Background
Uruguay's private sector plays a crucial role in advancing the climate change and sustainability agenda. Businesses, particularly Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), have the potential to drive innovation, mobilize resources, and introduce sustainable solutions. While traditional industries have set carbon reduction and climate resilience targets, a growing movement of entrepreneurs and MSMEs is emerging with sustainability at the core of their business models. However, these enterprises face multiple challenges, including access to funding, limited technical and commercial capacity, and the absence of strong networks to support their growth. Addressing these barriers is essential to ensuring their long-term success while contributing to national climate goals.
Women and youth play a key role in this transition. Women, often working in climate-sensitive sectors such as agriculture, tourism, and recycling, possess valuable knowledge that can support sustainable development. Similarly, empowering young entrepreneurs with skills and opportunities can drive innovative climate solutions. Several initiatives, including those supported by the Green Climate Fund, have already laid the groundwork for integrating climate considerations into finance and business development. Strengthening these efforts through targeted capacity-building, improved market access, and policy support will enable sustainable enterprises to thrive, contributing to Uruguay’s decarbonization and resilience goals.
CTCN Support
CTCN's support for this Technical Assistance focuses on strengthening the ecosystem of low-carbon and climate-resilient businesses led by women and young entrepreneurs in Uruguay. By enhancing their business skills, CTCN helps ensure long-term sustainability while equipping enterprises with tools to measure and communicate their environmental impact. Additionally, CTCN will facilitate the identification of policy and market opportunities that can improve the enabling environment for these businesses, addressing key barriers such as limited funding, technical capacity, and market access.
Expected Outcome
The expected outcome of this technical assistance project is an improved enabling environment for environmentally sustainable MSMEs led by women and youth. In the long term, the implementation of CTCN's technical assistance will:
- Strengthen targeted initiatives in the private sector to integrate climate considerations into business models.
- Enhance the economic sustainability of low-carbon and climate-resilient enterprises led by women and young entrepreneurs.
- Foster a supportive ecosystem that enables the growth and development of these enterprises.
- Facilitate the creation of new ventures with a gender-responsive and intergenerational approach, promoting inclusive and sustainable economic growth.
