The Seed Awards
Call for Submissions for the 2nd Round of Seed Awards (2006/2007)
12.07.2006 |Sascha Gabizon
Please complete the form in full and send it to submissions@seedinit.org by September 15th 2006.
The Seed Awards:
Call for Submissions for the 2nd Round of Seed Awards (2006/7)
The Supporting Entrepreneurs for Environment and Development (Seed) Awards, an international biennial competition, is designed to support innovative, entrepreneurial partnerships. Through the provision of targeted services, support, training, and exposure to additional networks, the Seed Initiative helps young and promising initiatives bring their partnerships to fruition. The award is not monetary but a comprehensive package of tailor-made services from a range of organizations.
The Seed Award recognizes and rewards two levels of winners: ten finalists who will receive support through capacity development activities measures and five award winners, selected from the finalists, who will receive the full ‘Seed Award’ that includes services to be delivered over a period of 6-12 months: building the partnership, developing its capacity, providing opportunities for exposure, financing, and networking. In both cases, the nature and organization of support will depend on the partnership programmes chosen as finalists and winners.
Who Should Apply?
We welcome innovative ideas from any group in the process of planning and setting up a partnership project:
ß involves at least three partner organizations from different stakeholder groups such as small, medium or large businesses; community-based organizations; local or international NGOs; labour unions; women’s groups; indigenous peoples organizations; research institutions; public authorities; international agencies;
ß relates to the three pillars of sustainable development: environmental, social, and economic in an integrated manner;
ß has the potential to contribute towards the internationally agreed goals of the Millennium Declaration and/or the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation;
ß displays entrepreneurship in its broadest sense, and is driven by local actors;
ß helps to demonstrate innovative ways of doing business through partnerships – business as unusual – and has the potential to serve as inspiration to others; and/or
ß has a draft business plan and has partners that have already agreed in principle to work together.
How to Apply
Application forms can be downloaded from the Seed Initiative website. Completed submissions should be sent to submissions@seedinit.org. If you are unable to submit your application electronically, please contact the Seed Initiative by phone (+41 22 999 0000).
Submissions will be accepted from July 1st until September 15th 2006.
Early submission is highly recommended as this may allow initial feedback to be given to help you improve your application. Late submissions cannot be considered.
Who Will Judge Your Submissions and How?
A pre-selection team of partnership experts and practitioners will select the ten finalists, to be announced in November 2006.
A multi-stakeholder, international group of highly recognized experts and practitioners will serve as the Jury and select five winners. The second class of Seed Award winners will be announced at a gala ceremony, to be held on the margins of the UN Commission for Sustainable Development’s 15th Session in New York (May 2007).
Criteria:
The same criteria will be applied at all stages of selection:
- Entrepreneurship/innovation: The partnership takes an entrepreneurial or innovative approach.
- Benefits: The project has the potential to make a significant contribution (i.e. tangible benefits) in the following ways:
- Social benefits
- Environmental benefits
- Economic benefits
- Sustainability of the project: The project is likely to be financially viable and socially and environmentally sustainable.
- Partnership: Partnership is the most effective way to achieve the objectives of the project. All partners will share benefits and risks.
- Local drive and focus: The project reflects local expertise, interests, and commitments.
- Local partners and/or their communities benefit from the project.
- Local partner/s is/are fully engaged in the project.
- Potential impact: The Seed Initiative support can potentially have a big impact in furthering the success of this partnership.
