Meet Eco-Inclusive Enterprises

Innovating business models for socially inclusive and environmentally sustainable products and services.

SEED Africa Symposium 2014: Making Growth Sustainable. Co-creating Solutions

Published: 03 December 2014
On September 10th and 11th, the SEED Africa Symposium 2014 convened at the Safari Park Hotel in Nairobi, Kenya. 320 representatives from business, government, academia, support institutions and civil society from 30 different countries attended. 'Making Growth Sustainable: Co-creating Solutions through Social and Green Entrepreneurship' was the theme of the event. Participants were invited to Explore, Enable and Engage with each other to find ways of building effective ecosystems for green and social enterprises in Africa. Read more
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World AIDS Day 2014: SEED Winners provide opportunities for affected women

Published: 01 December 2014
SMMEs like the SEED Winner from Rwanda have and continue to make their own valuable contributions to Closing the Gap by creating economic opportunities for HIV-infected as well as affected women and their families. Read more
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Global Social Business Summit 2014: SEED shares insights on impact measurement and moderates a focus group session on affordable housing

Published: 28 November 2014
SEED was invited to partake in the sixth Global Social Business Summit (GSBS 2014) that is taking place in Mexico City on 27-28 November 2014 under the theme: “Shaping Social Business to Shape the World of 2020”. Read more
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SEED Africa Symposium 2014

Published: 25 November 2014
On September 10th and 11th, the SEED Africa Symposium 2014 convened at the Safari Park Hotel in Nairobi, Kenya.  Read more
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SEED South Africa Symposium 2014: Advancing the Green Economy

Published: 07 November 2014
At the SEED South Africa Symposium, held over 19 and 20 March 2014, over 150 participants from government, private sector, media, academia, development, and civil society organisations, and including around 40 entrepreneurs, gathered at the CSIR in Pretoria to exchange experience, knowledge and perspectives that could advance the growth of socio-environmental entrepreneurship in South Africa. Read more
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Social and Green Enterprises – How to Create Enabling Frameworks to Increase their Contribution to Sustainable Development?

Published: 04 November 2014Authors: Amélie Heuër
Over the last four years, SEED has hosted a series of unique multi-stakeholder for a focussed on the Green Economy and Africa - the SEED Symposia - where each year innovative and promising start-up enterprises, that won a SEED Award for their remarkable efforts to address social and environmental challenges at the grassroots, are presented. Read more
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Promoting entrepreneurship for sustainable development: why, and how?

Published: 23 October 2014Authors: Helen Marquard
When UNEP, UNDP and IUCN decided to register the SEED Initiative as a Type II partnership at the 2002 World Summit on Sustainable Development, they clearly thought they were on to something – but possibly not quite what SEED is now. Read more
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Harnessing the potential of Baobab to provide Mozambican women with new income opportunities

Published: 22 October 2014Authors: Jona Liebl, Mirko Zürker
They are one of the most visually-enthralling trees on the planet. The ancient Baobab – endemic mostly to semi-arid regions of tropical Africa including Mozambique – can live for over 1000 years. Read more
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Creating an enabling environment for social and environmental entrepreneurship in Malawi

Published: 29 September 2014Authors: Mirko Zürker, Rainer Agster
As one of the poorest countries in the world, Malawi is characterised by a largely rural population; 84 per cent of Malawi’s population lives outside cities and depends on agriculture as their primary source of income. Read more
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Bringing mobility to Mozambique’s poorest

Published: 10 September 2014Authors: Jona Liebl
‘Teach a man how to fish‘ or, as in this case, ‘ride a bike’, espouses the core aim of the founders of a social and green enterprise that is intent on improving the living standards of rural Mozambicans. Read more
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From Mobile Solar Computer Classrooms to Novel Baobab Products: Green Entrepreneurship is Thriving Across Africa and Beyond

Published: 10 September 2014
Nairobi plays host to one of the largest gatherings of start-up social and environmental enterprises ever, as 41 green entrepreneurs are celebrated at the 2014 SEED Awards Africa Symposium. Read more
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Enterprise Brief: Piratas do Pau Upcycling Centre

