Enterprise transforming groundnut shells into fuel briquettes to women’s business producing aloe-based skin care products are among winners. Sustainable development is the major criteria for the 2011 Supporting Entrepreneurs for Environment and Development (SEED) Awards. The UN’s Environment Programme (UNEP), spotlights rising “locally-driven enterprises that find creative ways to overcome environmental and developmental problems while also creating economic and social opportunities for their communities.“ Sustainable Development is one of the objectives of the upcoming 2012 “Rio+20 Conference” – See Film Report: - diplomaticallyincorrect.org/films/movie/rio20-your-future/29236 “The SEED winners illuminate a business model that cannot only be successful but have outcomes that meet the environmental and social imperatives of communities and countries across the globe,” stated UNEP Executive Director Achim Steiner. The winners will receive a package of individually-tailored support for their businesses. Winners included from the following countries: Burkina Faso Egypt Gambia Ghana Kenya Madagascar Nigeria Rwanda Senegal South Africa Sri Lanka Tanzania Uganda Zimbabwe Gender Equity Award: Along with SEED Awards, a special Gender Equity Award was designated this year as part of SEED’s partnership with UN Women. The prize “recognizes an initiative that not only fulfils the general criteria of the SEED Awards but is also women-led, or owned, and prioritizes gender equality or women’s empowerment as a core objective.” The winner of the Gender Equity Award is an initiative in Nepal that reduces landfill waste through recycling and uses organic waste to fuel biogas plants. It consists of over 1,000 households and businesses and is run by a women’s environment committee and supported by a local municipality. “Special Focus on Africa”: This year’s SEED Awards have a special focus on Africa, placing particular emphasis on initiatives from Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Egypt, Gambia, Ghana, Kenya, Madagascar, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda and Zimbabwe. The SEED Initiative – hosted at UNEP’s World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC) – is a global partnership for action on the green economy. By helping entrepreneurs to scale-up their activities, the SEED initiative aims to boost local economies, tackle poverty and improve livelihoods, while promoting the sustainable use of resources and ecosystems. Winners will receive a package of individually-tailored support for their businesses, access to relevant expertise and technical assistance, and profiling at national and international levels at conferences and through the SEED’s partners and associates. Read: “Has Sustainable Development Grown Up?” - diplomaticallyincorrect.org/films/blog_post/has-sustainable-development-grown-up-by-ambassador-mo/27772 For Full Information on SEED Awards & Related from UNEP – LINK - www.unep.org/newscentre/Default.aspx?DocumentID=2661&ArticleID=8991&l=en By Ambassador Muhamed Sacirbey





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