About: SEED Initiative is a global partnership for development, which was born by the collaboration between the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP), United Nations Development Program (UNDP), and the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) in 2002.
The main goal of SEED is to support innovate small-scale and locally drive entrepreneurships. SEED funds start-up projects that demonstrate to be innovative while also have the potential to make a positive impact in the community. In particular, SEED supports projects promoting gender equality and environmental issues.
Themes: In 2013, SEED made available a total of 25 grants for countries with an emerging or developing economy (no EU member states and no OECD member countries). Only 2 of these grants are specific for Gender Equality Projects.
SEED Award General Requirements:
- To demonstrate entrepreneurship and innovation. For instance, your proposal must clarify how your proposed project will create new services for the community; it will develop new products for the market delivering social and environmental benefits.
- To deliver economic, social and environmental benefits. Your project must be designed in line with the aims set by the Millennium Development Goals and also it should demonstrate how your proposed plan will integrate economic, social, and environmental benefits in a sustainable economic model. Further, your project should clarify how you aim to promote gender equality in your community though the implementation of planned activities.
- The intention and potential to become financially sustainable. Your project must present a sound business plan, which clearly explain how you intend to generate income to run the planned activities (or maintain necessary infrastructures) in the long run.
- A partnership with different stakeholders or organisations. Your project must be written by at least 3 partners, which work in your community and are willing to develop the proposed activities together with you. Accordingly, you should specify how your project will benefit from this collaboration and how each partner of the project will contribute with their expertise, skills, and knowledge to the fulfilment of the project’s goals.
- To be locally driven and locally led. Your project must clarify how the implemented activities will benefit the local communities by explaining the economic, social, and political issues you are addressing in your project.
- The potential for replication. Your project must clarify how your proposed business plan and activities could be taken as an example for the setting up of other similar enterprises in your region.
- To be in the early stages of implementation. The partners should have already agreed to work together and, potentially, you should have already sought for financial sponsorship. Your proposal must provide evidence of early impact.
SEED Gender Equality Award Additional Requirement:
- The proposed enterprise must be women led or owned by women. The proposal must state clearly how it will improve gender equality or women’s empowerment in your community through a series of designed activities.
How to apply: you have to fill in the application form available here
The applicants should have drafted a business plan, but they will only be asked to submit the plan if shortlisted.
Deadlines: These awards are given once a year. The current call for proposal closes on June, 12. Shortlisted candidates will be asked to submit a full proposal in July. To learn about future deadline, you should monitor the calls advertised here
