Supporting Entrepreneurs for Sustainable Development

The SEED Initiative is opening the call for submissions for the SEED Awards 2008. The SEED Awards for Entrepreneurship in Sustainable Development is an annual international competition, designed to support innovative, entrepreneurial partnerships in developing countries which have the potential to make real improvements in poverty eradication and environmental sustainability.

The SEED Initiative assists young and promising initiatives in strengthening and scaling up the impact of their activities. The award is not monetary: it consists of a comprehensive package of tailor-made support services, to the value of $25,000 including access to relevant expertise and technical assistance, developing business plans and identifying sources of finance.

Submissions may be made from now through March 16th, 2008.

Eligibility
To be eligible your entrepreneurial partnership must:
• be in the planning and set-up phase or in the early stages of implementation
• be driven by local actors;
• involve at least three partner organizations that have already agreed in principle to work together and that come from three different stakeholder groups such as small, medium or large businesses; community-based organizations; local or international NGOs; labour unions; women’s groups; indigenous peoples organizations; research institutions; public authorities; international agencies;
• display entrepreneurship in its broadest sense,
• help to demonstrate innovative ways of doing business through partnerships and has the potential to serve as inspiration to others;
• have potential to grow, with a sound financial rationale and a draft business plan
• relate to the three pillars of sustainable development: finding new ways of simultaneously improving incomes and strengthening livelihoods; tackling poverty and marginalisation; and managing and conserving natural resources and ecosystems.
• have the potential to contribute towards the internationally agreed goals of the UN’s Millennium Declaration and/or the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation.

To learn more about the SEED Initiative click here [1].

How to apply
Application forms can be downloaded from the SEED Initiative website www.seedinit.org [2]
Completed submissions should be sent to seedaward2008@seedinit.org [3]. If you are unable to submit your application electronically, please contact the SEED Initiative by phone (+49 30 89 00 068-10).