"Village Savings and Loan Associations (VSLAs), based in the community, are complementary to MFIs, tending to serve the very poor whose income is irregular and less reliable and who may not be full-time business people." -- Hugh Allen, founder, VSL Associates, and Mark Staehle, enterprise advisor, Chars Livelihoods Programme

"The SEED Award winners are true examples of what a greener economy can look like." -- Julia Marton-Lefevre, Director General, International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN){1}

Why Honey is a South African start-up that has developed an innovative initiative that effectively tackles several issues in a single business plan.

"We are entering the Participation Age, where every individual, regardless of gender or other characteristics, is poised to be a contributing and valued member of the global marketplace." -- US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton{1}

"Countries that move quickly down a clean energy pathway will be the economic powerhouses of the 21st century." -- United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon