Project Description
This year, more than ever, our Countries of Operations face the challenge of improving their energy security. Cities, responsible of 80% of GHG emissions, have here a key role to play. The decarbonisation of cities and roll out of clean energy solutions must accelerate to answer this challenge. While national government will implement consequent programmes for energy security ‘top down’, this initiative seeks to support cities in joining this effort ‘bottom up’. EBRD Green Cities and Star Venture are therefore joining forces to support start-ups that are developing innovative solutions to accelerate the decarbonisation of cities. “How can cities accelerate decarbonisation in the urban sphere and take an active role in the energy security agenda?” This Start-ups Innovation Challenge will reward innovators that have demonstrated being part of the answer. Winners will receive tailored advisory services with the goal to improve the efficiency of their results and scale rapidly.
The overall objective of the initiative is to support the deployment of innovative solutions that accelerate decarbonisation of cities, by supporting both innovators and municipalities in this effort. Through the EBRD Star Venture programme, the initiative seeks to reward and support start-ups that are building these solutions. Through EBRD Green Cities, the initiative seeks to incentivize cities in adopting such solutions and support their deployment.
Background on EBRD Green Cities
EBRD Green Cities seeks to support cities to identify benchmark and invest in measures to improve urban environmental performance. The programme links investments with a comprehensive approach to urban development, including in its methodology a support to policy dialogue, a gender and inclusion approach, digitalisation of municipal services and private sector development.
Background on Star Venture
Star Venture is the EBRD’s first programme supporting start-ups in scaling up their activities in the Bank’s Countries of Operations through a set of advisory and financial services. Star Venture leverages a dedicated network of mentors and advisers to channel a whole range of bespoke advisory services and industry best practices to high potential Start-ups. Through diagnostics, mentoring and technical assistance, the programme helps start-ups improve the efficiency of their results and scale rapidly. At the same time, Star Venture helps young companies gain increased access to finance by connecting them to a network of investors with a strategic interest in the early-stage space.
Understanding Transition
Further information regarding the EBRD’s approach to measuring transition impact is available here.
Business opportunities
For business opportunities or procurement, contact the client company.
For business opportunities with EBRD (not related to procurement) contact:
Tel: +44 20 7338 7168
Email: projectenquiries@ebrd.com
For state-sector projects, visit EBRD Procurement:
Tel: +44 20 7338 6794
Email: procurement@ebrd.com
Any competitive selections for business opportunities relating to this project will be published on the EBRD's website: Consultancy Procurement Opportunities.
General enquiries
EBRD project enquiries not related to procurement:
Tel: +44 20 7338 7168
Email: projectenquiries@ebrd.com
Access to Information Policy (AIP)
The AIP sets out how the EBRD discloses information and consults with its stakeholders so as to promote better awareness and understanding of its strategies, policies and operations following its entry into force on 1 January 2020. Please visit the Access to Information Policy page to find out what information is available from the EBRD website.
Specific requests for information can be made using the EBRD Enquiries form
Independent Project Accountability Mechanism (IPAM)
If efforts to address environmental, social or public disclosure concerns with the Client or the Bank are unsuccessful (e.g. through the Client’s Project-level grievance mechanism or through direct engagement with Bank management), individuals and organisations may seek to address their concerns through the EBRD’s Independent Project Accountability Mechanism (IPAM).
IPAM independently reviews Project issues that are believed to have caused (or to be likely to cause) harm. The purpose of the Mechanism is: to support dialogue between Project stakeholders to resolve environmental, social and public disclosure issues; to determine whether the Bank has complied with its Environmental and Social Policy or Project-specific provisions of its Access to Information Policy; and where applicable, to address any existing non-compliance with these policies, while preventing future non-compliance by the Bank.
Please visit the Independent Project Accountability Mechanism webpage to find out more about IPAM and its mandate; how to submit a Request for review; or contact IPAM via email ipam@ebrd.com to get guidance and more information on IPAM and how to submit a request.
