Terms of Reference (ToR) for Youth Climate Innovation & Renewable Energy Acceleration Program A Joint Initiative of MoLSAF and Save the Children Somaliland

Terms of Reference (ToR)

Youth Climate Innovation & Renewable Energy Acceleration Program
A Joint Initiative of MoLSAF and Save the Children Somaliland

1. Background

Climate change poses significant challenges to Somaliland, especially for youth who face limited opportunities to engage in climate action despite their innovative potential. To address this, the Ministry of Labour, Social Affairs, and Family (MoLSAF) and Save the Children Somaliland are partnering to launch an initiative focused on mobilizing and supporting youth-led climate solutions. The focus will be on renewable energy and climate technology, equipping young entrepreneurs with the funding, mentorship, and platforms needed to develop scalable, impactful social enterprises.

2. Objective

The primary objective of this initiative is to mobilize and support youth-led solutions for climate adaptation and mitigation, emphasizing innovation in climate technology and renewable energy. Additionally, the program aims to build the capacity of youth leaders to:

• Influence national and global climate policy,
• Develop sustainable social enterprises,
• Advocate for systemic and social change.

3. Key Components

A. Seed Funding and Mentorship

• Provide a total of up to $15,000 in seed funding, equitably distributed among selected initiatives based on need, scalability, and impact. Each group will consist 5 members, 
• Total social enterprises to be funded are 3
• Deliver a 12-week tailored mentorship program to support the operationalization and scaling of selected enterprises.
• Facilitate access to climate platforms for visibility and investor networking.

B. Visibility and Networking

• Showcase innovations at prominent platforms such as COP29, regional African climate summits, and the UN Youth Climate Summit.
• Leverage traditional and digital media (TV, radio, social media, youth campaigns) to amplify visibility and advocacy for youth innovations.

4. Eligibility Criteria

Applications are invited from:

• Youth-led organizations or individuals aged 18–35.
• Business entities (start-up or growth stage) with a social purpose, legally registered in Somaliland.
• Proposed solutions must:

§  Focus on climate technology or renewable energy solutions

§  Demonstrate community impact through increased accessibility of renewable energy.

§  Have products/services already present in the Somaliland market.

§  Show potential for social impact, sustainability, and scale.

. Selection Criteria

Applications will be assessed based on the following:

• Impact: Clear benefit to climate-affected communities.
• Sustainability: Robust business model with long-term viability.
• Feasibility: Practical and adaptable to local market conditions.
• Team Composition: Demonstrated expertise in renewable energy, marketing, and/or business management.
• Employability: Capacity to generate employment, particularly for young people.

6. Expected Outcomes

• Support a minimum of three youth-led social enterprises with seed funding and mentorship.
• Increase youth visibility and participation in national and international climate decision-making.
• Accelerate adoption of renewable energy technologies in Somaliland.
• Foster a network of youth-led innovators driving systemic climate action.

Youth Participants

·         Design and implement climate solutions aligned with the initiative’s objectives.

·         Actively participate in mentorship, training, and advocacy activities.

Timeline

·         The program will be launched in (13th May 2025) and run for an initial period of 12 weeks, covering funding, mentorship, and visibility support

Interested applicants must submit their proposals online by 27th May 2025 Proposals should include:

1.       A detailed description of the solution and its potential impact.

2.       A sustainability and scalability plan.

3.       Profiles of the core team members.

4.       Tentative itemized budget plan of the solution

For questions or additional information, contact us at Email  [email protected]