A solar device turning waste heat into electricity in rural China and an Ugandan business manufacturing stationery from agricultural waste are among the dozens of winners of a United Nations-backed sustainable development award, it was announced Wednesday.

The Supporting Entrepreneurs for Environment and Development (SEED) Award recognizes promising new locally-driven enterprises that work to improve livelihoods, tackle poverty and manage the sustainable development of natural resources in developing countries.

China's "SolSource" is a satellite dish-shaped solar device with removable modules that turns its own waste heat into electricity or stores it in thermal fabrics for later use. This novel device, which has been developed by an international social enterprise, research and government institutions, and local organizations, harnesses the sun's energy to provide a portable heat source for cooking and electricity for low-income families at an affordable price.

The SEED initiative was founded by the UN Environnment Programme (UNEP) and the UN Development Programme (UNDP), together with the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) at the 2002 World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg, South Africa.

"The SEED Award winners exemplify the strong spirit of entrepreneurship in the developing world and its significance in creating a Green Economy," said UNEP Executive Director Achim Steiner.

"While the Awards recognize individual outstanding projects, governments must also show leadership in supporting grassroots efforts through diverse and dynamic standards, forward-looking policies and incentives to further catalyze corporate and community-led change."

In addition to seeking innovative start-ups throughout the developing world, this year, the awards had a special focus on Africa, placing particular emphasis on initiatives from South Africa, Burkina Faso, Kenya, Egypt, Ghana, Rwanda and Senegal.

All 30 winners will be honoured at award ceremonies in their home countries and will receive a prize comprising a package of individually-tailored support for their respective businesses, including technical assistance, developing business plans and identifying finance sources.