Urban Sustainable Energy for Environment and Development (SEED)

Initiated in 1996, the Urban Sustainable Energy for Environment and Development (SEED) programme aims to integrate sustainable energy and environmental practices into urban development in South Africa.  SEED phase 1, implemented by the Energy & Development Group (EDG), builds capacity and provides training, support information campaigns and demonstrations around this work.  Households with earnings of R500 per month are spending up to a third of this on energy needs. In addition, indoor air pollution from wood and coal-use, as well as fires, are a major health and safety hazard.  SEED is in co-operation with government departments and NGOs in the housing sector to place and train SEED advisors and build partnerships.  The programme focuses on energy issues in low-income housing and public development.  At the core of the programme is the promotion of sustainability.  The project is currently in operation in Cape Town, Durban and Gauteng.
Innovation

SEED supports national networking for the exchange of experience and information to provide ongoing support to the SEED advisors and their partners.  The Advisors work with communities at household level.  SEED offers training courses in Sustainable Energy and Environmental Approaches and Practices for officials working in housing and planning.  It has also developed an 'energy activist' course for the community youth members, setting up demonstration centres and demonstration houses.  The SEED staff, partner organisations and SEED Advisors are providing input for national level training, publicity and policy input activities.
Effectiveness

Since the project has been established, 150 development practitioners and politicians have received training or attended workshops.  300 Community members and teachers have received training.  50 Presentations have been conducted nationally.  Each partner organisation can provide tangible evidence of improved living conditions amongst people living in their project communities as a direct result of the SEED Programme.  SEED Update is a magazine of which there have been eight editions to date, with a print-run of approximately 2400 for each edition (2000 to South and Southern African addressees and 500 to international addressees).  In addition, a handbook for practitioners has been published.  SEED is taking its work to the rest of South Africa and into the rest of Africa by co-hosting a conference and by initiating the African Energy Cities Network.
One of the SEED Advisor's housing projects in Cape Town is now being developed as a Clean Development Mechanism pilot - the only housing project to be chosen in this international piloting programme. It may help to lead the way for thousands of very low income houses across the country to be able to install insulated ceilings, solar water heaters and energy efficient lighting at minimal cost.   
Poverty Impact

SEED has a measurable impact on the capabilities of the housing and planning departments of local government and NGOs, through placement of trained and supported staff.  SEED has contributed to raising the profile of sustainable energy and environmental practices and approaches, and to the development of policy at a local and national governmental level to address these concerns.  SEED is now in partnership with the City of Cape Town to develop the Cape Town Energy Strategy.  The main focus of the strategy for Cape Town is poverty alleviation, particularly through better access to energy, public transport, and energy efficient housing and job creation.
Sustainability Through partnership agreements with departments of local government and NGOs, a basis for sustainability was created.
Replication

Replication is taking place in Johannesburg and Durban
Partnerships
•    National Government - Dept of Housing, Dept of Minerals and Energy, Dept of Environmental Affairs and Tourism.
•    Local Government - South African Local Government Association, City of Cape Town, City of Johannesburg, Ethikwini
•    NGO/s - Development Action Group, Greenhouse
•    International Funding Agencies - DANIDA