Social Enterprise in Latin America - A frontier market on the cusp of going mainstream
Published: 24 February 2016 Allison Robertshaw
Last week I had the pleasure of attending New Ventures’ Foro Latinoamericano de Inversion Impacto in Merida, Mexico. It was an inspiring few days unpicking the latest developments in social entrepreneurship in the region and proved an interesting opportunity to compare to recent developments in Africa where I attended SEED’s African Symposium just a few months ago. Read more
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Replicating Eco-Inclusive Business Models: A Contribution to Sustainable Low-Carbon Economies
Published: 01 February 2016 Akash Uba, Dr. Christina Tewes-Gradl, Mariska van Gaalen, Tendai Pasipanodya
In the face of climate change, we urgently need to find pathways to a low-carbon economy. Only then can we improve the well-being of nine billion people by 2030 and achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Developing countries have to leap-frog to a low-carbon economy while continuing to improve well-being. Innovative eco-inclusive enterprises are already implementing low-carbon solutions while also providing social and economic benefits to those who need them most. This study shows how the replication of eco-inclusive entrepreneurial solutions tackles the double challenge of mitigating climate change and improving well-being, therefore arguing that they should be strategically incorporated in global and national plans for achieving a low-carbon economy. Read more
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Call for Applications for the 2016 SEED Awards
Jona Liebl Source: UN Environment
Start-up enterprises that solve pressing local issues by integrating social and environmental benefits into their business models can apply for the 2016 SEED Awards, which opened for nominations today. Read more
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BanaPads, a SEED Story from Uganda
Published: 04 November 2015
BanaPads Social Enterprise produces comfortable sanitary pads from natural agricultural waste materials. They are low-cost, 100% biodegradable, safe and hygienic, and made locally, following international standards. The objective of this enterprise is to reduce absenteeism of schoolgirls in rural and poor communities while creating a women’s entrepreneur network through which the pads are distributed and sustainable independent micro-businesses are established. Read more
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SEED Africa Symposium 2015: Building Bridges for Impact
Published: 19 October 2015
Building Bridges for Impact was the goal of the 2015 Africa Symposium. More than 500 entrepreneurs, business leaders, investors, practitioners and policy makers examined emerging trends in the green and entrepreneurship space and looked into ways of constructing new bridges to amplify the impact of social and eco-enterprises. Special attention was also given to the role of eco-entrepreneurship in the Post-2015 agenda. Read more
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Boosting support for social and environmental entrepreneurship in Namibia
Published: 15 October 2015 Julia Rohe-Frydrych
Small, micro and medium enterprises (SMMEs) contribute an estimated 12 per cent towards Namibia’s gross domestic product and employ about 20 per cent of the country’s workforce. Read more
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Setting the Stage for Green & Inclusive Growth through Entrepreneurship
Published: 02 October 2015 Carolin Ehrensperger, Jana Rudnik
"Where many conventional start-up enterprises fail after only two years, more than three out of four SEED Winners have not, that is the major outcome of this flagship report“, Ibrahim Thiaw, UNEP Deputy Executive Director and UN Assistant-Secretary-General. Read more
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Celebrating 10 Years of SEED Awards (2005-2015)
Published: 22 September 2015
Ten years ago, at the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (UNCSD) in New York, 5 enterprises received the first SEED Awards. They were chosen, from a pool of over 260 entries from 66 countries, for their potential to advance sustainable development in their communities and contribute to the UN's Millennium Development Goals. Read more
Plates from Fallen Leaves, Bricks from Plastic Waste and Sight Saving Mobile Apps – Green Innovation Highlighted at 2015 SEED Awards
Published: 09 September 2015
27 eco-inclusive enterprises are recognized at the 2015 SEED Africa Symposium. Read more
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Turning Ideas into Impact: SEED 10 Year Flagship Report
Published: 08 September 2015 Carolin Ehrensperger, Jana Rudnik, Jona Liebl, Mirko Zürker
Over the last ten years SEED has supported more than 200 social and environmental enterprises enabling collaboration and peer learning. SEED’s inspiring success story and significant key lessons have now been captured with a 10 Year Flagship Report. Read more
Case Study: Watamu Community Solid Waste Management and Recycling Enterprises
Published: 07 September 2015
Watamu Solid Waste Management and Recycling helps conserve coastal and marine biodiversity by recycling plastic and glass waste. Read more
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Enterprise Brief: Alternative Energy Source for Heating
Published: 06 September 2015
Alternative Energy Source for Heating provides briquettes made from rice husks as an energy source for both urban and rural households. Families are consequently less dependent on charcoal or fuelwood, and deforestation and air pollution are reduced. The initiative also promotes youth entrepreneurship. Read more
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Enterprise Brief: Masole Ammele
Published: 06 September 2015
