SEED South Africa Symposium 2014: Advancing the Green Economy
Published: 07 November 2014
At the SEED South Africa Symposium, held over 19 and 20 March 2014, over 150 participants from government, private sector, media, academia, development, and civil society organisations, and including around 40 entrepreneurs, gathered at the CSIR in Pretoria to exchange experience, knowledge and perspectives that could advance the growth of socio-environmental entrepreneurship in South Africa. Read more
SDGs:
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
SDGs:
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
SDGs:
Bringing mobility to Mozambique’s poorest
Published: 10 September 2014 Jona Liebl
‘Teach a man how to fish‘ or, as in this case, ‘ride a bike’, espouses the core aim of the founders of a social and green enterprise that is intent on improving the living standards of rural Mozambicans. Read more
SDGs:
Enterprise Brief: Growing the Future
Published: 05 September 2014
Growing The Future is an entrepreneurial programme promoting organic, sustainable and innovative food production in South African households. The programme combats food insecurity, promotes dietary variety, reduces household poverty and supports economic opportunities for the unemployed. Read more
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Enterprise Brief: Khoelife Organic Soap and Oils Primary Co-operative
Published: 05 September 2014
Khoelife Organic Soap and Oils Co-operative markets organic soaps and oils. Through training and a microloans system, its members are enabled to become independent women entrepreneurs. Khoelife Manufacturing, the producer, uses traditional labour-intensive methods, certified organic ingredients and renewable energy. Read more
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Enterprise Brief: Green Heat (U) Ltd
Published: 05 September 2014
Green Heat offers an alternative to conventional waste management and environmentally destructive use of charcoal and firewood for home cooking and heating. Household and agricultural waste is funnelled through biogas digesters producing a low-cost, safe and reliable source of energy. Read more
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Enterprise Brief: The Mobile Solar Computer Classroom
Published: 05 September 2014
Mobile Solar Computer Classroom is helping to bridge the digital divide in Uganda by making computer skills accessible, affordable and relevant to rural schools and community libraries in Uganda. The enterprise uses solar-powered computers to bring its technology to its trainees Read more
SDGs:
Enterprise Brief: Elegance Company Ltd.
Published: 05 September 2014
Together with local farmers, Elegance Company Ltd. has developed a zero-waste and closed-loop agricultural system that increases agricultural yields substantially. A demonstration farm in the area serves to showcase the system and to provide consultancy to farmers interested in adopting it. Read more
SDGs:
Enterprise Brief: JITA Social Business Bangladesh Ltd.
Published: 31 August 2014
JITA generates income opportunities for poor women through an innovative and commercially viable rural distribution network while providing product access for communities. Initially run as a financially sustainable CARE Bangladesh project, JITA now is a reincorporated social enterprise empowering around 8,000 women. Read more
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Enterprise Brief: Fundación Huellas Verdes
Published: 31 August 2014
Fundación Huellas Verdes offers enterprises and institutions a means to offset their carbon emissions by planting vetiver, a grass storing carbon in its roots. When introduced to areas with slopes at risk of landslides, vetiver protects neighbouring communities by preventing erosion. Read more
SDGs:
The circular economy and opportunities for small businesses
Published: 28 August 2014 Anais Mangin, Francesca Culcasi
Current ways of production and consumption are not sustainable, disregarding the efficient use of natural resources, the minimization of toxic materials and the emission of waste. Read more
SDGs:
Early stage impact investing: a call for action
Published: 18 August 2014 Anais Mangin
The exponential growth of small, micro and medium enterprises (SMMEs) in Africa, Asia and Latin America has contributed significantly to the burgeoning green economy. Read more
SDGs:
SEED participates in the Inaugural PAGE Global Conference to look at the Progress and Prospects for the Green Economy after Rio+20
Published: 04 March 2014
SEED will participate in the third Thematic Breakout Session ‘Social inclusion and poverty reduction’. Read more
SDGs:
2014 SEED Awards Applications – Now Open Grassroots Green Entrepreneurs Can Win Business Support Package
Amélie Heuër, Mellab Shiluli Source: UN Environment
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
SDGs:
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
SEED Annual Report 2013
Published: 18 December 2013
Looking back, 2013 has been a particularly good year for SEED, a year marked particularly by the selection of the 34 new SEED Winners - remarkable exemplars of social and environmental entrepreneurs at the grassrootsand by growing interest internationally in the programme, but also by new partnerships to build on those that have been essential in SEED’s growth so far. Read more
SDGs:
2013 SEED Winner KARIBU Solar Power featured in Forbes Africa magazine
Published: 18 November 2013
Adam Camenzuli, CEO of 2013 SEED Winner KARIBU Solar Power, is featured in an article about the great potential of Solar Power in Africa in this month's Forbes Africa. Read more
SDGs:
From Plates that Grow Food to Certified Cocoa: UN Awards Innovative Green Enterprises at Green Economy Symposium
Published: 31 October 2013
The 34 winners of the 2013 SEED Awards were announced today. Read more
SDGs:
Enterprise Brief: Busia Waste to Energy-Eco-briquette Production Enterprise
Published: 31 August 2013
Busia Waste to Energy-Eco-Briquette Production Enterprise provides an alternative energy source produced from local waste resources such as maize cobs and charcoal dust. This helps reduce deforestation, improve the use of waste and promote sustainable development through job creation in Busia. Read more
SDGs:
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: Dichung.vn
Published: 31 August 2013
Dichung.vn is an online platform that helps reduce traffic jams and environmental pollution in urban areas of Vietnam. An easy-to-use website and application connect users so they can share empty seats on various types of vehicles and so reduce carbon emissions. Read more
SDGs:
Enterprise Brief: PROVOKAME
Published: 30 August 2013
PROVOKAME produces innovative 100 % biodegradable plates made from natural fibres and recycled paper, which are also implanted with seeds. The enterprise trains and employs local women from rural areas in the plate production process. The plates are distributed via supermarket chains and organic shops. Read more
SDGs:
Enterprise Brief: Tamul Plates Marketing
Published: 30 August 2013
Tambul Leaf Plates sells biodegradable disposable dinnerware made from the fallen sheath of the areca nut palm. The dinnerware reduces pollution and deforestation while local communities gain a livelihood through its production and sale. Read more
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