The United Nations has opened the 2026‑27 Youth Ecopreneur Programme (YECO) for entrepreneurs aged 35 or younger from developing countries, including Kenya.

Applicants must choose one of two tracks – Green Business Solutions, which supports sustainable product or service ventures, or Land Restoration, which targets reforestation, soil‑conservation and related projects.

The deadline for submissions is 22 November 2026, and applications are to be filed through the official YECO portal.

Selected participants will first attend a Global Bootcamp and Accelerator that provides business‑development training and mentorship, followed by the Youth Ecopreneur Awards where finalists pitch to an international audience.

Winners in the Green Business Solutions track receive KSh 1.3 million (about USD 10,000) in prize money, while those in the Land Restoration track compete for a share of a KSh 13 million (USD 100,000) equity‑free funding pool, allowing them to retain full ownership of their firms.

Additional support includes intellectual‑property advice from WIPO, pro‑bono legal services from Sidley Austin, business coaching from EY, and preferential entry to the Google Startups for Sustainable Development programme.

After the awards, participants enter a Scale and Impact phase that offers continued mentorship and networking through an alumni community of over 350 past graduates and a broader network of more than 50,000 young entrepreneurs worldwide.

Programme background and past performance

YECO is a flagship initiative of the International Trade Centre and the G20 Global Land Initiative, operating under the UN Convention to Combat Desertification.

The previous cycle attracted more than 1,500 applications from over 120 countries, with high satisfaction rates among alumni – 96 % said the programme boosted credibility, 94 % expanded networks, and 90 % improved relevant skills.

Notable alumni include Uganda’s Hellen Munyasa, who won the 2025‑26 Green Business Solutions award and later secured a KSh 2.6 million grant, and the Land Restoration winner Satellites on Fire, which raised KSh 349 million in seed funding.