Calling all green entrepreneurs, for-profit early stage, social enterprises, micro and small enterprises that are driving change - socially and/or environmentally in Tonga to apply and scale their impact. Don't wait, apply now!

​Are you an early-stage green entrepreneur in the Pacific? Are you passionate about addressing environmental or social issues through your business? Want to build your business through training, mentoring, coaching & networking? Interested in winning USD 5,000 in seed grant funding? The wait is over!
 
In celebration of the International Micro, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises Day 2022 theme of ‘Resilience and Rebuilding: MSME’s for Sustainable Development’, the Global Green Growth Institute in partnership with the Qatar Fund for Development and Emstret, Samoa Business Hub, Tonga Youth Employment & Entrepreneurship and Vanuatu Chamber of Commerce and Industry is pleased to announce the much-anticipated launch of the Pacific Greenpreneurs Incubator Program 2022 Call for Applications.
 
APPLY NOW to participate in the Pacific Greenpreneurs Incubator Program 2022!

• Incubator Details: www.pacificgreenpreneurs.com/incubator
• Application Form: https://bit.ly/PacGreenInc22 
• Application Guidelines: https://bit.ly/PacGreenIncGuide22

Women and youth entrepreneurs are strongly encouraged to apply. Teams or individuals from Fiji, Kiribati, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Tonga, Vanuatu with for-profit businesses are eligible. 
 
Applications close on 31st July 2022. The program will run from August 2022 - February 2023.
 
For more information, visit www.pacificgreenpreneurs.com.
 
In addition, we would be grateful if you could share the information above widely with your relevant networks.

The Island Innovation team will be on the ground at the 2022 UN Ocean Conference, providing live coverage and synopsis to connect islands around the world to what’s happening in Lisbon. The goal is to ensure everyone has the opportunity to benefit from the discussions taking place on the future of the ocean, especially those living on islands and coastal areas.

The forthcoming Ocean Conference, co-hosted by the Governments of Kenya and Portugal, comes at a critical time as the world is strengthening its efforts to mobilise, create and drive solutions to realise the 17 Sustainable Development Goals by 2030. As one of the first milestones of UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ newly launched Decade of Action for the Sustainable Development Goals, the Conference will propel much needed science-based innovative solutions aimed at starting a new chapter of global ocean action.

​I am an official Island Innovation Ambassador and I care about the future of our ocean. I invite you to register for the Island Pavilion and receive daily updates, news and extra resources from the UN Ocean Conference.

​Learn more at https:/ islandinnovation.co/un-ocean-conference

We (GGGI Pacific) are pleased to partner with E-Space, Greenhouse Coworking, Samoa Business Hub , Tonga Youth Employment & Entrepreneurship Inc. - TYEE and Vanuatu Chamber of Commerce and Industry to celebrate International Women’s Day by having a talanoa session on “Women in Green Innovation in the Pacific”.

Stay tuned, we have great panel members lined up for you!
Date: 8th March 2022 @ 2pm Fiji Time (UTC +12)
Register now https://bit.ly/pgenIWD

This article was first published in GGGI Pacific Green Entrepreneurs Network website on 13th October 2021 

NUKU’ALOFA, Wednesday 13th October 2021: Today marked a unique joint implementation of the Global Green Growth Institute’s (GGGI) Pacific Green Entrepreneurs Network (PGEN) Program with their local partner on the ground, Tonga Youth Employment and Entrepreneurship (TYEE). The MoU was signed virtually by Dr. Frank Rijsberman, Director-General of GGGI and Lusia Latu-Jones, President/Director of TYEE.

The MoU will facilitate strategic partnership and close collaboration between GGGI and TYEE to promote sustainable development in Tonga through the GGGI Pacific Green Entrepreneurs Network Program that seeks to deliver economic growth that is both environmentally sustainable and socially inclusive, in support of green job growth through green entrepreneurship, the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and Paris Climate Agreement.

“We are excited with this unique joint implementation of the Tongan version of the Pacific Greenpreneurs program with TYEE, “MAFOA ‘A E ATA – Youth Innovation Challenge” as a collaboration between TYEE, Breadfruit Consulting and GGGI”, said Ms. Latu-Jones.

