UN Women, UNEP, with Villgro PH launch free program to help businesses adopt climate solutions

Manila, Philippines - September 02, 2025 - Women-led and community-based enterprises in the Philippines can now apply for a free program that offers mentoring, funding access, and technical guidance to help them use clean energy and other green technology. The Fair Futures Accelerator, launched by UN Women, the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), the Microfinance Council of the Philippines (MCPI), and Villgro Philippines, is open for applications until September 14, 2025.

The Fair Futures Accelerator will support early-stage enterprises that want to scale or adopt clean technologies such as solar irrigation for farms, electric tricycles for transport, and waste-to-fuel systems for manufacturers.

Selected enterprises will receive tailored coaching, technical support, and investment readiness training, along with direct access to investors and partner financial institutions such as the Dungganon Bank, Banko Kabayan, RAFI Microfinance, and others. Participants will also gain visibility through a national Impact Showcase and the EmPower network, helping women and marginalized groups overcome barriers to joining the clean energy transition.

“By investing in women-led and gender-inclusive enterprises, we create pathways for clean technologies, sustainable livelihoods, and a greener economy that leaves no one behind. This is how we turn ambition into action and action into resilience,” says Jonas Gregory Perez, National Programme Officer of UN Women 

Fair Futures runs in two phases: Climate Spark, which focuses on coaching and early growth support, and Climate Ascent, which provides intensive investment readiness and financing assistance.

Open to registered enterprises in the Philippines, the accelerator seeks women-benefiting, women-owned, or women-led businesses that already have early traction or proof of concept. Applicants should already be using—or planning to use—clean technology solutions in their operations.

The program also strongly encourages applications from enterprises working with or serving marginalized communities such as Indigenous Peoples, ethnic minorities, LGBTQ+ individuals, migrants, and persons with disabilities, who are often excluded from climate solutions.

“Fair Futures is about ensuring that those closest to the challenges of climate change are empowered to lead the solutions. We are committed to supporting entrepreneurs with the tools, knowledge, and financing they need to scale impact where it matters most, to enable a just transition in the Philippines,” said Priya Thachadi, Co-Founder & CEO of Villgro Philippines.

To apply, visit: villgrophilippines.org/fairfutures. Applications close on September 14, 2025. 

The Fair Futures Accelerator is a program led by Villgro Philippines in partnership with the Microfinance Council of the Philippines, Inc. (MCPI) under the EmPower: Women for Climate-Resilient Societies initiative, jointly implemented by UN Women and the UN Environment Programme (UNEP).

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About EmPower: Women for Climate-Resilient Societies

EmPower is a regional initiative jointly implemented by UN Women and the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), with support from the Governments of Germany, New Zealand, Sweden, and Switzerland. It seeks to strengthen gender equality and human rights in climate change and disaster risk reduction actions across Asia-Pacific. EmPower works to increase women’s leadership in environmental decision-making, expand access to renewable energy, and promote climate-resilient livelihoods for women and marginalized communities.

About Villgro Philippines

Villgro Philippines is a gender-smart incubator that funds, mentors, and nurtures enterprises addressing pressing social and climate issues. Over the last 5 years, Villgro has supported more than 120 enterprises across South and Southeast Asia in sectors including climate, health, education, agriculture, and women’s economic empowerment. Villgro co-founded the Nüshu Network with UN Women in 2021 to connect women entrepreneurs to investors, mentors, and resources, and launched the Impact Pioneers Network to expand access to debt and equity investments for impact-driven enterprises.