Mobile-Enabled Microinsurance for Climate Resilient Agriculture | Climate Finance, Uganda 2018
Published: 09 July 2019 Alina Weiss, Maggie Sloan
The mobile-enabled microinsurance solution catalyses mobile-based technology to increase access to and improve the quality of agriculture insurance solutions offered to small-scale agribusinesses in Uganda. This product insures small-scale agribusinesses who produce commercial crops against production losses, monitored using real-time weather indexing. Product delivery, servicing and claims pay-outs are facilitated by a network of insurance agents supported by local-level representatives and mobile-money and communication technology. Read more
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Irrigation System Microleasing for High-Value Crops | Climate Finance, Uganda 2018
Published: 08 July 2019 Alina Weiss, Maggie Sloan
The irrigation system microleasing for high-value crops solution mitigates investment risks for both farmers and financial institutions. The irrigation system financing model directs financing for climate-smart irrigation technologies through technology providers to agribusinesses that produce (or have the potential to produce) commercial crops that generate higher profits at market. The financing mechanism for irrigation systems engages the private sector to maximise returns on investment in productive farm assets (specifically irrigation) in the agriculture sector. Read more
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Cool clean tech to tackle climate change
Source: Green Times
As showcased during the SEED South Africa Symposium 2019, South African entrepreneurs are taking climate change seriously: Water filters made from macadamia nut shells, a mobile solar-powered kiosk for charging phones in off-grid areas, vegetable growing systems using recycled plastic bags, and a machine that turns any type of waste into energy (gas) or diesel. Read more
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Policy pathways for eco-inclusive enterprise support in Malawi | Policy Landscape Paper
Published: 01 April 2019 Benita Rose, Christine Meyer
The transition to a green, inclusive, and climate-smart Malawi requires collaborative efforts from the public sector, civil society, and the private sector. Micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) are important drivers of growth in Malawi, particularly in emerging economies, andmaking cross-sector partnerships are critical to co-creatinge an enabling environment for enterprises with inclusive and climate-smart business models.
This input paper provides a snapshot of the ecosystem in which eco-inclusive small and growing enterprises operate. By identifying areas where further support is needed, this paper serves as an input to the SEED Policy Prototyping Programme, in which stakeholders across sectors collaborate to co-create policy instruments designed to build a more enabling ecosystem for eco-inclusive entrepreneurs. Read more
This input paper provides a snapshot of the ecosystem in which eco-inclusive small and growing enterprises operate. By identifying areas where further support is needed, this paper serves as an input to the SEED Policy Prototyping Programme, in which stakeholders across sectors collaborate to co-create policy instruments designed to build a more enabling ecosystem for eco-inclusive entrepreneurs. Read more
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Jardin Green Hope (Ngalée, De la terre à la terre), SEED Award Winner, is named top 15 in STARTUPPER OF THE YEAR AWARD in Burkina Faso
Source: Startupper of the Year
Jardin Green Hope (Ngalée, De la terre à la terre), SAG-SEED Award Winner in 2016, is named to top 15 finalists in the STARTUPPER OF THE YEAR AWARDS in Burkina Faso. The enterprise has installed the first industrial unit for organic fertiliser production and offers an innovative process capable of revitalising any type of organic waste. Read more
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KadAfrica showcased in inspired magazine of Brussels Airlines for empowering Ugandan women
Africa Business Digest Source: Africa Business Digest
KadAfrica (SEED Africa Award Winner 2014), and its founder Eric Kaduru, from Uganda was showcased in Brussels Airlines‘ inspired magazine for using farming to empower Ugandan women. The enterprise’s passion fruit farm runs a year-and-a-half programme for female employees to develop financial management, agriculture and life skills. Upon completion, workers are rewarded with a farm start-up kit with chemical inputs, tools, seedlings and access to a small plot of land. Read more
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Safi Organics wins 2018 Thought for Food award in Rio de Janeiro
Dom Phillips Source: The Guardian
The Kenyan start-up Safi Organics (SAG-SEED Award Winner 2016) won an $5,000 award for its decentralised, organic fertiliser production system during the Thought For Food (TFF) conference 2018 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.The conference attracted several hundred young people from across the world to pitch and discuss ideas on how to feed the world’s booming population with agriculture startups. Read more
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Kick-Off Lab | SEED Practitioner Labs Policy Prototyping
Published: 19 February 2019
The SEED Practitioner Labs Policy Prototyping programme in Malawi will include three hands-on and highly collaborative Practitioner Labs, beginning with the Kick-Off Lab on 09-10 April 2019 in Lilongwe. Read more
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Smart-Irrigation-as-a-Service Financing Vehicle | Climate Finance, Thailand 2018
Published: 20 December 2018 Kathrin Kirsch
The Smart-Irrigation-as-a-Service Financing Vehicle directs deal flow for drip-irrigation systems to improve productivity and climate adaptation capacities to small and growing agri-enterprises. This financial instrument offers microfinancing solutions to lower investment risks in agricultural process improvements for both farmers and financial institutions. Read more
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From Beehives to Market: Replicator Workbook
Published: 18 December 2018
This From Beehives to Market: Replicator Workbook preview provides insights and tools to entrepreneurs seeking to start-up an enterprise that capitalises on the many opportunities for processing and value-addition for known primary bee products. Our SEED Replicator Workbooks were developed to guide entrepreneurs through the process of transferring a proven successful business model to another geographic location using hands-on SEED tools and business model insights. Read more
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Collaborative Business Models for Smallholder Farming: Replicator Workbook
Published: 18 December 2018
