The SEED Gender Equality Award 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, marginalization and social exclusion. SEED provides these entrepreneurs with know-how and networks, taking the lessons learned at local level up to decision-makers to promote efficient policymaking for the green economy.
In 2013, the SEED Gender Equality Award was for the first time sponsored by UNIDO and UN Women, and supported by the international law firm Hogan Lovells. In 2014, UNIDO was again a co-sponsor, this time of three SEED Gender Equality Awards. The competition was open to enterprises in countries that were not OECD or EU members and that were run or owned by a woman or women and that prioritized gender equality and/or women’s empowerment as a core objective.
On top of receiving a financial contribution of US$5,000, winners are offered the opportunity to take part in tailored workshops to enhance their skills, as well as the chance to interact with an international network of businesses, governments and development institutions. The selected entrepreneurs also gain support from Hogan Lovells, which has an established pro bono practice advising women entrepreneurs across the world.
The 2013 winners were both enterprises from Latin America: L.O.O.P. (Peru) and Provokame (Colombia). L.O.O.P, or Life Out Of Plastic, is a 100% women-owned organization that designs and sells green products such as reusable bags and fleece made from rPET fibre, a textile derived from bottle recycling. Provokame produces innovative 100% biodegradable plates, made from natural fibres and recycled paper, which are also implanted with seeds. The enterprise trains and employs local women living in rural areas in the plate production process.
In 2014 the winners were JITA Social Business, an innovative rural distribution network, providing jobs and a regular income for women from low socio-economic communities across Bangladesh; Nepal’s Women’s Off-season Vegetable Production Group, a women-led initiative growing and marketing organic vegetables in a climate where weather usually limits year-round production; and Zimbabwe’s Precious Life Foundation’s Outgrower Project, which teaches bio-intensive, organic agricultural techniques to vulnerable women living at its shelter who then pass on their knowledge to the community.
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- “JITA Social Business” is an innovative rural distribution network, providing jobs and a regular income for women from low socio-economic communities across Bangladesh. Called Aparajitas – meaning “women who never accept defeat” – the women earn commissions selling a range of products from solar lamps to food and sanitary items on a door-to-door basis.
Nepal:
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- “Women’s Off-season Vegetable Production Group” is a women-led initiative growing and marketing organic vegetables in a climate where weather usually limits year-round production. The enterprise deploys agricultural techniques, notably poly-tunnels and greenhouses, to help improve food security and nutrition while empowering marginalised women through job creation.
Zimbabwe:
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- “Precious Life Foundation’s Outgrower Project” teaches bio-intensive, organic agricultural techniques to vulnerable women living at its shelter who then pass on their knowledge to the community. The enterprise empowers these women as teachers while working towards improved food security in Zimbabwe’s Matabeleland South Region. Wo
– See more at: www.unep.org/newscentre/Default.aspx
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- “JITA Social Business” is an innovative rural distribution network, providing jobs and a regular income for women from low socio-economic communities across Bangladesh. Called Aparajitas – meaning “women who never accept defeat” – the women earn commissions selling a range of products from solar lamps to food and sanitary items on a door-to-door basis.
Nepal:
-
- “Women’s Off-season Vegetable Production Group” is a women-led initiative growing and marketing organic vegetables in a climate where weather usually limits year-round production. The enterprise deploys agricultural techniques, notably poly-tunnels and greenhouses, to help improve food security and nutrition while empowering marginalised women through job creation.
Zimbabwe:
-
- “Precious Life Foundation’s Outgrower Project” teaches bio-intensive, organic agricultural techniques to vulnerable women living at its shelter who then pass on their knowledge to the community. The enterprise empowers these women as teachers while working towards improved food security in Zimbabwe’s Matabeleland South Region. Wo
– See more at: www.unep.org/newscentre/Default.aspx
-
- “JITA Social Business” is an innovative rural distribution network, providing jobs and a regular income for women from low socio-economic communities across Bangladesh. Called Aparajitas – meaning “women who never accept defeat” – the women earn commissions selling a range of products from solar lamps to food and sanitary items on a door-to-door basis.
Nepal:
-
- “Women’s Off-season Vegetable Production Group” is a women-led initiative growing and marketing organic vegetables in a climate where weather usually limits year-round production. The enterprise deploys agricultural techniques, notably poly-tunnels and greenhouses, to help improve food security and nutrition while empowering marginalised women through job creation.
Zimbabwe:
-
- “Precious Life Foundation’s Outgrower Project” teaches bio-intensive, organic agricultural techniques to vulnerable women living at its shelter who then pass on their knowledge to the community. The enterprise empowers these women as teachers while working towards improved food security in Zimbabwe’s Matabeleland South Region. Wo
– See more at: www.unep.org/newscentre/Default.aspx
-
- “JITA Social Business” is an innovative rural distribution network, providing jobs and a regular income for women from low socio-economic communities across Bangladesh. Called Aparajitas – meaning “women who never accept defeat” – the women earn commissions selling a range of products from solar lamps to food and sanitary items on a door-to-door basis.
Nepal:
-
- “Women’s Off-season Vegetable Production Group” is a women-led initiative growing and marketing organic vegetables in a climate where weather usually limits year-round production. The enterprise deploys agricultural techniques, notably poly-tunnels and greenhouses, to help improve food security and nutrition while empowering marginalised women through job creation.
Zimbabwe:
-
- “Precious Life Foundation’s Outgrower Project” teaches bio-intensive, organic agricultural techniques to vulnerable women living at its shelter who then pass on their knowledge to the community. The enterprise empowers these women as teachers while working towards improved food security in Zimbabwe’s Matabeleland South Region. Wo
– See more at: www.unep.org/newscentre/Default.aspx
-
- “JITA Social Business” is an innovative rural distribution network, providing jobs and a regular income for women from low socio-economic communities across Bangladesh. Called Aparajitas – meaning “women who never accept defeat” – the women earn commissions selling a range of products from solar lamps to food and sanitary items on a door-to-door basis.
Nepal:
-
- “Women’s Off-season Vegetable Production Group” is a women-led initiative growing and marketing organic vegetables in a climate where weather usually limits year-round production. The enterprise deploys agricultural techniques, notably poly-tunnels and greenhouses, to help improve food security and nutrition while empowering marginalised women through job creation.
Zimbabwe:
-
- “Precious Life Foundation’s Outgrower Project” teaches bio-intensive, organic agricultural techniques to vulnerable women living at its shelter who then pass on their knowledge to the community. The enterprise empowers these women as teachers while working towards improved food security in Zimbabwe’s Matabeleland South Region. Wo
– See more at: www.unep.org/newscentre/Default.aspx
For more information about the award, please visit 
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