The SEED Virtual Exhibition - to be launched on 27 May 2015!
Published: 11 May 2015
Embark with us on a journey towards SEED's vision of a world of flourishing communities where social and environmental entrepreneurship drives sustainable development. Experience how SEED Winners achieve measurable impacts and see how SEED is joining forces with others to build an enabling environment for eco-entrepreneurship. Read more
Greening South Africa’s economy: improved business development support for social and environmental enterprises
Published: 06 May 2015 Julia Rohe-Frydrych, Rest Kanju
According to World Bank, South Africa ranks as an upper-middle income economy, representing the second-largest economy in Africa. While disposing of an abundant supply of natural resources and a modern infrastructure, unemployment, poverty, and inequality remain a challenge. Read more
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How the business of bees contributes to sustainable development
Published: 10 April 2015 Amélie Heuër, Carolin Ehrensperger
Bees play a vital part in our natural ecosystems as they are responsible for the pollination of many fruit, nuts, vegetables and other species. Read more
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Protecting wildlife by turning elephant dung into paper: A business case?
Published: 03 March 2015 Carolin Ehrensperger, Jona Liebl
It has long been acknowledged that the equilibrium between humans and wildlife is one that can hang in the delicate balance at the best of times, a devastating one-sided scaling at worst. Read more
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SEED Awards 2015 - Apply by 31 March 2015!
Published: 06 February 2015
In 2015 SEED will make available up to 31 SEED Awards, for which SEED has received support from the European Union, the Government of Flanders, the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women) and the international law firm Hogan Lovells. Additional support is provided by the Government of the Netherlands and other SEED Partners. Read more
Social and Green Enterprises – How to Create Enabling Frameworks to Increase their Contribution to Sustainable Development?
Published: 04 November 2014 Amélie Heuër
Over the last four years, SEED has hosted a series of unique multi-stakeholder for a focussed on the Green Economy and Africa - the SEED Symposia - where each year innovative and promising start-up enterprises, that won a SEED Award for their remarkable efforts to address social and environmental challenges at the grassroots, are presented. Read more
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Promoting entrepreneurship for sustainable development: why, and how?
Published: 23 October 2014 Helen Marquard
When UNEP, UNDP and IUCN decided to register the SEED Initiative as a Type II partnership at the 2002 World Summit on Sustainable Development, they clearly thought they were on to something – but possibly not quite what SEED is now. Read more
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Enterprise Brief: Pro-Sofala Verde
Published: 05 September 2014
Pro-Sofala Verde (PSV) has established a co-operative that generates income and jobs for rural Mozambicans through the sustainable production of high-grade honey and reforestation. Honey will be sold in one-portion packages at affordable prices. Read more
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Enterprise Brief: Botanica Natural Products
Published: 05 September 2014
Botanica Natural Products has developed a method of extracting the beneficial substances of the Bulbine Frutescens plant which are used in the cosmetic industry. The plant is cultivated and processed organically in its indigenous location in rural Limpopo. Read more
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Enterprise Brief: Village Inc. Africa
Published: 05 September 2014
Village Inc. Africa invests “macrocredits” – low-interest loans – and expertise in Village Companies (VCs) which generate social impact within their communities, such as education and healthcare, through for-profi t businesses. Read more
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Enterprise Brief: BUWOBE
Published: 05 September 2014
BUWOBE is a co-operative beekeeping enterprise producing honey and beeswax products. In mobilising women in the Masindi region to become beekeepers, the enterprise uses the honey business as a vehicle for community development, including promotion of sustainable land use and climate change adaptation. Read more
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Enterprise Brief: The Sustainable Mushroom Farming Initiative
Published: 05 September 2014
Oyster mushrooms are often illegally harvested in Kanungu’s Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, threatening the local gorilla colony as people disturb their habitat. The enterprise provides an alternative commercial source of mushrooms, creating a new local industry and conserving the gorilla’s native habitat. Read more
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Enterprise Brief: Last Forest Enterprises
Published: 31 August 2014
Last Forest provides a marketing platform for 68 kinds of organic and forest-based products and spreads the message of fair trade principles, sustainable harvesting, biodiversity and value-added indigenous products. Incubated by the Keystone Foundation, the enterprise also provides business development services. Read more
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Enterprise Brief: Honey Products Industries
Published: 31 August 2014
Honey Products Industries creates an agribusiness value chain out of high-quality honey. The honey is sourced from independent smallholder beekeepers, packaged and processed in factory hubs and distributed across the country via a franchise model. Read more
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SEED celebrates the success of former SEED Award winner on International Day for Biological Diversity
Published: 21 May 2014
This year the IBD has the overarching theme Island Biodiversity, paying tribute to the fact that islands and their surrounding near-shore marine areas constitute unique ecosystems. Read more
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SEED participates in the Joint United Nations General Assembly and ECOSOC Thematic Debate/Forum on Partnerships
Published: 09 April 2014
SEED was invited to partake in the joint thematic debate/forum on partnerships, held on 09 and 10 April 2014 at the United Nations Headquarters in New York. Read more
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SEED Awards 2014 - A Call for Applications
Published: 11 February 2014
Start-up social and environmental entrepreneurs who have developed innovative products or services and are working with local communities can win a tailor-made business support package through the 2014 SEED Awards, which open for nominations today. Read more
SEED Awards 2014 - Apply by 8 April!
Published: 01 January 2014
The SEED Initiative has just launched the 2014 SEED Awards to support entrepreneurs for sustainable development. Read more
Enterprise Brief: Agroforestry Practices and Economic Empowerment
Published: 31 August 2013
Agroforestry Practices and Economic Empowerment targets farmers through community groups, enabling them to plant native trees, fruit tree species and various crops that are sold through the local grocery markets. While generating income for its participants, the enterprise contributes to forest conservation. Read more
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Enterprise Brief: Blessed Bee for Life
Published: 31 August 2013
The beekeeping enterprise Blessed Bee for Life provides farmers with tools and equipment for beehives, teaches them about beekeeping and helps them sell their honey products. Women are fully integrated into production, reducing not only poverty but also environmental degradation. Read more
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Enterprise Brief: Tia Nuru
Published: 31 August 2013
Tia Nuru enables and empowers individuals through consultation, educational events and training in how to build sustainable living systems. In this way, the enterprise reduces the environmental footprint of their customers while promoting new services to the local community and preserving local resources. Read more
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Enterprise Brief: Trees for Global Benefit
Published: 31 August 2013
Trees for Global Benefit is a cooperative carbon offsetting scheme linking farmers in Uganda to the voluntary carbon market, combining carbon sequestration with rural livelihood improvements through small-scale, farmer-led, agricultural and forestry projects while reducing pressure on natural resources in forest reserves. Read more
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Enterprise Brief: Muthi Futhi
Published: 30 August 2013
Muthi Futhi is a community enterprise that cultivates and processes indigenous medicinal plants for sale as primary raw materials and in the form of finished herbal products. The pioneering business is designed both to protect the endangered biodiversity of KwaZulu-Natal and to create jobs. Read more
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Celebrate and share the World Environment Day!
Published: 14 June 2013
World Environment Day (WED) is an annual event that is aimed at being the biggest and most widely celebrated global day for positive environmental action. WED activities take place all year round and climax on 5 June every year involving everyone from everywhere. Read more
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SEED South Africa, a partnership between SEED and the Independent Development Trust (IDT) South Africa
Published: 05 March 2013
Progress is being made towards the promotion of social and environmental entrepreneurship within South Africa. Read more
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