The Seed Initiative (Supporting Entrepreneurs for Environment and Development) is a programme of IUCN - the World Conservation Union, UNEP and UNDP, along with the governments of German, the Netherlands, the UK, USA, and Norway. The Initiative aims to inspire, support and build the capacity of locally-driven entrepreneurial partnerships to contribute to the delivery of the Millennium Development Goals and the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation.

The initiative focuses on 'business as unusual' - innovative action delivering real solutions through project cooperation among small and large businesses, local and international NGOs, women's groups, labour organisations, public authorities and UN agencies, and others working in the field of sustainable development.

Through an international award scheme, intensive capacity-building activities and a research programme, the Seed Initiative stimulates and build the capacity of entrepreneurial, nascent partnerships executing action on the ground; create a conduit for investment in partnerships; disseminate good practice and lessons-learned from successful partnerships to inspire further new partnerships; and generate evidence-based research to assist policy makers.

CASDP was one of the driving partners of the Seed Initiative. We were given the task of developing and setting up the initiative and hosted an interim Secretariat for eighteen months.

Through CASDP's Partnerships Central project, CASDP ran the 'Seed Partnerships Support Channel' in 2005/6 which provided direct support to the Seed Award winners.