Masole Ammele breeds and grows fish through permaculture techniques in ponds managed by local communities. Each village responsible for a pond receives training on organic fish breeding and generates income from selling the fish, while the enterprise earns a commission. Read more
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Enterprise Brief: P.E.A.C.E. - Thinana Recycling Cooperative
Published: 06 September 2015
P.E.A.C.E. - Thinana Recycling Cooperative engages with local communities in the implementation of a waste recycling network in Senwabarwana, Limpopo Province. The enterprise trains waste collectors and has established a purchasing scheme and collection point network for waste collected in the semi-urban community and its rural environment. Read more
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Shaping Sustainable Development through Eco-entrepreneurship
Published: 01 September 2015 Amélie Heuër, Bart Slob, Helena Posthumus, Rainer Agster, Roger Bymolt
Small, micro and medium enterprises (SMMEs) that pursue a triple bottom line approach offer one concrete means of achieving this shift to a Green Economy. This report highlights grassroots eco-enterprises, the types of impact they are achieving and the challenges and opportunities they face. Read more
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Growing Green and Inclusive Entrepreneurship for Sustainable Development in South Africa
Published: 01 September 2015 Amélie Heuër, Dr. Mira Slavova, Rainer Agster
SEED has worked closely with the Gordon Institute for Business Science in 2015 on a study that integrates for policy-makers the findings of five case studies in South Africa. As concerns with accomplishing SDG goals have become inextricably lodged within social and policy debates, scholars studying SMMEs have developed understandings of enterprises embedded within complex institutional environments. The current study has looked how SEED Winners in South Africa progress in achieving their triple bottom line objectives, taking into account challenges they encounter along the way, and success factors that have enabled them to move forward. Read more
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The next challenge for impact investing: Scaling up support to early stage social enterprises
Published: 13 August 2015 Bertil van Vugt, Mirko Zürker
The growth and success of green and inclusive business models with high impact potential is central to the challenges many emerging economies are facing. Read more
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Rural Enterprise Network, a SEED Story from Sri Lanka
Published: 06 August 2015
The Rural Enterprise Network (REN) is a social marketing organization established in 2002 by networking rural farmers and producers in South of Sri Lanka. Their concept was developed based on the observation that access to markets and other BDS was lacking in rural micro-business interventions in the country. The REN model addresses these gaps, providing marketing-related services to increase market access for poor small-scale producers. The enterprise has won a SEED Awards in 2010. Read more
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Enterprise Brief: Black Gold Farm Manure
Published: 06 July 2015
Black Gold Farm Manure sells natural fertiliser produced from chicken manure and farm residues acquired from local smallholder farmers to households and farms in Malawi, providing training and employment to women and farmers from local communities. Read more
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Enterprise Brief: Botanic Treasures
Published: 06 July 2015
Botanic Treasures Ltd is a social enterprise empowering over 500 smallholder farmers to grow Moringa oleifera, a highly nutritious edible plant. Improving the livelihoods of farmers with additional income, the enterprise produces nutritional supplements and fortified foods that combat malnutrition and degenerative diseases, and support food security. Read more
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Enterprise Brief: Bwengu Tomato Production and Processing
Published: 06 July 2015
Bwengu Tomato Production and Processing is a cooperative that applies a resource efficient system for tomato plantations. Its members run a water-saving drip irrigation system for the plantations and sell both raw tomatoes as well as tomato sauce in nearby markets. Read more
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Enterprise Brief: COMSOL Cooperative for Environmental Solutions
Published: 06 July 2015
“COMSOL Cooperative for Environmental Solutions” is a women-led initiative that collects, buys, separates, cleans and resells recyclable solid waste to companies in Maputo. The initiative benefits individuals in vulnerable conditions in neighbouring areas by involving them in the collection process. Read more
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Enterprise Brief: Days for Girls Uganda
Published: 06 July 2015
Days for Girls Uganda empowers girls and women around menstrual hygiene. Partnering with local community groups, the enterprise provides training for women to produce and distribute washable menstrual hygiene kits and soaps, while supporting with business training, reproductive health education, and community awareness. Read more
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Enterprise Brief: East Africa Fruit Farm and Company
Published: 06 July 2015
East Africa Fruit Farm and Company trades and markets fresh fruit and vegetables, significantly reducing post-harvest losses by cold storage and powering all activities with renewable energy. Smallholder farmers in the supply chain are supported with fair prices and readily prepared land. Read more
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Enterprise Brief: EcoBrick Exchange
Published: 06 July 2015
By turning rubbish into building materials, the EcoBrick Exchange tackles plastic pollution on the streets, teaches environmental awareness, generates community participation, and assists in building education centres. Read more
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