SEED Library

Evidence-based insights into eco-inclusive business models and contributions to sustainable development.

Translating Climate Finance into Climate Action on the Ground: Leveraging the Potential of Small- and Medium-sized Enterprises

Published: 12 January 2021Authors: Jonas Restle-Steinert, Kathrin Kirsch, Luis Ebert, Maggie Sloan, Tobias Hausotter
Read the report to learn more about how SMEs in emerging economies help their local communities adapt to and mitigate the impacts of climate change, and how this community engagement paves the way for providing secure livelihoods and a more sustainable future for all.  Read more
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Shop Sustainably with SEED Supported Enterprises

Published: 11 January 2021
To better support small businesses when you're looking for a unique gift for your friend or family member, we encourage you to shop from our gift guide of eco-inclusive SEED supported enterprises! From home decor to handbags, from fair-trade products to face masks, there’s something in it for everyone!  Read more

Phasing out Single-Use Plastic (SUP): Creating a New Default | Thailand, Policy 2020

Published: 07 January 2021Authors: Linde Wolters, Sonya Ong, Supapim Wannopas
This two-page overview created from the SEED Practitioner Labs for Policy Prototyping in Thailand outlines the key messages of the GIZ CAP-SEA Pilot Project on reducing single use plastics. Read more
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Achieving Smart Agriculture Potential through Efficient Data Connectivity and Management

Published: 07 January 2021Authors: Linde Wolters, Sonya Ong, Supapim Wannopas
Through the SEED Practitioner Labs for Policy Prototyping Thailand 2020, ListenField presented its policy solution through providing agronomic insight for sustainable and profitable farming. Read more
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Recommendations for Supporting SMEs in the Transition to Circular Economy: A Perspective on Thailand

Published: 07 January 2021Authors: Linde Wolters, Sonya Ong, Supapim Wannopas
Discussions with stakeholders from the public and private sector, financial institutions, MSMEs and their intermediaries at the SEED Policy Lab led to a series of recommendations outlined in this two-page summary of the key messages from SEED's policy brief.  Read more

Phasing out Single-Use Plastic (SUP) Creating a New Default | Thailand, Policy 2020

Published: 07 January 2021Authors: Linde Wolters, Sonya Ong, Supapim Wannopas
Phasing out single-use plastics (SUP) in Thailand demands a commitment from different sector stakeholders - the private sector, as producer and purchaser of the material, plays an influential role in providing alternatives and realising sustainable consumption and production. Read more
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Recommendations for Supporting SMEs in the Transition to Circular Economy | Thailand, Policy 2020

Published: 07 January 2021Authors: Linde Wolters, Sonya Ong, Supapim Wannopas
This Policy Brief from SEED's Practitioner Labs for Policy Prototyping highlights the Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI)'s research on the barriers and challenges faced by the private sector hindering a transition towards sustainable production and adoption of circular economy business models. Read more
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Achieving Smart Agriculture Potential through Efficient Data Connectivity and Management | Thailand, Policy 2020

Published: 07 January 2021Authors: Sonya Ong, Supapim Wannopas
Download SEED's Thailand 2020 Policy Brief from the Practitioner Labs for Policy Prototyping to read about ListenField's contributions to achieving smart agriculture potential through data connectivity and management.  Read more

SEED during COVID-19: Our programmes reimagined for the virtual format

Published: 16 December 2020Authors: Amanda Panella, Linde Wolters
When COVID-19 hit, SEED and its supported enterprises were affected like the rest of the world. Our programmes - designed for peer-learning and networking - had to quickly adjust to this new global reality and move to a virtual environment. In an effort to both support affected enterprises and be able to keep our programmes running. Read more

Building a Vibrant Social Enterprise Ecosystem through Partnerships | Ghana, Policy 2020

Published: 16 December 2020Authors: Amanda Panella, Camilla Shearman
Insights from discussions at the SEED Practitioner Labs for Policy Prototyping pointed to three specific topics that should feature in future ecosystem efforts: integration of social enterprises into corporate value chains, support through networking, and e-commerce arrangements to bring social enterprise products and services to markets. Read more
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More Than “Donor Darlings”: Ecosystem system support for green and eco-inclusive SMEs to deliver more than narratives

Published: 10 December 2020Authors: Ebenezer Kumi
From October—November 2020, SEED provided two 3-day eco-inclusive ToT workshops for representatives of SNV’s selected hubs, incubators and accelerators in Ashanti and Western Regions. Read more

Supporting MSMEs for Ghana’s transition to a Circular Economy: Solutions from SEED’s Policy Lab

