SEED Library

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

RIO+20: SEED and UNDESA join forces at the Partnership Forum on 20 June 2012

Published: 15 June 2012
A Partnerships Forum will be organized at Rio+20, which will consist of highly dynamic and interactive sessions to highlight the significant contributions of partnerships to the implementation of sustainable development. SEED will participate in two sessions of the forum. Read more
SDGs:

2011 SEED Gender and Equality Award winner recognised at the Rio+20 UN Women's side event

Published: 14 June 2012
Three of the 2011 SEED Winners will be showcasing their initiative as examples of innovative women-led enterprises. Read more
SDGs:

Analysis of 3 year study for Policy Makers: Social and Environmental Enterprises in the Green Economy: Supporting sustainable development and poverty eradication on the ground

Published: 12 June 2012
SEED has worked closely with the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) since 2007 on a programme of research to increase technical knowledge and understanding about small-scale social and environmental enterprises. Read more
SDGs:

Social and Environmental Enterprises in the Green Economy: Supporting sustainable development and poverty eradication on the ground - Analysis of a 3 year study for policy makers

Published: 01 May 2012Authors: Gabriel Huppé, Heather Creech, Leslie Paas, Vivek Voora
SEED has worked closely with the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) since 2007 on a programme of research to increase technical knowledge and understanding about small-scale social and environmental enterprises. Based on the research and Symposia consultations, SEED was able to publish the following Analysis for Policy Makers, which provides new insights into the role of micro and small social and environmental enterprises as essential actors in building green economies. Read more
SDGs:

Les entreprises à vocation socio-environnementale au sein de l’économie verte : soutenir le développement durable et la lutte contre la pauvreté sur le terrain : Analyse à l’intention des décideurs politiques d’une étude sur trois ans

Published: 01 May 2012Authors: Gabriel Huppé, Heather Creech, Leslie Paas, Vivek Voora
SEED a travaillé en étroite collaboration avec l'Institut international du développement durable (IIDD) depuis 2007 sur un programme de recherche pour améliorer les connaissances techniques et la compréhension de petites entreprises sociales et environnementales. Sur la base des consultations de recherche et des symposiums, SEED pouvait publier l'analyse suivante pour les décideurs, qui offre de nouvelles perspectives sur le rôle des entreprises sociales et environnementales micro et petites comme des acteurs essentiels dans la construction d'économies vertes. Read more
SDGs:

Empresas sociales y medioambientales en la economía verde: apoyar el desarrollo sostenible y la erradicación de la pobreza sobre el terreno Análisis de un estudio de 3 años para legisladores

Published: 01 May 2012Authors: Gabriel Huppé, Heather Creech, Leslie Paas, Vivek Voora
SEED ha trabajado estrechamente con el Instituto Internacional para el Desarrollo Sostenible (IIDS) desde 2007 en un programa de investigación para aumentar el conocimiento técnico y la comprensión de las pequeñas empresas sociales y ambientales. Sobre la base de la investigación y las consultas de los simposios, SEED pudo publicar el siguiente Análisis para los responsables de la creación de políticas, que ofrecen nuevas perspectivas sobre el papel de las microempresas y las pequeñas empresas sociales y ambientales como actores esenciales en la construcción de economías verdes. Read more
SDGs:

Achim Steiner celebrates the 2011 SEED Winners

Published: 18 April 2012
Achim Steiner, UN Under-Secretary General and UNEP Executive Director recognised the value of SEED winners in the Green Economy at the 2012 SEED Symposium and International Award Ceremony, 29 March 2012, Pretoria, South Africa. Read more
SDGs:

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
SDGs:

SEED Symposium 2012

Published: 29 March 2012
On 29th March, SEED hosted a high-level symposium on the Green Economy in Pretoria, South Africa which discussed Climate Change and Energy, Agriculture and Food Security, and the Role of Grassroots Entrepreneurs. Read more
SDGs:

SEED Longitudinal Study, year 2: An Investigation into the Triple Bottom Line Performance of Small and Micro Social and Environmental Enterprises in Developing Countries

Published: 15 March 2012
In 2009, SEED and IISD started a three-year study of the performance of social and environmental micro enterprises. The research is based on those enterprises that have applied for recognition from the SEED Initiative. The current report covers year two of the study. Read more
SDGs:

Announcement: Meet the 2011 SEED Winners!

Published: 15 December 2011
It is with great pleasure and excitement that the SEED Initiative today announces the 2011 SEED Award Winners! Read more
SDGs:

UN Announces SEED Award Winners 2011 With Focus on African Entrepreneurs

Authors: Source: UN News
A company that transforms groundnut shells into fuel briquettes in Gambia and a business in Kenya where women produce aloe-based skin care products are among this year’s winners of a United Nations-backed award recognizing projects that help promote sustainable development. Read more
SDGs:

2011 SEED Annual Report is out!

Published: 13 December 2011
2011 was a remarkable year for SEED, where a record number of SEED winners were awarded. Read the new Annual Report to learn about SEED's significant expansion, and how SEED offers an ever-more comprehensive package of support. Read more
SDGs:

2009-2011 Study of Eco-Inclusive Enterprise Performance (Year 2)

Published: 12 September 2011Authors: 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
SDGs:

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
SDGs:

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
SDGs:

Enterprise Brief: Women Environment Preservation Committee (WEPCO)

Published: 30 August 2011
The initiative seeks to enhance environmental conservation while generating income from recycled household waste, mainly in Kathmandu Valley. Women are provided with business and waste management training and access to micro-credit loans, and are encouraged to form conservation groups across the country. Read more
SDGs:

Enterprise Brief: Marula Zimbabwe

Published: 30 August 2011
The women-led initiative Marula Zimbabwe trains local women to produce, process, control the quality of, and market marula tree products. The fruit, bark, juice, skin, and leaves of this native plant are used to produce a variety of products, such as jam, wine, dried kernels, oil, nuts, herbal powder, and soap. Read more
SDGs:

Enterprise Brief: AGRIPO

Published: 30 August 2011
Tayab Eco-Orchards (TEO) improves the living conditions of the rural population in Tayab through the promotion of organic agriculture and eco-tourism. The initiative contributes to the fight against deforestation and land degradation whilst creating new income generating activities. Read more
SDGs:

Enterprise Brief: The Development of a Khomani San Cultural and Nature Guiding Enterprise and Association

Published: 30 August 2011
Khomani San Kalahari Guiding Experiences is a community-based eco-tourism enterprise on Khomani San-owned land within and next to the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park. It provides the community with sustainable employment opportunities through guided experiences that showcase the unique Kalahari Desert and the Bushmen people. Read more
SDGs:

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
SDGs:

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
SDGs:

Enterprise Brief: Sustainable Development For All

Published: 30 August 2011
The “Use Solar, Save Lives” initiative involves the design, production and distribution of solar-powered lanterns known as “MwangaBora”. The lanterns are distributed particularly to poor rural households without electricity. The initiative also helps communities to set up environmentally sound economic ventures with the money that would otherwise be spent on kerosene. Read more
SDGs:

Enterprise Brief: Nubian Vault Association

Published: 30 August 2011
The Nubian Vault Association (Association la Voûte Nubienne, AVN) offers a global solution aimed at resolving housing problems in the Sahel zone. The solution draws on an ancestral building technique that does not use wood, sheet metal or cement, and can be mastered by skilled masons according to the local market situation. Read more
SDGs: