| Urban Sustainable Energy for Environment & Development Programme |
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The Urban Sustainable Energy, Environment and Development (SEED) Programme aims to promote sustainable development through the integration of energy and environment issues in urban development around South Africa. SEED works with partner organisations including national government bodies, metro local authorities and development NGOs.
Phase 1 started in 1998, and has been very successful in building capacity in the partner organisations, piloting sustainable development in low-income housing programmes, and influencing national policy-makers. Phase 2 started in November 2001 and is proceeding extremely well in its 5th year. SEED is coordinated by Sustainable Energy Africa and is funded by DANIDA.
How does Urban SEED Work?Urban Sustainable Energy for Environment & Development Programme
SEED develops partnerships with local authorities, twinned with partnerships with housing and environmental NGOs. SEED trains energy and environment advisors who are employed in these partner organisations: they and their partner organisations receive ongoing support and part funding from SEED. The SEED Advisor and the partner organisations are therefore increasingly able to integrate and implement sustainable development. The Advisors also form part of a very active SEED Network. SEED also supports local and national-level government in other ways such as energy audits of council buildings, setting city baselines for carbon emissions, technical expertise to advise on policy or other specialist issues, and research. SEED coordinated a side-event to the World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) to showcase sustainable practice in low-income developments. SEED offers national training courses on sustainable low cost housing development. SEED provides information in the form of monthly electronic newsletters and quarterly SEED Updates which focus on project case studies.
What does SEED Aim to do?Organisations involved in service delivery are under tremendous pressure to deliver, particularly to the low-income sector. They often have limited capacity and ability to take on new areas of concern, such as energy efficiency. The consequence is that housing developments are often unhealthy, unsafe and expensive to run and to maintain. The environmental impact of these developments is also very high. It is vital that organisations driving urban development have the ability to include sustainability considerations from the beginning. SEED works with such organisations to help achieve this. Since 1998 SEED has experimented with the practicalities of appropriate training and support to organisations, and of implementing sustainable practices subsidized housing projects. This "on-the-ground" experience is invaluable to national and local government in developing policy and practice to promote sustainable development. SEED Phase 2 focuses on influencing national and local policy and strategy formulation, and on supporting local government organisations in integrating sustainable energy approaches and practices in their work, particularly in their social and public development responsibilities. Contact Urban SEED
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