The SEED Initiative inspires, supports and researches exceptional, entrepreneurial, nascent, multi-stakeholder partnerships for locally-led sustainable development . 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. The SEED Initiative aims to: support outstanding and innovative start-up entrepreneurs working in partnership in developing countries to improve livelihoods and manage natural resources sustainably develop practical tools to help social and environmental entrepreneurs to scale up influence policy-makers to create enabling environments for sustainable development businesses inspire new entrepreneurial ventures to deliver social and environmental benefits.

Through an international award scheme, intensive capacity-building activities and a research programme, the SEED Initiative endeavors to stimulate and build the capacity of outstanding start-up enterprises 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.

The 13-member SEED Board oversees the partnership.

Governments: Government of Germany - Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation & Nuclear Safety Government of India - Ministry of Environment and Forests Government of Netherlands - Ministry for Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality Government of Norway - Ministry of Foreign Affairs Government of South Africa - Department of Science & Technology Government of Spain - Ministry of External Affairs & Cooperation Government of United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland - Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Government of United States of America - Department of State Major Groups: Swiss Re (Switzerland) UN System: United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) (Kenya) United Nations Development Program (UNDP) (United States of America) Other intergovernmental organizations: International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) (Canada) Collective Leadership Institute (CLI) (Germany) International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) (Switzerland)