Global Opportunities for Sustainable Development Goals (GO4SDGs)
Published: 11 May 2020
As part of Germany and UNEP’s commitment to step up their efforts to achieve the SDGs, the German Ministry of Environment, Nature Conservation, and Nuclear Safety (BMUB) and UNEP launched the initiative ‘Global Opportunities for Sustainable Development Goals’ (or in short: GO for SDGs) in January 2020. Read more
SDGs:
Filling the Missing Middle Financing Gap | Scoping Paper, Indonesia 2020
Published: 08 May 2020 Maggie Sloan, Net Pornlumon Nirachatsuwan
This scoping paper provides the basis for the implementation of the collaborative, multi-step process of the SEED Practitioner Labs Climate Finance in Indonesia in 2020. Indonesia’s richness in biodiversity and vibrant landscape of small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) present a significant opportunity for the country to meet its development objectives while reducing its climate impacts and improving climate resilience across sectors. In particular, climate-smart SMEs – offering products and services for climate change adaptation and/or mitigation – are well positioned to absorb and scale the environmental, social and economic impacts of global climate finance flows in line with Indonesia’s climate action objectives. Read more
SDGs:
Supporting the Resilience of Eco-Inclusive Enterprises during the COVID-19 Pandemic
Published: 06 May 2020
Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, enterprises around the world are now facing several sudden challenges such as not generating revenues anymore, missing customer base, productions on-hold, transport constraints et cetera. In order to support eco-inclusive enterprises that are or have been part of the SEED programme, SEED has launched an online workshop series tackling these issues eco-inclusive enterprises are currently encountering. Read more
9 Ingredients for Successful Fundraising
Published: 04 May 2020 Tione Kaonga
In addition to fundraising tips shared by SEED supported enterprises in Malawi, Tione Kaonga, BDS provider and SEED Coordinator in Malawi shares his perspectives on conducting successful fundraising for eco-inclusive SMEs. Read more
The Art of the Virtual Pitch
Published: 30 April 2020
How can you capture the attention of your audience and deliver a strong message to alight their interest? Read below for some tips and tricks! Read more
Crowdfunding Campaigns That Need Your Support During COVID-19
Published: 28 April 2020
Crowdfunding is one way businesses are staying afloat during these difficult times, to mitigate their COVID-related financial losses and hopefully bounce back stronger. Here is a list of campaigns launched by enterprises. These campaigns aim to provide financial and non-financial support to health facilities and people in vulnerable conditions. We invite you to support these if you can! Read more
SDGs:
SEED Award Finalist AET AFRICA Makes Face Visors for Frontline Workers
Bhongo Jacob Source: DispatchLive
SEED Award Finalist AET AFRICA Featured on DispatchLive as they make protective personal protective equipment (PPE) to help prevent the spread of the coronavirus in South Africa. Read more
SDGs:
How to Make the Most of the Lockdown Period for Your Enterprise?
Published: 21 April 2020 Kathrin Kirsch
The current global lockdown, finds many of us working from home, limiting interactions with team members, customers and partners and reducing new business opportunities. Henry Othieno, CEO of Tusafishe, shares some inspiring strategies on how Tusafishe is nonetheless making the most of the situation, and may just come out stronger from the lockdown. Read more
SDGs:
Resources and Financial Help for SMEs Affected by COVID-19
Published: 21 April 2020
COVID-19 is affecting all of us around the globe, but economic and financial support is especially needed in emerging and developing economies. Here you will find a list of funding resources available for SMEs across the world suffering economic disruption due to the pandemic. Read more
When a Crisis Presents an Opportunity for Innovation
Published: 20 April 2020 Linde Wolters
Flexibility and resilience are essential when it comes to adversity. “There are always opportunities,” says Gabriel Okello, the enterprise’s business development manager. “A crisis presents opportunities for innovation. Whether it is “mobile money solutions, combining deliveries or tracking and data-driven solutions.” Read more
SDGs:
Eco-Inclusive Enterprises Innovating to Fight COVID-19
Published: 17 April 2020 Khawla Rammali, Linde Wolters, Sonya Ong
A few innovative SEED-supported enterprises are coming up with resourceful ways to not only keep themselves afloat but also to solve the problems their communities are facing due to the COVID-19 crisis. Read more
SDGs:
An Inspiring Perspective on COVID-19 From Fang Thai’s CEO
Published: 15 April 2020 Supapim Wannopas
January 13 marked the first reported coronavirus case outside of China – it was reported in Thailand. A little more than 2 weeks later – on January 30, WHO declared COVID-19 a global public health emergency. This emergency doesn’t only pose a threat to individual health but, inevitably, also affects our healthy enterprises.
