Nairobi,
20 July 2010 - Social and environmental
entrepreneurs have the chance to apply to
the annual SEED Awards as of today, 19 July
2010.
The annual competition,
run by the SEED Initiative, aims to find
and to help develop the most promising social
and environmental start-ups in emerging
and developing countries. SEED Awards winners
will receive expert advice on developing
their business plan, take part in tailor-made
workshops and benefit from high-level profiling
of their initiatives through link-ups with
SEED's international network.
The SEED Initiative
- hosted by UNEP - is a global partnership
founded for action on the Green Economy.
Through the SEED Awards, the UN organization
aims to identify inspiring examples of partnership-based
enterprises that can help meet sustainable
development challenges.
By helping entrepreneurs
to scale-up their activities, the SEED Initiative
aims to boost local economies and tackle
poverty, while promoting the sustainable
use of resources and ecosystems.
As in previous years,
entrepreneurs in developing and emerging
economies across the globe can apply for
a SEED award. In addition, this year, as
part of UNEP's Green Economy project, particular
emphasis will be placed on seven target
countries in Africa: Burkina Faso, Egypt,
Ghana, Kenya, Rwanda, Senegal and South
Africa.
A total of up to 35
start-up initiatives will be rewarded in
2010: up to ten in South Africa, 20 in the
other target countries and five elsewhere.
Now in their fifth year,
interest in the awards has been growing
steadily. In 2009, over 1,000 entries were
received from 97 countries. Past winners
for instance included a project in Bangladesh
converting traditional kerosene lamps into
low-cost solar-powered lanterns and a project
in Colombia promoting artisanal mining of
gold and platinum without any use of mercury
and other toxic chemicals.
The deadline for applications
is 16 August 2010, 23:59 Central European
Time (CET). Applicants can apply online
or download the application form from the
SEED Initiative website at www.seedinit.org
Applications can be
filled in online at the SEED Initiative
website www.seedinit.org or can be downloaded
and emailed to seedawards2010@seedinit.org.
Applicants may also contact the SEED Initiative
by email or phone (+49 30 89 00 068 99)
in case they do not have the possibility
to submit their application electronically.
About the SEED Initiative
The SEED Initiative
identifies and supports promising small
scale social and environmental entrepreneurs
around the globe, entrepreneurs who while
working towards a greener economy also tackle
poverty, marginalisation and social exclusion.
SEED provides these social entrepreneurs
with the knowhow and networks, taking the
lessons learnt at local level up to decision-makers
to promote evidence-based policy making.
SEED was founded by
UNDP, UNEP and IUCN at the 2002 World Summit
on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg.
Partners in the SEED
Initiative in addition to the founding partners
are the European Union, and the governments
of Germany, India, the Netherlands, South
Africa, Spain, the United Kingdom and the
United States of America.
More information: www.seedinit.org