogue with senior UN Officials, the Council of Women World Leaders and the Women Political Leaders Global Forum
• Featured as speakers in a panel discussion at an intimate high-level dinner reception hosted by the G5 Collective and Vital Voices. The G5 Collective is a coalition of high-level leaders across sectors all dedicated to jump-starting progress around UN SDG Goal #5 and the women related targets across the other 16 Goals.
• Participation in Global Citizen week events including attending the Global Citizen Festival in Central Park on Saturday.
• Invitation to the UN Private Sector Forum which will be held during the UN Secretary General’s Climate Summit.