Green Economy: Entrepreneurs in Developing Nations

Innovators advance green economy

18 Apr 2011 - The move to a green economy is already happening, but entrepreneurs in developing nations need enabling policies and financial support to ensure the transition is equitable and sustainable.

This was the message from Achim Steiner, UN under-secretary general and United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) executive director, speaking in Pretoria on Friday.

Steiner was addressing a green economy symposium, where the 30 global winners of the annual Seed Awards, various stakeholders, and government leaders had gathered to discuss ways to accelerate the transition to a green economy.

Organised by the Seed Initiative, a global network hosted by UNEP, the symposium focused on the contribution of community-level entrepreneurs in developing countries, and efforts to refocus policies towards promoting green economic initiatives.

The majority of this year's winners hail from Africa, and cover a wide range of projects aimed at encouraging sustainable development, stimulating local economies, and alleviating poverty. They include Burkina Faso, Ghana, Kenya, Rwanda, Senegal and SA. Together with Egypt, these are pilot countries in a joint project between Seed and UNEP's Green Economy Initiative. {continued}