SEED Library

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

Enterprise Brief: Farmer Eco Enterprise Development (FEED Africa)

Published: 30 August 2013
Farmer Eco Enterprise Development (FEED Africa) develops low-carbon eco-farming for emerging organic farmers, empowering them to enter the green economy as entrepreneurs. It offers them support on infrastructure, land development, management, training, mentorship, marketing skills and helps them to access markets. Read more
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Enterprise Brief: Khulumani Gogos Going Green

Published: 30 August 2013
Khulumani Gogos Going Green supplies solar home systems that meet the lighting needs of rural off-grid households. It is run by elderly Khulumani women (“Gogos”) and is financed by loans from a savings and credit group. Read more
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Enterprise Brief: MRDP Sunwater

Published: 30 August 2013
MRDP Sunwater aims to supply solar water heating through black PVC pipe systems, allowing communities – and especially women and children – to save time and money. By reducing the need to gather firewood, the enterprise helps communities save trees and manage their natural resources sustainably. 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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Enterprise Brief: NABIDI Power

Published: 30 August 2013
NABIDI Power develops and distributes mobile phone and laptop chargers, lamps and radios that use kinetic energy. The first products with casings manufactured from a new bio-polymer made from sugar cane waste, the enterprise’s products help mitigate climate change and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Read more
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Enterprise Brief: KARIBU Solar Power

Published: 30 August 2013
KARIBU Solar Power aims to launch a new modular solar lamp via a franchising network. Users pay in small increments, which replicate the required cash flow for kerosene. In this way KARIBU makes high-quality solar lighting and mobile phone charging affordable for low-income communities. Read more
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SEED participates in the High-Level Thematic Debate at the 67th Session of the United Nation General Assembly: ‘Entrepreneurship for Development’

Published: 24 June 2013
SEED has been invited to participate in the panel discussion ‘Entrepreneurship as a Tool for Empowerment’ during the High Level Thematic Debate at the 67th Session of the United Nation General Assembly, on 26 June 2013, in New York. 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 Annual Report 2012

Published: 18 April 2013
In 2012, SEED has not only continued to work with a record number of inspiring and innovative grassroots social and environmental enterprises all over the world, but has also formed new partnerships and participated in major events which contributed to the promotion of both gender equality and the green economy. Read more
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Final report on the 3-year study into the triple bottom line performance of social and environmental enterprises is now available at SEED

Published: 21 March 2013
Since 2009, SEED and its research partner, IISD, have conducted a three year study to increase knowledge and understanding about small-scale social and environmental enterprises. Read more
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SEED celebrates the success of women entrepreneurs on International Women’s Day

Published: 08 March 2013
Celebrating International Women's Day, SEED is pleased to showcase the success of some of the many dedicated women entrepreneurs who are working towards a more sustainable future. 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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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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SEED participates at the Rural Housing Loan Fund Annual Workshop

Published: 01 November 2012
Several SEED Alumni attended and were able to present their enterprises during a workshop in Centurion, South Africa, on 26 October. Read more
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SEED is partner in the 15th International Business Forum in Pretoria 2012

Published: 21 September 2012
SEED is proud to be a partner in the 15th International Business Forum (IBF) in Pretoria, October 2012, which is part of the dialogue series “Investment Climate for Climate Investment - fostering business dynamics for inclusive low carbon growth". Read more
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Longitudinal Study of Eco-Inclusive Enterprise Performance (Part I)

Published: 12 September 2012Authors: 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: Blue Ventures

Published: 07 September 2012
“Madagascar’s first community-run marine protected area” is a partnership between local people, research institutes, NGOs and a commercial fishing company and focuses on marine conservation and sustainable livelihoods along the southwest coast of Madagascar. 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: Pintadas Solar

Published: 07 September 2012
Pintadas Solar creates sustainable and replicable models geared towards improving livelihoods and climate resilience in areas where agriculture and pasture is the main economic activity. 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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Case Study: Village Cereal Aggregation Centres

Published: 07 September 2012
This initiative enables farmers to deliver high-quality grain to the market value chain, reduce post-harvest losses, and encourage more participation of youth in cereal production. Read more
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Case Study: Rural Enterprise Network

Published: 07 September 2012
The “Rural Enterprise Network” (REN) is a social marketing organisation that aims to link small-scale farmers in Sri Lanka to input-output markets through improved product quality, access to market information and the establishment of a common brand. Read more
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