About the SEED Initiative
“Supporting Entrepreneurs for Sustainable Development” – the SEED Initiative – is a global network for action on sustainable development partnerships, founded by IUCN, UNEP and UNDP, to deliver concrete progress towards the internationally-agreed, aspirational goals in the UN’s Millennium Declaration and the commitments made at the World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg in 2002.
SEED focuses on locally-driven, entrepreneurial partnerships in developing countries. Its goal is to inspire, promote and build capacity to support the many innovative ways in which diverse groups are working together to improve incomes and strengthen livelihoods; tackle poverty and marginalisation; and manage and conserve natural resources and ecosystems.
Through an annual, global awards scheme SEED reveals a wealth of novel ways of doing business through partnerships and provides international recognition to the most promising enterprises.
SEED Award Winners then receive a tailored package of support services to help them to become established and to increase their impact. This includes access to relevant expertise and technical assistance, meeting new partners and building networks, developing business plans and identifying sources of finance.
SEED then uses its extensive network, publications and events to promote these innovative approaches, to disseminate its findings to partnerships practitioners and policy and decision-makers and to provide a platform for shared learning and collaboration.
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2008 SEED Award finalists are announced and SEED’s Associate Partners Network is launched
The SEED Initiative is pleased to announce the inspiring ventures which have been selected as finalists for the 2008 SEED Awards for Entrepreneurship in Sustainable Development.
This year’s 15 finalists offer exciting examples of innovative action in important fields of sustainability: recycling; creating community enterprises; climate change adaptation
and mitigation; organic, fair-trade agricultural produce; empowering women and youth; biofuels; harvesting and marketing medicinal plants; community-based eco-tourism – they even include innovations in small-scale irrigation.
This third round of International Awards represents a significant scaling up of SEED’s efforts: formerly a biennial competition, the SEED Awards are now being held annually. The 2008 call for proposals was met by an overwhelming response: Close to 400 applications from over 100 countries worldwide, representing the collaborative efforts of some 1629 organizations from the private sector, including non-governmental organizations, women’s groups, labour organizations, public authorities, international agencies and academia.
From the 15 finalists, five Global Winners will be chosen by our International Jury of sustainable development experts this summer. Each winner will receive a package worth $25,000 of tailor-made support services, international exposure, and networking activities to assist its development from a project idea to a sustainable enterprise and to create real impact.
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