Published: 05 September 2014
Piratas do Pau (PdP) Upcycling Training Centre trains and employs young Mozambicans in the design and production of modern furniture made from 90% reclaimed materials. The products are sold locally through a distribution network. Read more
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Enterprise Brief: Pro-Sofala Verde

Published: 05 September 2014
Pro-Sofala Verde (PSV) has established a co-operative that generates income and jobs for rural Mozambicans through the sustainable production of high-grade honey and reforestation. Honey will be sold in one-portion packages at affordable prices. Read more
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Enterprise Brief: Women’s Off-season Vegetable Production Group

Published: 05 September 2014
The enterprise uses agricultural techniques, notably poly-tunnels and greenhouses, to grow and market organic vegetables in a climate where weather usually limits year-round production. The aim is to improve food security and nutrition while empowering marginalised women through job creation. Read more
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Enterprise Brief: All Women Recycling

Published: 05 September 2014
All Women Recycling turns discarded plastic bottles into unique gift boxes, called kliketyklikboxes, which are sold internationally. The enterprise provides employment opportunities for young women, street waste collectors and others; it also strengthens societal environmental awareness and contributes to cleaner townships. Read more
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Enterprise Brief: Botanica Natural Products

Published: 05 September 2014
Botanica Natural Products has developed a method of extracting the beneficial substances of the Bulbine Frutescens plant which are used in the cosmetic industry. The plant is cultivated and processed organically in its indigenous location in rural Limpopo. Read more
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Enterprise Brief: greenABLE

Published: 05 September 2014
greenABLE has found an innovative solution for recycling empty printer cartridges. It provides income-generating opportunities for previously disadvantaged and unemployed persons with disabilities in the waste recycling industry and supports its employees with education and training programmes. Read more
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Enterprise Brief: Growing the Future

Published: 05 September 2014
Growing The Future is an entrepreneurial programme promoting organic, sustainable and innovative food production in South African households. The programme combats food insecurity, promotes dietary variety, reduces household poverty and supports economic opportunities for the unemployed. Read more
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Enterprise Brief: Khoelife Organic Soap and Oils Primary Co-operative

Published: 05 September 2014
Khoelife Organic Soap and Oils Co-operative markets organic soaps and oils. Through training and a microloans system, its members are enabled to become independent women entrepreneurs. Khoelife Manufacturing, the producer, uses traditional labour-intensive methods, certified organic ingredients and renewable energy. Read more
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Enterprise Brief: Waste to Food

Published: 05 September 2014
Waste to Food (W2F) provides an alternative to the disposal of organic waste in landfills. A combination of two technologies offers a commercially profitable and scalable processing system for recycling food waste into high-quality compost. The franchise model fosters enterprise development. Read more
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Enterprise Brief: Arusha Women Entrepreneur

Published: 05 September 2014
Waste to Food (W2F) provides an alternative to the disposal of organic waste in landfills. A combination of two technologies offers a commercially profitable and scalable processing system for recycling food waste into high-quality compost. The franchise model fosters enterprise development. Read more
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Enterprise Brief: L’s Solution Ltd.

Published: 05 September 2014
L’s Solution Ltd. is a social enterprise that provides rural communities in Northern Tanzania with efficient and clean solar and cooking technologies. The enterprise imports, markets, sells and installs power systems, pumps and industrial installations to households and larger local organisations. Read more
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Enterprise Brief: Mesula - Meru Sustainable Land Ltd.

Published: 05 September 2014
Mesula – Meru Sustainable Land supports small entrepreneurs in developing the capacity to farm sustainably and trade the produce at a fair market price. Mesula creates a new value chain from producers to consumers sensitive to the risks of unregulated conventional farming. Read more
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Enterprise Brief: Village Inc. Africa

Published: 05 September 2014
Village Inc. Africa invests “macrocredits” – low-interest loans – and expertise in Village Companies (VCs) which generate social impact within their communities, such as education and healthcare, through for-profi t businesses. Read more
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