United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) 2021 SEED Awards for Developing Countries

Applications are now open until March 22 for SEED Awards 2021, for innovative small and growing businesses delivering environmental, social and economic impacts.  

Up to 48 prize packages will be awarded to innovative and promising locally led enterprises in social and environmental sectors from emerging economies.

SEED Low Carbon Awards:

Open for applicants from: Ghana, India, Indonesia, South Africa, Thailand and Uganda

SEED Climate Adaptation Awards:

Open for applicants from: Botswana, Malawi and Zambia

• Table of Content
• About United Nations Development Program (UNDP)
• UNDP SEED Awards
• Aim and Benefits of UNDP SEED Awards
• Requirements for UNDP SEED Awards Qualification
• Application Deadline
• How to Apply

About United Nations Development Program (UNDP)

UNDP works in about 170 countries and territories, helping to achieve the eradication of poverty, and the reduction of inequalities and exclusion. We help countries to develop policies, leadership skills, partnering abilities, institutional capabilities and build resilience in order to sustain development results. This is a critical time for the world. At UNDP, we see this period as a huge opportunity to advance the global sustainable development agenda. In September 2015, world leaders adopted the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure that all ... continue reading

UNDP SEED Awards

Aim and Benefits of UNDP SEED Awards

A total of €163,500 funding is offered in the form of grants and matching grants for SEED Award recipients. SEED Award Winners and Runners-up will also participate in the SEED Accelerator and Catalyser programmes, respectively. These programmes are run by local business development organisations and designed to support high-potential enterprises to scale up, optimise their eco-inclusive impacts and financial planning.

In addition, Award recipients will get access to the SEED Enterprise Toolkit for collaboration and hands-on design thinking methods for enterprise development. Winners and Runners-up will join more than 300 SEED Award alumnis and be profiled at the high-level awards ceremony as well as SEED partner events.

Requirements for UNDP SEED Awards Qualification

Enterprises that fulfil the below criteria are encouraged to apply:

• Innovative market-driven enterprise providing solutions to social and environmental problems
• Have intention and potential to become financially sustainable
• Is in partnership between different stakeholder groups
• Is locally founded and locally led
• Has potential for scale-up and replication
• Is operational and in the early to growth stages

Selection Criteria: 

Enterprises that fulfil the below criteria are encouraged to apply:

• Innovative market-driven enterprise providing solutions to social and environmental problems
• Have intention and potential to become financially sustainable
• Is in partnership between different stakeholder groups
• Is locally founded and locally led
• Has potential for scale-up and replication
• Is operational and in the early to growth stages

Application Deadline

How to Apply

Applications are now open on the SEED Platform here

More information can be found in the Call for Applications and Information Sheet & FAQ. 

For more details, visit UNDP website.