SEED Initiative

The SEED Initiative identifies, profiles and supports promising, locally-driven, start-up enterprises working in partnership in developing countries to improve livelihoods, tackle poverty and marginalisation, and manage natural resources sustainably. SEED develops learning resources for the broad community of social and environmental entrepreneurs, informs policy- and decision-makers, and aims to inspire innovative, entrepreneurial approaches to sustainable development.

Background
SEED is a global network founded in 2002 by UNEP, UNDP and IUCN to contribute towards the goals in the UN's Millennium Declaration and the commitments made at the Johannesburg World Summit on Sustainable Development.

SEED's Partners
and the governments of Germany, India, the Netherlands, Norway, South Africa, Spain, the United Kingdom and the United States of America.
 * United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)
 * United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
 * IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature)

Activities
Beyond the annual SEED Award, the SEED Initiative works to learn from the experiences of the individual start-ups to derive tools and guidance that can be helpful for all entrepreneurs who are aiming to deliver social and environmental benefits. The latest tool is a wiki and major on line resource developed by SEED in partnership with the International Institute for Sustainable Development and the Commission on Environmental Cooperation.