How to nominate ventures for the GSIV programme? 

1.  Call for nominations: Download here the Call for Nominations describing the details of the programme and the eligibility criteria.   

  2.   Nomination form: To nominate impact ventures committed to the achievement of the SDGs, click here and fill out the form. Nominations should be submitted in English.   

  Deadline for nominations: March 20th, 2023 – 11:59 p.m. (GMT+1) Nigeria 

Important: Nominations may be made by third parties, namely entities that have, or had in the past, a working relationship with the nominated enterprise.  This might include accelerators, impact funds, family offices, international organizations, development banks, governments, NGOs, among others.  Self-nomination by enterprises is not accepted, however we encourage third parties to complete the nomination form in cooperation with the nominated venture, in order to ensure the accuracy of the information provided  

 What is the GSIV programme about?   

The Growth Stage Impact Ventures (GSIV) programme identifies through a highly competitive process enterprises from developing countries that have developed at-scale products and services that contribute to the SDGs while achieving commercial success and are committed to embed impact considerations into decision-making. By showcasing and supporting these ventures, UNDP aims to bring forward evidence of the existence of pipelines of investable ventures that can advance the transition to SDG-aligned investment in developing countries.  

 The programme is based on the findings emerged from the Nigeria SDGs Investor Map, a market intelligence tool designed to help private investors (funds, financiers, corporations) identify investment opportunities areas and business models that advance the SDGs. The SDG Investor Map of Nigeria revealed market insights around five sectors aligned with the national development needs and policy priorities of the country, where private capital can make a difference to people and planet.   

  The GSIV takes the SDG Investor Map one step further, defining a mechanism to identify and support specific ventures operating in the priority investment sectors coming out of the SDG Investor Map, and therefore, a potential investable pipeline to advancing the SDGs at country level.  This pipeline is then presented during a national investor convening. In addition, the programme provides support to finalists in the adoption of the SDG Impact Standards for Enterprises, which are the only management standards in the market that embed sustainability at the core of an organization holistically.   

 What are the eligibility criteria for nominated enterprises?  

1. Geographic criteria: This Call for Nominations aims to promote the development of the private sector in Nigeria. Only ventures with substantial operations in Nigeria, with a management team and workforce primarily based in Nigeria and providing products and services mostly in Nigeria and other African countries, are eligible.   

  2. Business model criteria: Eligible ventures, which should be seeking partners (technical, financial, or other) to grow, will be evaluated according to a business model criteria covering their impact, financial record, investment, innovation, team profile and scalability.  The criteria are listed in detail in the Call for Nominations document at the top of this page.   

3. Thematic criteria: The programme aims to identify and aggregate a pool of partnership and investment-ready enterprises within the sectors that help advance the SDGs in the country. Only enterprises operating in one of the following seven sectors will be considered for the selection process: Food & Agriculture, Renewable Resources and Alternative Energy, Infrastructure, Technology and Communication, Health Care, Consumer Goods and Services. Please refer to the Call for Nominations document at the top of this page for more details.    

 What are the benefits for selected ventures?  

Ventures selected as finalists will be endorsed by UNDP and will receive capacity building and trainings to improve their impact management and to enhance their investment readiness and core business areas. Additionally, finalists will be given exposure and be directed towards opportunities for accessing financing from among the network of partners of the GSIV, including UNCDF’s funding mechanisms. Moreover, UNDP will extend to all finalist ventures an invitation to attend and pitch their solution during a UNDP event the International Investment Forum organized in collaboration with the Impact Investment Foundation in Nigeria, in late 2023. This will be an occasion to meet the investor community and discuss partnerships and investment opportunities.  

  “The GSIV programme truly enables entrepreneurs to access networks of investors, corporate and institutional partners to build support systems to scale into new markets. Our participation as finalist has enhanced our brand and improved our SDG-aligned practices. “  

-CEO of Powerstove (Nigeria), GSIV finalist 2021  

  What are the benefits for third-party nominators?  

Third parties nominating ventures to the GSIV will be acknowledged on UNDP website and will be invited to attend exclusive events and investor convenings organized by UNDP.  

  FAQ 

Q: I am the founder and CEO of an impact venture, can I nominate my enterprise to the 2023 Nigeria GSIV programme? 

A: No, self-nominations are not valid. Only third-party nominations, submitted through the online nomination form will be considered. However, while filling out the online form, we strongly encourage nominators to cooperate with the nominated venture, to ensure the accuracy of the information provided.  

Q: How do I get nominated for 2023 Nigeria GSIV programme? 

Through third-party nominators. These are entities that have, or had in the past, a working relationship with the nominated enterprise. Nominators include, but are not limited to accelerators, impact funds, family offices, international organizations, development banks, governments, and NGOs. 

Q: Are all impact ventures and social enterprises eligible to be nominated for the 2023 Nigeria GSIV? 

A: Ventures with substantial operations in Nigeria and that are active in the following sectors are eligible for nominations: Food & Agriculture, Renewable Resources and Alternative Energy, Infrastructure, Services, Technology and Communication, Health Care and Consumer Goods. Moreover, additional criteria will be considered. Please consult the Terms of Reference of the Call for Nominations here for more details about the eligibility criteria. 

Q: Does UNDP provide a cash prize for the 2023 Nigeria GSIV finalists? 

A: No, UNDP does not provide a cash prize to the finalist ventures. However, the finalists will benefit from various UNDP capacity building activities and training programmes, access and exposure to UNDP's network of impact investors and will be extended an invitation to attend and pitch their business idea during a UNDP event. Additionally, finalist might be eligible to access UNCDF's funding mechanisms.

Enquiries 

For additional details, please contact luisa.bernal@undp.org and fatima.umar@undp.org