Three Ugandan Eco-enterprises receive prestigious awards

Three eco-innovations from Uganda have been honored with the 2016 SWITCH Africa Green-SEED Awards. They were announced by SEED, a global partnership for action on sustainable development and the green economy, in Nairobi, Kenya on Wednesday last week.

These form part of a group of 20 award winners from eight African countries whose business models help to overcome sustainable development challenges of those countries. The three winning Ugandan enterprises are; Tii Ki Komi Cassava Commercial Growers, SPOUTS of Water and YICEUganda.

This year's 20 SEED award winners include companies and cooperatives from Burkina Faso, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Mauritius, Namibia, South Africa and Uganda whose business models help to overcome sustainable development challenges of those countries, according to SEED.

By facilitating the scale-up and replication of eco-innovations, SEED boosts local economies and tackles poverty, while promoting the sustainable use of natural resources and ecosystems.

Every SEED Award winner will receive free access to supporting institutions, and tailor‑made assistance over a period of six months to develop their business.

The support methodology and content is based on more than 10 years of experience in assisting eco-inclusive enterprises worldwide. Founded in 2002 by United Nations (UN) Environment, UN Development and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the SEED global partnership recognises the most innovative, environmentally friendly start-ups in developing countries and provides them with technical support and business know-how to help them grow and share their experiences.

The winners will also join a network of more than 200 enterprises from 38 countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America - laureates of the SEED Awards. All winners were honoured at the International Awards Ceremony held on Wednesday at the SEED Africa Symposium in Nairobi, Kenya.

The symposium brought together over 500 entrepreneurs, policymakers, and representatives from civil society and support institutions from across Africa and beyond. The 2016 edition was under the theme; "From Innovation to Imitation - Replicating Successful Business Models for Green Growth and Sustainable Development".

Helen Clark, the head of UN Development, said the 2016 SEED winners are living the Sustainable Development Goals.

"With their innovative business models, they are improving local livelihoods while conserving natural resources. Their businesses rely on strong multi-stakeholder partnerships at the local level, a success factor UNDP is building upon internationally to implement the SDGs," Clark is quoted in the statement.