The SEED Initiative, the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD), and the Commission for Environmental Cooperation of North America (CEC), working in partnership, have developed a Toolkit for Social and Environmental Entrepreneurs. Other partners in this initiative are Development Alternatives Group, the University of Cape Town Environmental Evaluation Unit, REDEH - Rede de Desenvolvimento Humano and CIAL Group.

Entrepreneurs who want to bring environmental and social benefits to their communities also want to become more financially self-sustaining. Creating a livelihood – for themselves and their stakeholders – is important to them. But they need access to tools to help them start their enterprises and to grow them; and at the same time strengthen their ability to provide social benefits to their communities and sustain the environment. The Entrepreneurs’ Toolkit’ is designed exactly for this purpose. It will enable starting entrepreneurs and small existing enterprises to gain knowledge from other entrepreneurs’ experiences on how to incorporate or strengthen the social, environmental and financial aspects of their businesses.

This Toolkit is set up as a “wiki”. It uses the same software as Wikipedia, so it is as easy to search, read and contribute to as Wikipedia. A small group of researchers, consultants and entrepreneurs from Canada, the UK, South Africa, India and Brazil have compiled the first pages in our wiki. You can find general information on topics such as business planning and marketing, e-commerce, or raising money for your enterprise. You will also find country/region-specific information, and if you are working in a particular sector like ecotourism, renewable energy or “green” buildings, you will find guidance that could help you improve your own business practice.

In turn, we invite you to add your own knowledge and experience to this wiki. If the information on existing pages needs to be updated, then please help us by editing those pages. If you want to begin a new section for your country or your sector to help other entrepreneurs get started, then follow our guidelines on setting up new pages.