This Collaborative Business Models for Smallholder Farming: Replicator Workbook preview provides insights and tools to entrepreneurs seeking to start-up an enterprise that improves livelihoods of individual smallholder farmers together. Our SEED Replicator Workbooks were developed to guide entrepreneurs through the process of transferring a proven successful business model to another geographic location using hands-on SEED tools and business model insights. Read more
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ICT Solutions for Agriculture: Replicator Workbook
Published: 18 December 2018
This ICT Solutions for Agriculture: Replicator Workbook preview provides insights and tools to entrepreneurs seeking to start-up an enterprise in the market for ICT solutions along inclusive agriculture value chains. Our SEED Replicator Workbooks were developed to guide entrepreneurs through the process of transferring a proven successful business model to another geographic location using hands-on SEED tools and business model insights. Read more
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Small business is the heart of the green economy
Published: 03 December 2018 Maggie Sloan, Marion Müller vom Berge, Sonya Ong
SEED's guest blog for the Green Economy Coalition in the lead up to the Ministerial Conference of PAGE (Partnership for Action on Green Economy) in Cape Town, South Africa, and the Green Economy Coalition's Global Meeting in January 2019. Read more
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World Environmental Health Day 2018: Promoting Sustainable Food Production through Eco-Inclusive Entrepreneurship
Published: 26 September 2018 Sonya Ong, Zaina Batool
Given the increasing importance of the provision of food sustainably and safely, this year’s World Environmental Health Day is centred around the theme “Global Food Safety and Sustainability”. Read more
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Case Study: Unique Quality Product Enterprise
Published: 07 September 2018
Unique Quality Product Enterprise (UQE) is an eco-inclusive enterprise located in Tamale in northern Ghana. Its business model is based on a market-leading approach to promote the production and processing of the cereal grain fonio. Read more
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Case Study: YICE Uganda
Published: 07 September 2018
Based in Western Uganda, the Youth Initiative for Community Empowerment (YICE) is an eco-inclusive enterprise that provides a variety of agricultural services to smallholder farmers to improve their livelihoods. Read more
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Case Study: Safi Organics
Published: 07 September 2018
Safi Organics is an eco-inclusive enterprise that aims to reverse declining agricultural yields, improve the income and food security of local farmers, and provide opportunities for local youth. Read more
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Supporting pioneering community businesses on their pathway towards a sustainable future
Published: 25 July 2018 Christine Meyer, Insa Jülich
Dakeni is a small, very rural village near Eshowe, KwaZulu-Natal - around 300 people live in the village. Arriving in the area, we see local women taking care of a large plant nursery. A lot of the men are working in the distant cities. Read more
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Sustainable Future of Agro-Processing: Policy Pathways for Eco-Inclusive Enterprises in South Africa
Published: 01 June 2018 Christine Meyer, Janet Mkhabela, Maggie Sloan
Innovation of the agro-processing sector has been identified – and supported through policy measures and funding initiatives – as central to the low carbon, inclusive economic transition in South Africa. Small and medium-sized eco-inclusive enterprises in the sector play a pivotal role in mitigating the impacts of climate change and tackling poverty and social inequalities. Read more
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Safi Organics, a SEED story from Kenya
Published: 11 April 2018
Safi Organics provides organic fertiliser for rural smallholder farmers that contributes to soil carbon storage. The Safi Sarvi® blend is derived from various types of local organic farm waste, and is transformed into soil conditioner through low-cost production. The enterprise has won a SAG-SEED Award in 2016. Read more
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YICE, a SEED Story from Uganda
Published: 22 March 2018
YICE Uganda provides rural smallholder farmers in Uganda with flexible farm loans, inputs and training services to reduce hunger and poverty. With its network of local farm agents, YICE facilitates farmers’ access to bundled agricultural services at various levels of the farming value chain. The enterprise has won a SAG-SEED Award in 2016. Read more
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SEED South Africa Symposium 2018
Published: 19 March 2018
180 participants gathered at the annual SEED South Africa Symposium this year held on March 13-14 in Pretoria. Once again the event demonstrated its high value in generating collaborative discussions and developing approaches to promote eco-inclusive enterprises in South Africa. Read more
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2018 Women Stop Hunger Awards to reward exemplary initiatives
Stop Hunger Source: Stop Hunger
Nonhlanhla Joye, and her start-up Umgibe Farming Organics, which today allows 3,000 families from the Durban townships in South Africa to survive. From a simple and ingenious idea of small crops of fresh vegetables above ground, Nonhlanhla has quickly built an original and sustainable model that empowers women and surrounding communities, creates jobs and boosts local economic activity, among other benefits. Read more
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Celebrating Female Entrepreneurship on International Women’s Day 2018
Published: 08 March 2018 Amar Munnolimath, Zaina Batool
At SEED, we embrace the potential of female entrepreneurs and are committed to empowering women. We not only offer equal-opportunity employment and encourage flexible working arrangements to assist families, but also take data-driven action globally to support women entrepreneurs working towards a greener economy and to accelerate female empowerment, including through our past SEED Gender Equality Award scheme. Read more
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SEED Celebrates a Female-Led Enterprise on International Women’s Day
Published: 08 March 2018 Maggie Sloan, Sonya Ong
As we celebrate the achievements of women today, we present the female-led Unique Quality Product Enterprise as part of our launch of the SEED Case Study Series 2018. The new case study series that emanated from the SWITCH Africa Green project "Promoting Eco-Entrepreneurship in Africa", implemented by SEED, showcases how innoative eco-inclusive start-up enterprises in Africa shape sustainable development on the ground. Read more
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