Through an annual award, the World Challenge has identified, for the past six years, projects or small businesses from around the world that have shown enterprise and innovation at a grassroots level. On the 19th of July 2010, the 12 2010 finalists were announced and SEED is delighted that Blue ventures, one of the partners in the 2005 SEED winning initiative 'Madagascar's first community-run marine protected area', has been selected as one of these finalists.

The initiative, a partnership between the local community, international NGOs and research institutions aims to demonstrate the economic, conservation and fisheries benefits that can arise from establishing Madagascar's first community-run Marine Protected Area (MPA). The MPA project is also working to develop alternative sources of income, in particular, ecotourism, aimed at generating revenue for the community. It also offers researchers and volunteers the chance to work with local communities to protect the reefs using sustainable marine conservation. Due to its initial success in Andavadoaka, the project was then replicated in several villages which now form the Velondriake MPA network.

Each finalist of World Challenge will be profiled on BBC World News in six 30 minute programmes. You can vote for your favourite project/business on the World Challenge website. Voting will open on 27th September 2010 and will close at midnight (GMT) on 12th November 2010.