The 3-year PGEN program is funded by the Qatar Fund for Development and implemented by GGGI. PGEN aims to support green and inclusive job growth by supporting entrepreneurs (particularly women and youth) develop their green and sustainable businesses - contributing to their country’s climate and sustainable development goals in Fiji, Kiribati, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Tonga, and Vanuatu.

The MoU was also followed with the signing of the Consultant Contract with TYEE’s Tonga Green Entrepreneurs Consultant, Ms. Latu-Jones who will be providing Tonga participants with more information on the program, which will start in early November 2021. 

The MoU is effective from the date of signing. GGGI and TYEE will continue to communicate effectively through regular consultations to revise ongoing cooperation activities and identify opportunities and follow-up activities for enhancing collaboration.

About Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI):
Based in Seoul, GGGI is an intergovernmental organization that supports governments of developing countries to transition to a model of economic growth that is environmentally sustainable and socially inclusive. GGGI delivers programs in over 40 partner countries with technical support, capacity building, policy planning & implementation, and by helping to build a pipeline of bankable green investment projects. More on GGGI’s events, projects, and publications can be found on www.gggi.org. You can also follow GGGI on Twitter and join us on Facebook, YouTube, and LinkedIn.
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About Tonga Youth Employment and Entrepreneurship
Tonga Youth Employment & Entrepreneurship Inc. (TYEE) is a non-government organization established in 2014 which provides youth services aimed at helping young school leavers aged 18 to 35 to gain meaningful employment or become successful entrepreneurs through skills development and mentorship support. TYEE seeks to promote green entrepreneurship and innovation as a viable career path for aspiring young entrepreneurs. More on TYEE’s events and publications can be found on www.tyeetonga.org. You may also follow TYEE on Facebook, Twitter, Youtube, and LinkedIn.

NUKU'ALOFA, 2 September 2021. In a meeting at TYEE Head Office, Mataika to confirm TYEE & SELEKA's strategic collaborative arrangements both wanted to see both organisations flourish so they could do more for the young people/youth of Tonga, not only here in Tongatapu but to include the outer islands. They both believe that with the right support system in place and opportunities – the sky will not be the limit.

“Koe LANGA NGAUE ‘oku fakahoko ‘i Tonga ni na’e kamata’aki pe mei he me’a na’e ma’u ‘i hona nima.  Both the founders and their respective organisations started their work in Tonga from scratch”.

SELEKA

Tevita Latu is a prominent Tongan artist and Founder of Seleka International Art Society Initiative (SIASI). Seleka International Art Society Initiative was founded by Tevita Latu in 2008 aimed at promoting art and encouraging youth artists in Tonga. 

Tevita Latu had a chance to study art in Australia and he always promised himself that when he would return to Tonga he would teach Tongans about art, and the Seleka initiative was the result.

Although Seleka lost their initial art space to cyclone Gita, this did not harm Tevita and his team’s spirit – they rebuilt an art space in Tevita’s home and started an art movement here in Tonga. Tevita’s vision for Seleka is “to go to the poorest village and teach art to the young kids there”. On Seleka’s Facebook page “about section” it reads, “Enrichment of young people in the Arts”.

Tevita Latu of Seleka, and the Director of TYEE Lusia Latu-Jones came together at this challenging time with shared passion, goals, and motivation for the development, empowerment, and enrichment of the young people/youth of Tonga through their respective organisations.

TYEE

TYEE was established in 2014 with the aim to help young school-leavers aged 18 to 35 to address youth unemployment in Tonga.  Through relevant work-readiness & life skills development, employment, entrepreneurship, and mentorship support. TYEE vision is “to be the leading support service organisation in youth employment and youth entrepreneurship in Tonga”.

We recognize art as one of the relevant components to incorporate to TYEE’s program activities, and we are pleased for Seleka as our local partner at work. This is to encourage youth talents, creative thinking, imagination, innovation, and creativity in the youth without fear due to limitations of cultural and academic barriers as they make their decisions for their career paths, world of work, and business through entrepreneurship and innovation challenge. After all, the children of today are the future leaders, innovators,  job creators, etc. of our country!

We are honored to work in partnership with Tevita Latu and Team Seleka to offer the relevant opportunities and support to our participating young people.  We look forward to developing this valuable partnership and seeing what tomorrow will bring to our journey and movement, together.