World Bank Climate Innovation Centre will support green startups in Ghana

A few weeks ago The Kenya Climate Innovation Centre opened its doors to foster East Africa’s environmentally sustainable innovations. Now the World Bank has announced the launch of Ghana Climate Innovation Center (GCIC), which is led by infoDev’s Climate Technology Programme.

The soon-to-be-launched GCIC is supported by the Danish International Development Cooperation Agency as well as the Danish government in an effort to assist more than 20 000 households to increase resiliency to climate change.

Country director of the World Bank Yusupha B. Crookes echoes this vision: “In line with the National Climate Change Policy, by accelerating the development of local clean technology companies the Ghana Climate Innovation Center will help reduce the country’s vulnerability to climate change, while also creating jobs and promoting investments in new clean technologies.”

Read more: World Bank launches initiative to crowdfund green startups in Kenya

Alongside the GCIC, the World Bank announced that 20 green Ghanian startups participated in a bootcamp. In a recent blog post, the international institution notes that the companies were carefully selected for their innovation, technical expertise, and potential for commercial success.

The bootcamp consisted of an intense two-day training program designed to refine the entrepreneurs’ business concepts and a pitching contest held in front of a panel of local investors and industry experts.

The World Bank says that the centre will seek to provide up to 200 local companies with business facilities and a targeted suite of services that includes early-stage financing, technology commercialisation, business development and capacity building support.

Image: Theen Moy via Flickr