HKH-Innovation Challenge for Entrepreneurs (ICE) 2.0

The HKH-Innovation Challenge for Entrepreneurs (ICE) 2.0 is a guide for for-profit organisations and innovators in the Hindu Kush Himalaya region to apply for funding and support to scale climate-resilient, nature-based, and regenerative business solutions.

• The HKH-ICE 2.0 program will support 12-15 enterprises across Bhutan, Nepal, India (specifically the Indian Himalayan Region), and Bangladesh (specifically the Chittagong Hill Tracts). The initiative prioritizes youth- and women-led enterprises, defined as those where individuals aged 18–35 or women hold meaningful leadership, decision-making power, and usually majority ownership or control.
• Selected winners will receive prizes ranging from US$5,000 to $25,000 to support the implementation and scaling of their solutions over a 12-month period from 1st May 2026 to 31st April 2027.
• The challenge seeks for-profit business models that address ecological, market, and value chain challenges. Priority sectors include resilient agriculture (including non-timber forest products), water security (addressing glacial melt and scarcity), sustainable ecotourism, and climate risk reduction for mountain housing and displaced populations.
• Winners receive a comprehensive support package including tailored mentoring, communications support, and Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) support. A mandatory component is the Leadership Academy, an in-person program taking place in Kathmandu, Nepal, during the last week of May, focusing on executive management and leadership dynamics.
• The selection process involves a screening for eligibility followed by an assessment by two reviewers using a 100-point scale. Evaluation criteria include innovativeness (15 points), potential for impact (15 points), equity (15 points), scalability (15 points), profitability and sustainability (15 points), team composition (15 points), and risk (10 points).
• The application window opens on 15th December 2025 and closes on 23rd January 2026 at 23:59 GMT. Shortlisted finalists will be contacted in February 2026 and must submit revised proposals by 31st March 2026 before final winners are announced in early April.

APA

Global Resilience Partnership (n.d.). HKH-Innovation Challenge for Entrepreneurs (ICE) 2.0. https://www.globalresiliencepartnership.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/ext-hkh-ice-2-0-challenge-guidelines-for-applicants.pdf

Chicago

Global Resilience Partnership. HKH-Innovation Challenge for Entrepreneurs (ICE) 2.0. n.d. https://www.globalresiliencepartnership.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/ext-hkh-ice-2-0-challenge-guidelines-for-applicants.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Global Resilience Partnership |title=HKH-Innovation Challenge for Entrepreneurs (ICE) 2.0 |url=https://www.globalresiliencepartnership.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/ext-hkh-ice-2-0-challenge-guidelines-for-applicants.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{globalresiliencepartnershipndhkhinnovation, author = {{Global Resilience Partnership}}, title = {{HKH-Innovation Challenge for Entrepreneurs (ICE) 2.0}}, institution = {Global Resilience Partnership}, url = {https://www.globalresiliencepartnership.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/ext-hkh-ice-2-0-challenge-guidelines-for-applicants.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }