Sustainable Future of Agro-Processing: Policy Pathways for Eco-Inclusive Enterprises in South Africa
Published: 01 June 2018 Christine Meyer, Janet Mkhabela, Maggie Sloan
Innovation of the agro-processing sector has been identified – and supported through policy measures and funding initiatives – as central to the low carbon, inclusive economic transition in South Africa. Small and medium-sized eco-inclusive enterprises in the sector play a pivotal role in mitigating the impacts of climate change and tackling poverty and social inequalities. Read more
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White Paper on Toolification for Next Generation of Business Development Support
Published: 19 April 2018 Benita Rose, Carolin Ehrensperger, Mirko Zürker, Rainer Agster, Sandra Seyfried
This White Paper shares our lessons learned from 15 years of experience in providing non-financial support to eco-inclusive enterprises. It shall offer inspiration as well as guidance to critically reassess the way we do non-financial support and how we can improve impacts. The findings and conclusions expressed in this paper are based on research and expert discussions at the SEED Africa Symposium 2016, a survey of BDS providers in the SEED network, interviews and discussions with BDS providers and SEED Winners. Read more
Belle Verte, a SEED Story from Mauritius
Published: 19 April 2018
Belle Verte aims to create a national closed-loop waste management system and raises awareness on the need to reuse and recycle waste through creative workshops. Read more
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Safi Organics, a SEED story from Kenya
Published: 11 April 2018
Safi Organics provides organic fertiliser for rural smallholder farmers that contributes to soil carbon storage. The Safi Sarvi® blend is derived from various types of local organic farm waste, and is transformed into soil conditioner through low-cost production. The enterprise has won a SAG-SEED Award in 2016. Read more
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WASHKing, a SEED Story from Ghana
Published: 04 April 2018
WASHKing produces, supplies and installs biodigester toilets out of eco-friendly material for low-income urban households in order to improve health and economic conditions and to keep the environment clean. Training on using the toilet and after-sales services complement the package. Read more
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Sahelia Solar, a SEED Story from Burkina Faso
Published: 28 March 2018
A leading solar company in Burkina Faso, Sahelia Solar is now starting to provide solar energy systems to off-grid agro-processing plants managed by rural cooperatives. The pay-as-you go model provides people in rural areas with readily available, reliable, and affordable energy. The enterprise has won an SAG-SEED Award in 2016. Read more
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YICE, a SEED Story from Uganda
Published: 22 March 2018
YICE Uganda provides rural smallholder farmers in Uganda with flexible farm loans, inputs and training services to reduce hunger and poverty. With its network of local farm agents, YICE facilitates farmers’ access to bundled agricultural services at various levels of the farming value chain. The enterprise has won a SAG-SEED Award in 2016. Read more
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Small and growing eco-inclusive solar enterprises fighting energy poverty on ground
Published: 21 March 2018 Yasmin Waljee OBE
There are nearly 1.1 billion people without access to energy in the world. These are in communities that have no chance of getting access to national grids and even when they do: in low-income countries in remote rural communities, it is pretty unreliable. Read more
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SEED South Africa Symposium 2018
Published: 19 March 2018
180 participants gathered at the annual SEED South Africa Symposium this year held on March 13-14 in Pretoria. Once again the event demonstrated its high value in generating collaborative discussions and developing approaches to promote eco-inclusive enterprises in South Africa. Read more
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SEED South Africa Symposium 2018
Published: 19 March 2018
180 participants gathered at the annual SEED South Africa Symposium this year held on March 13-14 in Pretoria. Read more
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Hogan Lovells Community Solar Innovation Awards 2017: Recipients Revealed
Published: 14 March 2018
The winners of the Hogan Lovells Community Solar Innovation Awards 2017 were revealed today during the 2018 SEED South Africa Symposium in Pretoria. Read more
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2018 Women Stop Hunger Awards to reward exemplary initiatives
Stop Hunger Source: Stop Hunger
Nonhlanhla Joye, and her start-up Umgibe Farming Organics, which today allows 3,000 families from the Durban townships in South Africa to survive. From a simple and ingenious idea of small crops of fresh vegetables above ground, Nonhlanhla has quickly built an original and sustainable model that empowers women and surrounding communities, creates jobs and boosts local economic activity, among other benefits. Read more
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From Waste to Resource: Policy Pathways for Eco-Inclusive Waste Enterprises in South Africa
Published: 08 March 2018 Christine Meyer, Janet Mkhabela, Maggie Sloan
This sectoral policy brief provides an short overview to policy-makers and practitioners of the common challenges faced by eco-inclusive enterprises in this strategic sector in South Africa. The brief is designed to guide policy-makers and practitioners in the prototyping and implementation of measures to ensure the success and scaling-up of eco-inclusive enterprises in South Africa. Read more
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Celebrating Female Entrepreneurship on International Women’s Day 2018
Published: 08 March 2018 Amar Munnolimath, Zaina Batool
At SEED, we embrace the potential of female entrepreneurs and are committed to empowering women. We not only offer equal-opportunity employment and encourage flexible working arrangements to assist families, but also take data-driven action globally to support women entrepreneurs working towards a greener economy and to accelerate female empowerment, including through our past SEED Gender Equality Award scheme. Read more
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SEED Celebrates a Female-Led Enterprise on International Women’s Day
Published: 08 March 2018 Maggie Sloan, Sonya Ong
As we celebrate the achievements of women today, we present the female-led Unique Quality Product Enterprise as part of our launch of the SEED Case Study Series 2018. The new case study series that emanated from the SWITCH Africa Green project "Promoting Eco-Entrepreneurship in Africa", implemented by SEED, showcases how innoative eco-inclusive start-up enterprises in Africa shape sustainable development on the ground. Read more
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SEED expands its presence in Asia to cultivate a wider network of eco-inclusive enterprises
Published: 08 March 2018
As part of a new strategy to cultivate partnerships, strength local presence, and launch collaboration centres in key regions across the world, SEED is happy to to announce the launch of SEED Thailand. Read more
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Unique Quality Product Enterprise, a SEED Story from Ghana
Published: 07 March 2018
Unique Quality Product Enterprise trains marginalised women suppliers in agronomic practices to farm Fonio, an indigenous grain that has low water requirements and can withstand adverse weather conditions. The enterprise dries, de-husks, packages, stores and markets Fonio cereal products for household consumption. Read more
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Call for Applications for the 2018 SEED Low Carbon Awards
Published: 13 February 2018
The 2018 SEED Low Carbon Awards are available for enterprises in Colombia, India, Tanzania, Thailand and Uganda. Read more
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South Africa celebrates inauguration of the first SEED office on the African continent
Published: 30 January 2018
In 2010 SEED established its first pilot country scheme in South Africa, which fell under a larger, substantially EU funded, focus of SEED on Africa. Read more
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The Governments of Flanders and Germany renew their partnership with SEED
Published: 18 December 2017
As 2017 comes to an end, SEED has the pleasure to announce a renewal of its partnership with the Government of Flanders and the Government of Germany. Read more
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SEED shares insights at Eco MedaGreen Summit 2017 in Barcelona
Published: 11 December 2017
SEED was invited to participate in the Mediterranean Cities Economic Forum to share lessons learnt from its SWITCH-Africa Green project “Promoting Eco-Entrepreneurship in Africa” during a session on “Waste Management and Recycling in the Realm of Circular Economy”. Read more
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Inclusive Innovation toolkit training for advisors in Nairobi
Published: 11 December 2017
IBA in collaboration with SWITCH-Africa Green (SAG)-SEED is hosting 3-day 'Inclusive Innovation toolkit training for advisors' in Nairobi, Kenya from 26 to 28 February 2018. Read more
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SEED Award Winners attend the UN Environmental Assembly 2017 Sustainable Innovation Expo
Published: 07 December 2017
SEED Award Winners Muliru Farmers, City Waste Recycling, Dagoretti, and Ecopost attended the UN Environment Assembly on 4-6 December 2017. Read more
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Eco-inclusive Dialogue Forum for Small and Medium Enterprises to enhance service provision in South Africa
Published: 05 December 2017
The engaging Eco-Inclusive Dialogue Forum brought together about 30 key stakeholders from business, civil society, and government in Pretoria on 26 July 2017. The Eco-Inclusive Dialogue was Organized by SEED on 26 July 2017 at the Protea Hotel-Fire and Ice in Menlyn, Pretoria, South Africa. Read more
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