SEED had a chance to catch up with our 2019 SEED Awards winner from Thailand, Fang Thai Factory, on how they are doing and dealing with the epidemic. There are some key points we feel could benefit and/or inspire peers who face a similar struggle. Read more
SEED had a chance to catch up with our 2019 SEED Awards winner from Thailand, Fang Thai Factory, on how they are doing and dealing with the epidemic. There are some key points we feel could benefit and/or inspire peers who face a similar struggle. Read more
Fang Thai’s 5 Fundamental Factors to Help You Deal With Change
Published: 15 April 2020 Supapim Wannopas
Resilience is important to business, especially for those that are small in size or just starting out. Why? Because a small starter enterprise usually has built up fewer resources and network to withstand financial or other hardship for a long period of time. Yet, its strength is also in its size: its flexibility. This elasticity allows for a quick response, a shift in tactics and making changes easily. Here Jaruwan shares the five fundamental factors that allow her business to endure and adapt. Read more
BDS+ Special Focus India: Three reasons to join a Training of Trainers in India
Published: 10 April 2020 Lina Gutierrez, Linde Wolters
SEED is looking forward to bringing Training of Trainers (ToTs) workshops for Business Development Service (BDS) providers also to non-metro cities in India. SEED trains BDS providers on toolified and collaborative approaches that help early stage eco-inclusive enterprises have more impact. Read more
Digital Innovations by Eco-Inclusive Enterprises: In the Waste Sector
Published: 08 April 2020 Khawla Rammali, Sonya Ong
The improvement of waste management systems across the world is vital to reduce environmental degradation, but only 9% of the world’s plastic waste was recycled by 2015. But digital solutions can support changes in consumer behaviour and increase the education of residents on proper waste sorting techniques and the availability of door-to-door collection. Read more
SDGs:
How to improve your enterprise immunity to COVID-19? Some food for thought from SEED Indonesia Winner 2019 Mycotech
Published: 07 April 2020 Linde Wolters, Supapim Wannopas
The term “survival of the fittest” suggests that organisms best adjusted to their environment are the most successful in surviving, it seems this also applies to business in tough times.
Adaptiveness is certainly a quality that Adi Reza Nugroho, the CEO of Mycotech, an enterprise producing leather and leather products from mushrooms, has in spades. Resilient to changes, positive but not too optimistic, he hopes for the best but prepares for the worst. Here he shares his coping strategies dealing with the COVID situation. Read more
Adaptiveness is certainly a quality that Adi Reza Nugroho, the CEO of Mycotech, an enterprise producing leather and leather products from mushrooms, has in spades. Resilient to changes, positive but not too optimistic, he hopes for the best but prepares for the worst. Here he shares his coping strategies dealing with the COVID situation. Read more
SDGs:
BDS+ Special Focus Zambia: Three reasons to join a Training of Trainers in Zambia
Published: 07 April 2020 Lina Gutierrez, Linde Wolters
Through the Training of Trainers (ToT), SEED is helping Business Development Services (BDS) advisors and enterprises harness opportunities that arise from climate change. Read more
Farmerline Educates Farmers in Rural Communities About COVID-19
Farmerline Source: Farmerline
Farmerline is reaching out to farmers across Ghana through mobile voice messages translated in local languages to give them vital information and awareness of COVID-19. They are also running a campaign on social media to enlist volunteers to record voice messages in 13 additional local languages. Read more
Digital Innovation for Eco-Inclusive Enterprises
Published: 30 March 2020 Khawla Rammali, Linde Wolters, Sonya Ong
Digital innovation is a great way to accelerate social, environmental and economic transformation, for enterprises to tackle challenges such as climate change, food security, gender equality, and scale-up solutions more quickly through technology. Read more
SDGs:
Digital Innovations by Eco-Inclusive Enterprises: In the Agriculture Sector
Published: 30 March 2020 Khawla Rammali, Sonya Ong
Digital innovations can bring significant benefits to stakeholders in the agriculture sector. Take rural farmers who face challenges including a lack of access to information on markets, need advice on productivity gains, and struggle with obtaining credit and low levels of financial inclusion. Read more
SDGs:
Malawian Enterprises share their Fundraising Tips for Small Enterprises
Published: 27 March 2020 Alina Weiss, Sonya Ong
Seven of our SEED Malawi eco-inclusive enterprises – Chonona, Green Impact Technologies, Green Ventures, Honey Products, Hortinet, InteWaste and Ziweto – were recently able to raise significant funds that will help them to scale-up and achieve their full impact potential. We asked them to share their fundraising journey and learnings with you. Read more
Our COVID-19 Update: Share Your Stories or Get in Touch
Published: 27 March 2020
At SEED, we have been concerned and touched by the COVID-19 pandemic as well. As of last week, we have moved into remote working mode. Read more
Promoting Zimbabwean entrepreneurship at Sankalp Africa Summit 2020
Published: 13 March 2020
As part of a panel at the Sankalp Africa summit 2020, four SEED representatives joined a panel on impact investing in Zimbabwe to do some myth busting and explain present investment opportunities in the country. Read more
BDS+ Special Focus Uganda: Three reasons to join a Training of Trainers in Uganda
Published: 10 March 2020 Lina Gutierrez, Linde Wolters
SEED brings BDS advisors together to share experiences and increase mutual collaboration, allowing for the ecosystem and practitioner community to grow and mature. Read on to find out more about the opportunities SEED ToTs bring to BDS providers, and why we think our tools and training are a good fit for that market. Read more
SEED Congratulates Seven Malawi Enterprises on their Latest Success
Published: 28 February 2020
Seven of our SEED Malawi eco-inclusive enterprises - Chonona, Green Impact Technologies, Green Ventures, Honey Products, Hortinet, Inte Waste and Ziweto – were recently able to raise funds that will help them scale-up and achieve their full growth potential. Read more
SDGs:
