Together with Adelphi Research, SEED has had the pleasure of working with the twenty 2009 SEED winners on a capacity building support package worth US$5,000.

The winners received advice on how to make their business plan more robust, and how to develop a financial plan and a growth and impact strategy, using templates and personal guidance. The winners were also guided through a self-assessment to gauge the status of their enterprise with regard to SEED's eight Critical Success Factors and to help them identify their priority needs. In the next weeks, the winners will also receive a promotional information pack to help them market their project and will also be linked up with potential partners and supporters and SEED alumni.

SEED and Adelphi conducted a short survey of the winners to evaluate their opinions on the support received. The results were very positive and showed that the capacity building package was relevant and useful to social and environmental SMMEs. This is what some of our 2009 winners said about the SEED support programme:

“The programme addresses very important and critical issues of projects in the developing world.”

“The SEED programme was a great exercise to organise ourselves and it revealed new insights about our project.”

“The advisors were really really friendly and supportive and we received the knowledge to develop a perfect business plan. I would definitely recommend SEED to other early stage ventures.”

“The support was superb!”