Environment
In many parts of the world, economic stability relies on access to natural resources for daily living as well as income generation. Children and youth often make up the largest portion of the population and have a significant stake in resource use. Unhealthy, polluted environments have a negative impact on the health of developing children and youth as well as on their economic opportunities. Meanwhile, youth are often the early adapters of new ideas and technologies. Encouraging proactive environmental awareness in youth could pave the way for environmentally sustainable economic development. This section of the website draws together resources on this topic to provide practitioners with information on how to incorporate such considerations into programming.
Market-based Opportunities for Conservation and Sustainable Tourism in Nicaragua

The overall objective of USAID/Nicaragua’s sustainable tourism activity is to assist Nicaragua in expanding the economic benefits of tourism to the less advantaged through the growth of small businesses, the protection of the country’s environment and natural resources, and improvement in the quality of public education and outreach. One of the activities principal goals is to increase MSME business growth in an environmentally sustainable manner through market-driven ecotourism development/linkage programs, cluster activities, and environmental protection in order to reduce poverty for the less advantaged.

Closing Date: 
Jan 15 2010
Donor: 
USAID Nicaragua
URL: 
http://www07.grants.gov/search/search.do?&mode=VIEW&flag2006=false&oppId=50510
2010 Grant Competition: Youth Entrepreneurship in Latin America and the Caribbean

Development Marketplace (DM) is a competitive grant program administered by the World Bank and supported by various partners that identifies and funds innovative, early-stage projects with high potential for development impact. This year’s theme is Youth Developing Opportunity: Entrepreneurship, Innovation, Sustainability, in the Latin America and the Caribbean region.

This competition recognizes innovation across this spectrum, and will reward projects that focus on reducing poverty, enriching lives and generating productive, healthy citizens. A central focus of this competition will therefore be on ideas that have the potential to create employment for young people and bring associated benefits to communities and society at large.

The awardees will have programs that are youth-led and/or youth-focused in the following areas:

  • The commercialization of locally produced biodiversity and agricultural products without degrading source habitats.
  • Innovative approaches to income generating opportunities for young people living in poor urban areas that are “hot spots” of crime and violence
  • Social and economic initiatives that contribute to the well-being of vulnerable groups

Since the goal is to fund innovation in youth-focused development, grants will be given to projects in either the pilot stage (5,000-15,000 dollars), or the scale-up stage (20,000-35,000 dollars). Find out more about eligibility and the DM by following the link below.

Finalists for this grant competition will present at the LAC Development Marketplace & Knowledge Exchange Forum, an event meant to showcase exemplary projects and provide a forum for networking and sharing knowledge.

Opening Date: 
Jul 31 2009
Closing Date: 
Sep 15 2009
Donor: 
World Bank and Partnering Sponsors
URL: 
http://www.lac-developmentmarketplace.org/