The Restoration Factory is a six-month digital business incubation program designed to support the emergence of commercially viable, community-inclusive, and climate-resilient businesses with the potential to restore natural ecosystems and preserve landscapes in Bangladesh.
The UN Environment Program, in partnership with Bridge for Billions, with technical support from iDE, is implementing The Restoration Factory Program in Bangladesh to support early-stage eco-preneurs in the country.
This program aims to support enterprises with focus on forest restoration and biodiversity conservation activities. The sub-sectors of interest include but not limited to:
Meet entrepreneurs and their projects, then support the project that sparks your interest.
Get mentor certification when the supported entrepreneur successfully graduation from the project
Engage with the Restoration Factory Bangladesh business development network, including enterprise support organizations, government agencies, and investors
Enhance your leadership and coaching skills through active listening and effective communication.
You will be able to mentor from anywhere in the world thanks to the Bridge for Billions digital platform. Our goal is to make mentoring flexible and impactful, breaking down barriers of distance and schedules.
Entrepreneurship can be lonely. Support and guide entrepreneurs as they turn their business ideas into reality, driving positive change in your local community.
Joining as a mentor means more than just giving back; it's about growing your network too. You'll meet passionate entrepreneurs and fellow mentors, creating lasting connections and discovering new opportunities.
Welcome to the Restoration Factory Bangladesh, Entrepreneurs and Mentors Information Session. This session will offer an opportunity to understand the program and ask any questions you may have. This session will be in English.
Organised by UNEP, Bridge for Billions, and iDE.
Time: April 15, 2025 02:00 PM (BST)
Start by clicking on the “Apply now!” button.
Fill in your personal information to set up an account on our platform.
Remember your email and password for future access.
Complete all sections of the application, thoroughly filling out each answer.
Once completed, all the checkmarks at the top will turn blue, indicating that you’re ready to submit.
Note: An asterisk “*” next to the question indicates that the field is required.
Hint: An asterisk “*” next to the question indicates that the field is required.
We recommend that you review your application in detail one last time. If you’re good to go, click “Submit” in the lower right corner.
Our team will be in touch with a notification about the status of your application by May 18th, 2025
About UNEP
For 50 years, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) has coordinated a worldwide effort to confront the planet’s biggest environmental challenges.
Its mission is to provide leadership and encourage partnership in caring for the environment by inspiring, informing, and enabling nations and peoples to improve their quality of life without compromising that of future generations.
About Bridge for Billions
Bridge for Billions, one of the largest entrepreneurship networks in the world, creates, designs and manages innovation programs with foundations, corporations and public entities that have benefited more than 2,900 entrepreneurs in more than 98 countries. Its objective is to facilitate access to entrepreneurial support for all types of entrepreneurs with a common purpose: boost innovation that solves the problems that truly matter and generate employment.
About iDE
iDE is a non-government organization dedicated to ending poverty. Our work stands out in the international development sector because we believe in powering women entrepreneurs while building robust market ecosystems that are financially competitive, resilient to changing climates, and inclusive of marginalized people.
iDE Bangladesh was established in 1984 over the last four decades, has grown to a diversified portfolio including agriculture mechanization, WASH, natural resource management, enterprise development, and women’s economic empowerment. As pioneering system thinkers, we work with the various stakeholders to understand challenges and then to identify, co-develop and facilitate win-win pathways of development.
Our approaches have been highly appreciated by private-sector service providers, government entities, development partners and local communities.
About SME Foundation
The Small & Medium Enterprise Foundation, widely known as the SME Foundation, is established by the government of Bangladesh through the Ministry of Industries as an apex institution for SME development in the country. The major activities of the SME Foundation are the implementation of SME Policy Strategies, policy advocacy and research, facilitating financial support for SMEs, providing skill development and capacity building supports, facilitating adaptation with appropriate technologies and access to ICT, providing business support services and market linkage for SMEs, women entrepreneurship development, SME Cluster development, and etc.
The UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration aims to prevent, halt and reverse the degradation of ecosystems on every continent and in every ocean. It can help to end poverty, combat climate change and prevent mass extinction.
Find out more here: www.decadeonrestoration.org
Restoration enterprises put ecosystems’ restoration at the heart of their business model and operations. Further information on the need, role, and opportunities for restorative businesses is available from the platform of the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration:
https://www.decadeonrestoration.org/types-ecosystem-restoration
The Restoration Factory is a mentoring and business incubation support program that assists entrepreneurs in developing enticing and attractive business models, focused on the landscapes and ecosystems restoration.
If you want to get involved with this program please connect directly with Roger, Program Manager of the Restoration Factory Bangladesh.
Entrepreneurs:
The Restoration Factory is seeking early-stage entrepreneurs in Bangladesh focused on forest restoration and biodiversity conservation. Participants should have a business-oriented mindset, demonstrate commitment to environmental sustainability, possess digital literacy, speaks and understand English, and have stable internet access. Priority may be given to women-led businesses and those with strong community ties.
Mentors:
Experienced professionals with expertise in sustainability, green economy, or related fields, particularly forest restoration. They should have mentoring experience, be familiar with the Bangladeshi entrepreneurial ecosystem, be digitally literate, have stable internet, and be available for weekly mentoring. English and Bengali proficiency is required.
Connect directly with Christelle Igihozo, Senior Program Manager at Bridge for Billions of the Restoration Factory Program.