Published: 09 December 2020Authors: Amanda Panella, Camilla Shearman
While eco-inclusive enterprises drive the transition to a circular economy, they often face significant constraints to build and scale their businesses. Mr. Boachie highlighted that eco-inclusive MSMEs often face specific challenges based on perceived higher-than-normal risks, and a unique need for longer-term financing. Read more

Shop sustainably this holiday season with SEED: A gift guide from our eco-inclusive enterprises

Published: 03 December 2020
The holidays are approaching and like many others around the world, SEED is searching for a way to send gifts and joy to our loved ones from a safe social distance. Read more

Best practices to follow for online workshops: Learnings from SEED virtual trainings during pandemic times

Published: 30 November 2020Authors: Amar Munnolimath, Elena Eckhardt, Nithin Ramu
Workshops are an important format for business development services (BDS) providers to deliver support services to eco-inclusive enterprises. However, since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic and related measures, such as lockdowns and curfews, BDS providers have had to adjust and reconceptualise the workshop experience. Read more

Online Platform to facilitate access to climate finance for MSMEs | Climate Finance, India 2020

Published: 24 November 2020Authors: Kathrin Kirsch, Nithin Ramu
The online platform developed by Intellecap seeks to bridge demand and supply of climate finance for MSMEs in India by publishing climate finance instruments, offering eligibility checks for MSMEs and matchmaking with financing providers. Read more
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Supporting MSMEs in the supply chain to reduce emissions by adopting energy efficiency measures | Climate Finance, India 2020

Published: 24 November 2020Authors: Kathrin Kirsch, Nithin Ramu
The financing solution developed by Mahindra & Mahindra aims to incentivise MSMEs in the supply chain to take up energy efficiency. It comprises a benchmarking of energy saving technology, a central repository of suppliers of energy-saving technology, template policy documents to be signed between supplier and OEMs, financing through carbon markets and adopting Techno-commercial energy efficiency technologies in Geographical cluster by OEM anchor led approach. Read more
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Democratising blended finance for climate resilient agriculture | Climate Finance, India 2020

Published: 24 November 2020Authors: Kathrin Kirsch, Nithin Ramu
The climate finance solution developed by ALSiSAR Impact encompasses a workable blended finance model, as well as capacity building for agri-techs to conduct transparent impact measurement. Read more
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Mainstreaming Credit Assessment and Appraisal to Accelerate the Access to Finance for Solar MSMEs in India | Climate Finance, India 2020

Published: 24 November 2020Authors: Kathrin Kirsch, Nithin Ramu
The climate finance solution developed by Tata Cleantech aims to mainstream the credit appraisal process for solar MSMEs by clustering SMEs, automation and standardisation of the credit assessment process, including a securitisation mechanisms to reduce collateral requirements and developing a secondary redeployment market for solar rooftop systems. Read more
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P.ACT: Leveling the field for equitable partnerships

Authors: Saida Benhayoune Source: iBAN
While hybrid partnerships come with their challenges, enterprises and large organisations alike agree that partnerships are key to leveraging the innovation and agility of social enterprises in order to solve the world’s inequalities. P.ACT from SEED and MIT D-Lab levels the playing field for more equitable partnerships. Read more

How Dieudonne Agudah gets low income urban households in Accra access to affordable bio digester toilets with WASHKing

Authors: Thomas Jakel Source: AfricaX
Meet Dieudonne Kwame Agudah, the founder of WASHKing, a social enterprise working to supply bio-digester toilets to low-income urban households in Ghana with the aim of ending open defecation and at the same time focussing on giving employment to young people while equipping them with transferable skills. Read more

SEED Participates in Asia-Europe ENVforum Webinar: Single-Use Plastic (Never)Ending Story

Published: 05 November 2020
On 28 October 2020, SEED’s Executive Director Lewis Akenji moderated a webinar regarding the role of businesses in tackling single-use plastics and general trends and challenges across Asia and Europe. Read more

SEED Hosts Sankalp Global Summit 2020 Workshop: A Green Recovery: Building Resilience for Eco-Inclusive MSMEs after COVID-19

Published: 05 November 2020
On 3 November 2020, SEED’s Head of Communications Linde Wolters moderated a workshop at the Sankalp Global Summit on A Green Recovery: Building Resilience for Eco-Inclusive MSMEs after COVID-19. Read more

NINJA COVID-19 Response and Recovery Business Challenge Winner: EcoPlastile Ltd

Published: 26 October 2020
EcoPlastile Ltd, an eco-inclusive enterprise working with youth and women to collect and process waste plastics into low-cost, durable timber substitutes, has been declared a winner for Next Innovation with Japan (NINJA) Business Innovation Challenge in response to COVID-19. Read more

SEED Green SME Finance Training

Published: 23 October 2020
Facilitating access to finance for agricultural green SMEs in Malawi

Register by: 3rd November Read more
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