The 2013 SEED Awards for Start-Up Entrepreneurs.

Application Deadline: June 12th, 2013.

Are you a start-up entrepreneur? Are you a women-led enterprise? Does your business or business idea integrate social and environmental benefits, solving pressing local issues? Does your enterprise make significant contributions to mitigating and/or adapting to climate change? Do you need support to help to establish and grow your enterprise? If you meet SEED’s eligibility criteria, you can now apply for the 2013 SEED Awards.

The SEED Initiative is a global partnership for action on the Green Economy.It identifies and supports promising small-scale start-up social and environmental entrepreneurs around the globe, entrepreneurs that while working towards a greener economy also tackle poverty,  marginalisation and social exclusion. 

SEED provides these social entrepreneurs with know-how and networks, taking the lessons learnt at local level up to decision-makers to promote evidence-based policymaking in the green economy. 

This year there are several categories of awards, for which SEED receives support from the European Union, the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety, the government of Flanders, the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of  Women (UN Women), the UN Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) and the international law firm Hogan Lovells.

As a result, for the 2013 cycle, SEED willmake available up to:

• 15 SEED Awards to enterprises in Ethiopia, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Tanzania and Uganda;

• 5 SEED Awards for enterprises in South Africa;

• 3 SEED Awards for South African enterprises in the provinces of Free State, Limpopo and KwaZulu Natal;

• 10 SEED Low Carbon Awards for enterprises in Colombia, India, Tanzania, Uganda and VietNam;

• 2 SEED Gender Equality Awards, for enterprises in other countries(except countries that are OECD or EU members).

SEED Awards Prize

Each SEED Award Winner will receive a package of tailored support services consisting of:

• assistance and advice on developing and improving the enterprise’s business and financial
plan;

• a three-day in-country business-oriented workshop, also covering the key elements and factors which help to build a successful social and environmental enterprise, which is also gender responsive;

• participation in a high-level international awards ceremony with senior government and UN  officials, development institutions, financial institutions and businesses;

• profiling of the enterprise nationally, regionally and internationally;

• assistance with access to relevant organisations, businesses, and to other SEED winners andSEED alumni, and SEED Partners, Supporters and Associates;

• a financial contribution of USD 5,000 to cover the enterprise’s most pressing needs, as agreed between the winner and SEED;

• Gender Equality Winners will in addition receive support from the international law firm Hogan Lovells who have an established pro bono practice advising women entrepreneurs across the world.

Please apply online or download the application form from the SEED Initiative website at
www.seedinit.org

Eligibility criteria

You will be able to apply for a 2013 SEED Award if your enterprise:
a) demonstrates entrepreneurship and innovation
b) delivers economic, social and environmental benefits
c) has the intention and potential to become financially sustainable
d) is a partnership between different stakeholder groups
e) is locally driven or locally led
f) has potential for scale up or significant replication
g) is in the early stages of implementation
h) is in a country with a developing or emerging economy
If you want to apply for the SEED Low Carbon Awards, your enterprise, in addition to the above eight criteria, also needs to:

i) make significant contributions to mitigating and/or adapting to climate change. If you want to apply for the SEED Gender Equality Award, your enterprise, in addition to the above  eight criteria, also needs to be:

j) run or owned by a woman or women and prioritise gender equality and/or women’s empowerment as a core objective.
How to Apply 

Please apply online at the SEED Initiative website www.seedinit.org or download an application form and email it to seedawards2013@seedinit.org. If you are unable to submit the application electronically, please contact the SEED Initiative by email or phone (+49 30 89 00 068 99). 

Submissions will be accepted until Wednesday, June 12th, 2013, 23:59 CET.

Late submissions will not be considered.  Proposals that are shortlisted will be offered feedback and invited to submit additional information in July 2013.