SEED Library

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

Commercialisation of climate change adaptation innovations | Policy, South Africa 2019

Published: 21 October 2019Authors: Camilla Shearman, Julia Haack
The proposed independent institution brings public and private stakeholders together with a focus of providing support for the commercialisation of climate change adaptation technologies. The convening independent institution would host a platform of support services including funding, market information, and opportunities for pre-commercial procurement. The solution will therefore act as a “one stop shop” for SMEs during commercialisation. Read more
SDGs:

Leveraging eco-inclusive entrepreneurship for localised development solutions | Policy Brief Malawi

Published: 21 October 2019Authors: Camilla Shearman, Christine Meyer, Maggie Sloan, Marlena Kiefl
In a global context of commitments to sustainable development and the mitigation of and adaptation to climate change, Malawi has set out ambitious agendas to increase resilience to climate change and move towards a green and inclusive economy. Translating these ambitious agendas into impact at the community level requires concerted efforts in the decentralisation of policy initiatives and capacity building of local actors. SMMEs play a key role in aligning local markets to national development goals, and can have a transformational impact on the achievement of these goals. Drawing on discussions from the SEED policy dialogue and labs process in Malawi, this policy brief presents recommendations to policy makers for leveraging the potential of SMMEs to transform the agriculture, waste, and clean energy sectors in Malawi, and across Southern Africa. Read more
SDGs:

Building a conducive environment for SME labour absorption | Policy, South Africa 2019

Published: 21 October 2019Authors: Camilla Shearman, Julia Haack
This policy instrument targets the strengthening of an enabling environment to promote SME growth and related labour absorption. This is to be achieved through increasing access to incentives for SMEs, as well as targeting size- and sector-based programmes to encourage growth. The thought group will act as an information platform for intermediaries and policy makers to unblock barriers facing SMEs when it comes to job creation, as well as to target programmes and investments based on sector. A focus on green jobs will help to define green sectors with high potential for job creation and encourage SME growth and job creation within these sectors . Read more
SDGs:

Incentivising activity in the biomass sector | Policy, South Africa 2019

Published: 21 October 2019Authors: Camilla Shearman, Julia Haack
This policy prototype looks to the biomass-to-energy value chain to pilot a mechanism that will catalyse sound decision-making in the biomass sector, leading to the implementation of sustainable invasive alien clearing, harvesting and biomass utilisation projects that connect to well-supported energy markets. In order to address the challenges that small and medium businesses in this sector currently face, the prototype involves setting up a knowledge-sharing platform to provide value chain specific information, biomass to energy case studies, and information on how to navigate regulatory frameworks, policy and fiscal incentives. Read more
SDGs:

Cooperative-to-Cooperative Platform: Expanding networks for community-led business development | Policy, Malawi 2019

Published: 21 October 2019Authors: Alina Weiss, Maggie Sloan, Marlena Kiefl
The cooperative-to-cooperative platform for climate-smart agriculture is a digital platform offering combined performance indexing, knowledge sharing, and matchmaking between cooperative unions and cooperatives across Malawi. The platform supports the further coordination of cooperatives and public sector initiatives in Malawi. Read more
SDGs:

BDS+ Special Focus 5: Business Development Services+, not just for business people. Who else could benefit?

Published: 11 October 2019Authors: Linde Wolters, Sonya Ong
Often when we think about business development services, we think about consultants who help businesses grow and scale. We asked some of our past BDS ToT participants which other actors would benefit from BDS ToT and here is what they suggested. Read more
SDGs:

BDS+ Special Focus 4: Networking & Partnerships - Possibilities at the SEED BDS+ ToTs

Published: 04 October 2019Authors: Linde Wolters, Sonya Ong
At SEED ToTs, participants – BDS consultants, incubators and accelerators – enjoy peer-learning and have the opportunity to network and build partnerships. When we asked several BDS ToT participants what their main takeaways were from the workshops, many mentioned the networking possibilities and new partnerships formed. Read more
SDGs:

BDS+ Special Focus 3: BDS Providers & Challenges in the eco-system

Published: 27 September 2019Authors: Linde Wolters, Sonya Ong
BDS providers provide crucial help eco-inclusive, micro, small, and medium enterprises to overcome day to day challenges around fundraising, direction or finding talent. Are you a BDS provider? Read on to find out if you share similar challenges with others. Read more
SDGs:

BDS+ Special Focus 2: Experiences & Takeaways from BDS+ ToT workshops

Published: 20 September 2019Authors: Linde Wolters, Sonya Ong
We caught up with a number of BDS providers from Ghana to Indonesia to see how BDS providers experienced the training. What were their biggest takeaways? Read more

Building healthier communities with Khainza Energy

Published: 18 September 2019Authors: Linde Wolters, Sonya Ong
“Khainza” is a reference to a small person with high energy and ability. It is also Arthur Woniala, the founder's, mother’s maiden name. Khainza Energy is committed to providing clean, safe, and affordable cooking fuel solutions to Ugandans. We caught up with Arthur to hear how SEED Support has helped change his business & what Khainza is up to these days.  Read more
SDGs:

BDS+ Special Focus 1: SEED Tools & Enterprises’ Triple Bottom Line

Published: 13 September 2019Authors: Linde Wolters
Are you a business coach or do you work for an incubator or business support organisation in Asia or Africa? Here are three reasons to focus on the social and environmental impact of the start-ups you work with. Read more
SDGs:

BDS+ Training of Trainers: Special Focus

Published: 11 September 2019Authors: Linde Wolters, Sonya Ong
BDS providers offer valuable support for SMEs, often behind the scenes. In this five-part special focus blog series, we caught up with a number of BDS providers from Ghana, Indonesia, India, Thailand, and Uganda. Read more
SDGs:

Adidas, Orlando Pirates create EcoBricks for Mandela Day

Authors: BizCommunity Source: BizCommunity
Adidas and Orlando Pirates Football Club gave back on Mandela Day by learning about the importance of adopting sustainable practices and by creating EcoBricks using non-recyclable plastic waste, in partnership with SEED Award Winner EcoBrick Exchange. Read more

Green The Map opens "Remakery India", a local upcycle space

Authors: Green The Map Source: Green The Map
After months of hard work Green The Map's team has successfully curated an upcycled space that we call the @indiaremakery where customers can borrow, batter and buy so that less of what we consume ends up in the landfill. The doors to Remakery India open to public on 14 September 2019. Read more

Coffee helps protect Uganda's endangered mountain gorillas

Authors: Deutsche Welle Source: Deutsche Welle
Gorilla Conservation Coffee is featured in this story by Deutsche Welle focusing on how coffee offers a more sustainable living for poor communities in the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. Read more

Sanedi signs contract with SolarTurtle to develop next-gen solar kiosks

Authors: Schalk Burger Source: Engineering News
The South African National Energy Development Institute (Sanedi), the Department of Science and Technology (DST) and community empowerment solar photovoltaic (PV) product developer SolarTurtle have signed a contract to develop the next-generation SolarTurtle solar energy kiosk, called the BabyTurtle. Read more

Ghanaian agri-tech startup Farmerline secures AfDB grant funding

Authors: Tom Jackson Source: Disrupt Africa
Ghanaian agri-tech startup Farmerline is set to receive grant funding from the African Development Bank’s $23 million Agriculture Fast Track Fund. Read more

SEED & Climate Smart Enterprises

Published: 11 August 2019
At SEED, the enterprises that we support pioneer business models based on environmental sustainability and the creation of responsible products, services and value chains. Read more
SDGs:

WASHKing runner-up wins €10,000 at Siemens Empowering People Award

Authors: Siemens Stiftung Source: Siemens Stiftung
2017 SAG-SEED Award Winner WASHKing who provides low-income and underserved communities with access to sanitation products at an affordable price has won runner-up place at the Empowering People Award by Siemens Stiftung. #epA2019 Read more
SDGs:

Syndicate for Renewable Energy Infrastructure Financing | Climate Finance, Uganda 2018

Published: 09 July 2019Authors: Alina Weiss, Maggie Sloan
The syndicate for renewable energy infrastructure financing solution contracts a community of interested debt and equity lenders to finance household RE projects. It enables and leverages syndication effects to increase the number of new financial partnerships, raise debt in the RE sector and multiply returns on investments. Investors are legally bound in the syndicate, which finances RE infrastructure projects based on comprehensive project analysis, due diligence and evaluation. High ROI potential projects receive financing through insurance, blended financing or otherwise, depending on the financing service offerings of member financiers. The syndicate supports RE infrastructure projects to plan project implementation and schedules payments accordingly. Read more
SDGs:

Mobile-Enabled Microinsurance for Climate Resilient Agriculture | Climate Finance, Uganda 2018

Published: 09 July 2019Authors: Alina Weiss, Maggie Sloan
The mobile-enabled microinsurance solution catalyses mobile-based technology to increase access to and improve the quality of agriculture insurance solutions offered to small-scale agribusinesses in Uganda. This product insures small-scale agribusinesses who produce commercial crops against production losses, monitored using real-time weather indexing. Product delivery, servicing and claims pay-outs are facilitated by a network of insurance agents supported by local-level representatives and mobile-money and communication technology. Read more
SDGs:

Irrigation System Microleasing for High-Value Crops | Climate Finance, Uganda 2018

Published: 08 July 2019Authors: Alina Weiss, Maggie Sloan
The irrigation system microleasing for high-value crops solution mitigates investment risks for both farmers and financial institutions. The irrigation system financing model directs financing for climate-smart irrigation technologies through technology providers to agribusinesses that produce (or have the potential to produce) commercial crops that generate higher profits at market. The financing mechanism for irrigation systems engages the private sector to maximise returns on investment in productive farm assets (specifically irrigation) in the agriculture sector. Read more
SDGs:

EcoAct Tanzania wins at 2019 Le Monde Cities Urban Innovation Awards

Authors: Par Marion Douet Source: Le Monde
2018 SEED Low Carbon Awards winner EcoAct Tanzania wins "Habitat" award at the 2019 Le Monde Cities Urban Innovation Awards. The Awards was presented on June 28 in Paris, France. EcoAct recycles and transforms plastic waste into sustainable building materials as an alternative to wood with the aim to preserve forests and mitigate negative climate change effects. [Article in French] Read more
SDGs:

Gorilla Conservation Coffee shortlisted for the 2019 Tusk Award for Conservation in Africa.

Authors: Tusk News Source: Tusk News
The Duke Of Cambridge Celebrates Tusk's Front-Line Conservation Heroes: Dr Gladys Kalema-Zikusoka of Gorilla Conservation Coffee has been shortlisted for the 2019 Tusk Award for Conservation in Africa. Read more
SDGs:

Daily Dump featured at VAM's Food: Bigger Than The Plate exhibition

Authors: Victoria and Albert Museum Source: Victoria and Albert Museum
SEED Low Carbon Award Winner 2018 Daily Dump (India) features their home-compost products at the Victoria & Albert Museum (London) exhibition on innovative individuals, communities and organisations who are radically re-inventing how we grow, distribute and experience food. The Exhibition is on now until Sunday, 20 October 2019. Read more
SDGs: