SEED Library

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

Eco-Inclusive Enterprises: Accelerating Southern Africa’s Green and Inclusive Economies

Published: 02 September 2020
Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) provide 50% of jobs, contribute to over 35% of the GDP in emerging economies, and overall make up 90% of registered firms across the world. They are especially impactful in emerging economies as they work toward inclusive growth and equality for marginalised populations. At SEED, we focus on growing eco-inclusive enterprises which in turn contribute socially, economically, and environmentally to empowering the 5.2 billion people at the bottom of the pyramid worldwide.

This report examines the yearly impact of 80 of our eco-inclusive enterprises in three of our SEED countries: Zambia, Zimbabwe, and Malawi. These locally embedded enterprises, 51% of which are women-led, demonstrate that driving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) can indeed be profitable and with a success rate of 82.5% still in business, they show long-lasting impact in each of their communities and sectors. Read more
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Climate-Smart Innovation In Agricultural Production And Distribution: Replicator Workbook

Published: 07 July 2020
Smallholder and subsistence farmers are likely to suffer from rising temperatures and extreme weather events; while on the other hand, agriculture itself is a relevant driver of impacts on the climate. This shows how crucial it is to develop climate-smart ways of production and distribution in agriculture and which important role eco-inclusive enterprises play in contributing to climate change mitigation and adaptation. Climate-resilient farming methods, sustainable value chains, and innovative products and methods bring innovation to the agricultural sector. Contribute to climate-smart agriculture by replicating an eco-inclusive enterprise providing innovations in production and distribution. Get inspired by various proven business models and take the first steps towards agricultural innovations in your own community! Read more
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Health And Hygiene: Improving Access To Climate-Smart WASH Products: Replicator Workbook

Published: 07 July 2020
Water is one of the main channels through which people, ecosystems and economies will feel climate change impacts. Missing access to Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) still poses challenges to people worldwide, while unsustainable products and services can have a big negative impact on both human and environmental health. Access to climate-smart WASH products & services leads to healthier lifestyles on personal and community levels while equally promoting environmental action. With eco-friendly yet innovative products, you can decrease vulnerabilities or tap into a growing market of environmentally-conscious customers. Exploit this potential and set up your own eco-inclusive enterprise providing access to climate-smart WASH products & services. Learn from proven business models around the globe and take the first steps towards offering sustainable solutions to your community. Read more
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Climate-Smart Technology Solutions For Households: Replicator Workbook

Published: 07 July 2020
Energy production and consumption are the largest sources of global greenhouse gas emissions. Economic development will increase people’s need for access to reliable and affordable energy further. Smart energy solutions focus on making climate-smart technology available and affordable to households. These solutions have the potential to improve living conditions and strengthens the economic conditions of communities. They come from renewable sources, make use of an off-grid design, or, through their energy efficiency and conservation, avoid and reduce emissions. Innovative energy products improve accessibility to climate-smart technology and provide additional capacity-building in rural areas through technical training. Get inspired by a range of proven business models and learnings on how to set up your own enterprise to create such benefits for households in your community. Read more
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Closing The Loop With Climate-Smart Waste Management Solutions: Replicator Workbook

Published: 07 July 2020
Current amounts of waste generation and insufficient waste management affect ecosystems worldwide negatively. Thus, the waste management sector is a promising area for reducing pressure on our natural resources and carbon emissions. Managing waste through strategies such as rethinking products, reducing resource use and recycling materials contribute towards a more circular economy. Climate-smart solutions presented in this workbook transform waste into entirely new materials, such as pavement tiles, alternative house building blocks, or paper made from grass. Get inspired by proven business models around the globe and learn how to create impactful and innovative solutions around waste management for your community. Read more
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Collaborative Business Models for Smallholder Farming: Replicator Workbook

Published: 18 December 2018
This Collaborative Business Models for Smallholder Farming: Replicator Workbook preview provides insights and tools to entrepreneurs seeking to start-up an enterprise that improves livelihoods of individual smallholder farmers together. Our SEED Replicator Workbooks were developed to guide entrepreneurs through the process of transferring a proven successful business model to another geographic location using hands-on SEED tools and business model insights. Read more
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Local Clean Cookstove Enterprises: Replicator Workbook

Published: 18 December 2018
This Local Clean Cookstove Enterprises: Replicator Workbook preview provides insights and tools to entrepreneurs seeking to start-up an enterprise in the market for clean cookstoves and opportunities along the value chain. Our SEED Replicator Workbooks were developed to guide entrepreneurs through the process of transferring a proven successful business model to another geographic location using hands-on SEED tools and business model insights. Read more
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Green Products for Health and Sanitation: Replicator Workbook

Published: 18 December 2018
This Green Products for Health and Sanitation: Replicator Workbook preview provides insights and tools to entrepreneurs seeking to start-up an enterprise that explores converting organic material into health and daily sanitation products. Our SEED Replicator Workbooks were developed to guide entrepreneurs through the process of transferring a proven successful business model to another geographic location using hands-on SEED tools and business model insights. Read more
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Plastic Upcycling: Replicator Workbook

Published: 18 December 2018
This Plastic Upcycling: Replicator Workbook preview provides insights and tools to entrepreneurs seeking to start-up an enterprise that converts solid plastic waste into valueable products. Our SEED Replicator Workbooks were developed to guide entrepreneurs through the process of transferring a proven successful business model to another geographic location using hands-on SEED tools and business model insights. Read more
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Innovative Solar Energy Solutions for Marginalised Customers: Replicator Workbook

Published: 18 December 2018
This Innovative Solar Energy Solutions for Marginalised Customers: Replicator Workbook preview provides insights and tools to entrepreneurs seeking to start-up an enterprise that tackles the lack of access to energy for poor people into tailored off-grid solutions for BOP customers. Our SEED Replicator Workbooks were developed to guide entrepreneurs through the process of transferring a proven successful business model to another geographic location using hands-on SEED tools and business model insights. Read more
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Driving Sustainable Community Development through Bottom-up Solar Energy Innovation: Replicator Workbook

Published: 18 December 2018
This Driving Sustainable Community Development through Bottom-up Solar Energy Innovation: Replicator Workbook preview provides insights and tools to entrepreneurs seeking to start-up an enterprise that capitalises on income generation of innovative bottom-up solar energy products. Our SEED Replicator Workbooks were developed to guide entrepreneurs through the process of transferring a proven successful business model to another geographic location using hands-on SEED tools and business model insights. Read more
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ICT Solutions for Agriculture: Replicator Workbook

Published: 18 December 2018
This ICT Solutions for Agriculture: Replicator Workbook preview provides insights and tools to entrepreneurs seeking to start-up an enterprise in the market for ICT solutions along inclusive agriculture value chains. Our SEED Replicator Workbooks were developed to guide entrepreneurs through the process of transferring a proven successful business model to another geographic location using hands-on SEED tools and business model insights. Read more
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Agricultural Product Processing: Replicator Workbook

Published: 18 December 2018
This Agricultural Product Processing: Replicator Workbook preview provides insights and tools to entrepreneurs seeking to start-up an enterprise that converts local natural raw materials into value-added products. Our SEED Replicator Workbooks were developed to guide entrepreneurs through the process of transferring a proven successful business model to another geographic location using hands-on SEED tools and business model insights. Read more
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Waste to Biogas: Replicator Workbook

Published: 18 December 2018
This Waste to Biogas: Replicator Workbook preview provides insights and tools to entrepreneurs seeking to start-up an enterprise that converts organic waste to energy. Our SEED Replicator Workbooks were developed to guide entrepreneurs through the process of transferring a proven successful business model to another geographic location using hands-on SEED tools and business model insights. Read more
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Irrigation Solutions For Smallholder Farmers: Replicator Workbook

Published: 18 December 2018
This Irrigation Solutions For Smallholder Farmers: Replicator Workbook preview provides insights and tools to entrepreneurs seeking to start-up an enterprise in the market for irrigation technologies. Our SEED Replicator Workbooks were developed to guide entrepreneurs through the process of transferring a proven successful business model to another geographic location using hands-on SEED tools and business model insights. Read more
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From Beehives to Market: Replicator Workbook

Published: 18 December 2018
This From Beehives to Market: Replicator Workbook preview provides insights and tools to entrepreneurs seeking to start-up an enterprise that capitalises on the many opportunities for processing and value-addition for known primary bee products. Our SEED Replicator Workbooks were developed to guide entrepreneurs through the process of transferring a proven successful business model to another geographic location using hands-on SEED tools and business model insights. Read more
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Last Mile Distribution Enterprises: Replicator Workbook

Published: 18 December 2018
This Last Mile Distribution Enterprises: Replicator Workbook preview provides insights and tools to entrepreneurs seeking to start-up an enterprise that tackles market inaccessibility in remote areas by spreading benefits of solar power through last mile distribution. Our SEED Replicator Workbooks were developed to guide entrepreneurs through the process of transferring a proven successful business model to another geographic location using hands-on SEED tools and business model insights. Read more
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Sustainable Tourism Enterprises: Replicator Workbook

Published: 18 December 2018
This Sustainable Tourism Enterprises: Replicator Workbook preview provides insights and tools to entrepreneurs seeking to start-up an enterprise that explores opportunities along the tourism value chain. Our SEED Replicator Workbooks were developed to guide entrepreneurs through the process of transferring a proven successful business model to another geographic location using hands-on SEED tools and business model insights. Read more
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Waste to Industrial Resources: Replicator Workbook

Published: 18 December 2018
This Waste to Industrial Resources: Replicator Workbook preview provides insights and tools to entrepreneurs seeking to start-up an enterprise that converts solid waste such as glass, metals, paper and plastic into industrial resources. Our SEED Replicator Workbooks were developed to guide entrepreneurs through the process of transferring a proven successful business model to another geographic location using hands-on SEED tools and business model insights. Read more
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Briquettes from Biomass: Replicator Workbook

Published: 13 December 2018
This Briquettes from Biomass: Replicator Workbook preview provides insights and tools to entrepreneurs seeking to start-up to transform biowaste to a valuable and green energy source. Our SEED Replicator Workbooks were developed to guide entrepreneurs through the process of transferring a proven successful business model to another geographic location using hands-on SEED tools and business model insights. Read more
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White Paper on Collaboration for Impact through Replication Support Services

Published: 16 November 2016Authors: Christine Meyer, Jan Dumkow, Lina Frank, Mirko Zürker
This White Paper offers inspiration as well as guidance towards initiating collaboration between different actors offering replication support services for eco-inclusive enterprises. The findings and conclusions expressed in this paper are based on research and expert discussions at the SEED Africa Symposium 2016. This is the first white paper of a new SEED White Paper Series. Read more

Replicating Eco-Inclusive Business Models: A Contribution to Sustainable Low-Carbon Economies

Published: 01 February 2016Authors: 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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