Applications close on 22 November 2026 for the 2026-27 Youth Ecopreneur Programme (YECO), the United Nations-backed initiative for young green entrepreneurs, Business Standard reported on October 20, 2026.
What the programme offers
Run by the International Trade Centre (ITC) and the G20 Global Land Initiative under the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), YECO offers business training, mentorship, international exposure and funding opportunities. Winners at the Youth Ecopreneur Awards stage receive $10,000 in prize money (one award per category), while land-restoration businesses can compete for a share of a $100,000 equity-free funding pool. Partners include EY, Sidley Austin, WIPO and Google.
Eligibility
Applicants must be under 35 (by the application deadline) and be a founder, co-founder or CEO of a legally registered, majority youth-run business. Two tracks are open: Green Business Solutions (circular economy, sustainable materials, low-carbon tech, eco-design) and Land Restoration (reforestation, soil conservation, agroforestry, carbon farming and related areas).
How to apply
Applications are open now through the official YECO application portal, with the deadline of 22 November 2026. The programme runs in stages — a global bootcamp, an accelerator, the awards, and a scale-and-impact phase — and is open to entrepreneurs from developing countries, making it one of the more accessible government schemes for startups working on climate.
Why it matters for founders
For green founders, YECO is unusual: equity-free capital plus UN-system credibility, which opens doors with enterprise buyers and climate funds alike. The application is worth the effort even beyond the prize — the bootcamp and accelerator stages are where the real network value compounds.