The main goal of the program is to support beginner entrepreneurs aged 18–35 who plan to work in the field of ecotourism, the production of food or souvenirs from local products, the development of traditional crafts, the collection and processing of non-timber forest products, and farming.

The project will be implemented in Russia and Kazakhstan and is focused primarily on young people in remote regions with low incomes. It is often here that the unemployment rate is high and the quality of life of local residents is at a low level. The chances of earning money legally are slim, so for these communities, poaching and the exhausting collection of plants, mushrooms and berries become a source of income. At the same time, people would like to be engaged in ecologically oriented business, but do not have knowledge and experience, and do not know where to get information and skills.

The goal of the program is to educate young people on how to create sustainable, environmentally responsible businesses.

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The program is aimed at young entrepreneurs who start their own sustainable business: souvenir production, crafts, ecotourism, etc.

In early 2022, WWF Russia and the Citi Foundation will launch a free online course, which will teach participants about the basics of business planning, organizational aspects of doing business, principles of ecological business, modern environmental technologies, product marketing and promotion, as well as how to find support for their business. The course will consist of 5 blocks, with a test after each block that will have to be passed to make sure the information has been understood. Based on the results of the course, the best participants will be able to get advice from a mentor.

In addition to this, in 2022, pilot business accelerators will be organized for young entrepreneurs in the Altai Republic and Buryatia. After this, the organizers will select 10 best business projects, the authors of which will present them at the final meeting in Moscow, where potential investors will gather.

ALTAI. REFLECTION OF MOUNTAINS. A FILM ABOUT THE CITI FOUNDATION PROGRAM IN THE ALTAI REPUBLIC.

“WWF Russia welcomes Citi's commitment to helping young entrepreneurs grow their businesses in sustainable manner. This way, we strike a balance between the development of local communities, the support of aspiring businessmen and the preservation of the unique nature. Understanding the fundamentals of environmentally friendly business will help the local population realize how important it is to care about nature for comfortable existence in the future”, says Natalya Trofimova, Director of WWF Russia in the Altai-Sayan Ecoregion.

“Expanding economic opportunities for youth is a priority for Citi worldwide, as well as in Russia and Kazakhstan. We hope that our partnership program with WWF will help young people acquire the knowledge and skills they need to start their own environmentally oriented business. Thus, entrepreneurs will contribute to both economic progress and nature conservation”, says Anna Samokhvalova, Director of the Public Relations Department at Citibank.

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The project will teach aspiring entrepreneurs the basics of planning, business organization, principles of environmentally oriented business, and product promotion.

The program of WWF Russia and the Citi Foundation is the result of many years of successful cooperation. In the Altai Republic and Kamchatka, in 2011–2017, a program was implemented to improve the quality of life of the population in remote areas with a high level of biodiversity. More than 200 businesses were created, most of which are successfully operating today. From 2018 to 2021, WWF and the Citi Foundation conducted the “Another Planet” environmental quest, the goal of which was to acquaint young people from low-income families with the possibilities of the “green” professions of the present and the future, and to teach them ecological thinking. More than 5,000 students from Russia and Kazakhstan took part in the quest. Young people acquired knowledge that is not always available through the educational process in colleges and technical schools, and that gives them an advantage in finding a job. About 700 people are already using the acquired knowledge in practice.

The Citi Foundation promotes the economic development of communities around the world and improves the quality of life of people with a low income. We invest in programs aimed at increasing financial inclusion, developing youth employment practices and sustainable urban development. Using the “more than philanthropy” approach, our business capabilities, and human capital, we strive to fulfill our mission by fostering progress and innovation. For more information, please visit www.citifoundation.com .

Photo at the top of the page: Lyubov Ivashkina.

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Tatiana Ivanitskaya

Press-officer

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Natalia Trofimova

Head of the Altai-Sayan Ecoregional Office