SEED partners with the UNDP CLIMBIZ Initiative to launch the Black Sea Challenge for social and environmental entrepreneurs
Published: 01 February 2013
The UNDP Black Sea Climate and Business Initiative (CLIMBIZ) is a regional partnership focused on sustainable development and the green economy in the Black Sea area. The CLIMBIZ Challenge will be implemented in partnership with SEED. Read more
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Longitudinal Study of Eco-Inclusive Enterprise Performance (Part I)
Published: 12 September 2012 Heather Creech, Leslie Paas, Vivek Voora
This report draws insights from a three-year longitudinal study of the performance of social and environmental micro enterprises and tackles two important questions. Firstly, whether and how micro and small social and environmental enterprises make contributions to social, environmental and economic progress within their communities; and secondly, what the enabling factors and barriers towards making such contributions are. Read more
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Case Study: Nafore and Afrisolar Energy Kiosks
Published: 07 September 2012
The Nafore and AfriSolar Energy Kiosks were created to address rural electrification challenges in Burkina Faso. Read more
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Case Study: Natural Justice
Published: 07 September 2012
Bio-cultural protocols (BCPs) are tools that facilitate culturally-rooted participatory decision-making processes within communities with the aim of asserting their rights to their communally managed lands and knowledge. Read more
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Case Study: Oribags Innovations
Published: 07 September 2012
Oribags Innovations (U) Ltd is a Ugandan private enterprise which makes hand-made paper bags, printing paper and jewellery from agricultural wastes. Read more
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Case Study: Oro Verde
Published: 07 September 2012
Oro Verde reverses environmental degradation caused by uncontrolled mining in Colombia’s Chocó Bioregion by developing certified responsible mining practices. Read more
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Case Study: SolSource
Published: 07 September 2012
SolSource provides a line of solar concentrators that address three of the four major barriers to solar-powered cooking in rural China. Read more
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2012 SEED Symposium: The Green Economy in Africa: Climate Change and Energy, Agriculture and Food Security, and the Role of Grassroots Entrepreneurs
Published: 29 March 2012
On 29th March, SEED hosted a high-level symposium on the Green Economy in Pretoria, South Africa. Read more
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2009-2011 Study of Eco-Inclusive Enterprise Performance (Year 2)
Published: 12 September 2011 Heather Creech, Leslie Paas, Vivek Voora
This report draws insights from a three-year study of the performance of social and environmental micro enterprises and tackles two important questions. Firstly, whether and how micro and small social and environmental enterprises make contributions to social, environmental and economic progress within their communities; and secondly, what the enabling factors and barriers towards making such contributions are. Read more
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Enterprise Brief: ISOMET Sarl
Published: 30 August 2011
The “Hybrid Solar Oven” is a large capacity hybrid oven that uses solar and gas-fired power. This saves valuable wood resources and reduces emissions of greenhouse gases. The aim is to create income for the rural population by promoting the benefits of switching from wood to solar power for baking and roasting. Read more
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Enterprise Brief: Solar Sister
Published: 30 August 2011
Solar Sister empowers African women by providing them with clean energy and economic opportunities. The initiative aims to spread solar power across Africa with the help of a direct sales network. By providing access to electricity in rural areas, especially for women, it helps to close the gender technology gap. Read more
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Enterprise Brief: Thrive
Published: 30 August 2011
Thrive combines business principles with community engagement, unlocking synergies between symbiotic enterprises within Hout Bay to address issues in water, energy, biodiversity, local food, and waste with proven, replicable, triple bottom line solutions. The initiative creates jobs and income for local residents and generates social and environmental benefits for the broader community. Read more
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Enterprise Brief: Upscaling the siliviculture based enterprises of coastal communities in Kenya
Published: 30 August 2011
The initiative encourages community stewardship and conservation of coastal environmental resources by promoting nature-based enterprises that are economically beneficial. It does so by providing training in aquaculture, mariculture, mangrove cultivation, bee-keeping, and more, by organising beach clean-ups, and establishing “Community Forest Associations” Read more
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Enterprise Brief: Waste Enterprisers
Published: 30 August 2011
Waste Enterprisers makes cities and economies greener. The initiative’s waste-based businesses create a demand for human waste that unlocks profitable alternatives to haphazard dumping. Profits are reinvested back into the sanitation sector to extend services to poor communities. Read more
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Enterprise Brief: Watamu Community Solid Waste Management and Recycling Enterprises
Published: 30 August 2011
The initiative deals with solid waste pollution in Watamu Marine Park and Reserve beaches and nearby villages. By combining environmental welfare and conservation tasks with community empowerment, employment and alternative income generation, the initiative sets an example for community-based waste management. Read more
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Enterprise Brief: GreenTech Company Ltd - fuel briquettes from groundnut shells combined with fuel efficient stoves
Published: 29 August 2011
Since July 2011, GreenTech produces high quality fuel briquettes from groundnutshells and promotes fuel efficient stoves for cooking and heating purposes in households, restaurants and industries. As the combined briquette/stove unit needs less fuel input than common cooking units, it reduces cooking costs, emissions and the exploitation of forests. The briquettes are pressed by a heavy duty machine, producing 800kg/h. The stoves are produced with recycled metal by local weldermen. Briquettes and stoves are available on stock. Read more
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Enterprise Brief: Karama
Published: 29 August 2011
Karama markets Egyptian handicrafts, linking marginalised artisans to the global market and highlighting the tradition and artistry that lies behind every piece. The initiative also trains artisans and encourages them to take pride in their cultural heritage, thereby ensuring that their skills are passed down through the generations. Read more
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Enterprise Brief: Man and Man Enterprise
Published: 29 August 2011
Man and Man Enterprise produces and markets efficient biomass cooking stoves which save 40 % on charcoal compared to conventional stoves. The product thus enables substantial savings on fuel costs while reducing deforestation and GHG emissions. Read more
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Enterprise Brief: BRADES
Published: 29 August 2011
The initiative provides urban and rural households with biochar briquettes made from clay and charcoal waste, a cheap combustible fuel. Read more
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Enterprise Brief: Promoting Bamboo as a Craft and Technology Application with a View to Conserving Taita Hills Forests
Published: 29 August 2011
The initiative aims to provide the market with quality bamboo handicrafts, furniture and other items, as well as alternative construction materials. This supports ongoing forest restoration efforts around Taita Hills Forests and also provides rural households with an alternative fuel. Read more
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The Green Economy: SEED's activities to help accelerate the transition
Published: 16 August 2011
On 15th April 2011, nearly 200 people gathered in Pretoria to explore the role of social and environmental enterprises in shaping the Green Economy. Read more
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2005 SEED Winner, Blue Ventures, has real national impact
Published: 14 July 2011
Madagascar is working towards a national plan for marine turtle conservation. Read more
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SEED Annual Report 2011
Published: 18 April 2011
2011 was a remarkable year for SEED, where a record number of SEED winners were awarded. Read more
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SEED's Executive Director is invited to speak at the 5th Sustainability Summit and the International Business Forum in India
Published: 16 February 2011
SEED's Executive Director, Helen Marquard, took part in November in a session entitled Bottom of the Pyramid Approaches and Inclusive Growth - Innovative Business Models and Opportunities. Read more
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From bamboo bikes to biomass briquettes: UNEP unveils SEED Award Winners
Constance Hybsier Source: UN Environment
A novel solar device that turns waste heat into electricity in rural China, a Ugandan business that manufactures stationary from agricultural waste, a bamboo bicycle project in Ghana and a female-run business in South Africa making a hand-held laundry device that saves water are among the 30 winners of the 2010 SEED Awards, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) announced today. Read more
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