IUCN ESARO is procuring an accelerator support partner to incubate and support innovation and entrepreneurship under the IslandPlas project, an IUCN initiative tackling plastic pollution in island ecosystems including Comoros, Madagascar, Mauritius, Seychelles and Zanzibar. The accelerator partner will help identify, train, mentor and support early-stage entrepreneurs developing circular economy solutions to plastic pollution.

Design and run an accelerator/incubator programme for IslandPlas entrepreneurs. Recruit and select cohort participants in coordination with IUCN. Deliver training modules covering business model development, finance, operations, marketing, impact measurement. Provide individualised mentoring. Connect cohort to investors, partners and markets. Monitor and report on cohort progress and outcomes. Coordinate with IUCN ESARO IslandPlas team.

Accelerator or incubator firm with demonstrated track record running entrepreneurship programmes in Eastern Africa, ideally with circular economy, climate, environment or social enterprise focus. Existing investor and partner network. Multi-country delivery capability. Strong English; French/Portuguese an advantage. IUCN Declaration of Undertaking.

IUCN standard RFP evaluation: mandatory compliance, technical evaluation (track record, methodology, mentor pool, investor network), financial evaluation. Award to highest combined score within budget.