NextBillion brings together the community of business leaders, social entrepreneurs, NGOs, policy makers, and academics who want to explore the connection between development and enterprise.
Journeys for Change visits VisionSpring in Hyderabad, India.
The UK-based social business Journeys for Change recently brought a group of senior leaders from some of the world’s top private, public and civil society organisations (including Credit Suisse, Swedbank, BonnVentures & the Esmee Fairbairn Foundation) to meet some of India’s most inspiring social entrepreneurs in Calcutta and Hyderabad.
I want to pick up where Rishabh left off in his post yesterday on adaptation to climate change. Assuming that the tens and then hundreds of billions of dollars in "climate financing" for the least developed countries materializes, of which half might be earmarked for adaptation, a robust discussion is needed on how best to use those dollars.
You have to see it to believe it - no pun intended. VisionSpring, the award-winning social enterprise, has released a new video highlighting its impact on base-of-the-pyramid communities around the world. It's fantastic to see (pun intended) VisionSpring grow with my own eyes. In just the past two years, they have spun out from Scojo New York...
As COP15 enters its final week it's timely to ask what role business can play, especially in addressing the effects of climate change in the lives of the poor.
SMEs in developing countries have become in the last years a strategic priority for financial institutions, as their margins in other markets fall due to the intensified competition coming from non-financial organizations. This has resulted in many large banks changing their business models and organizational structure to cater to them.
This week and next, I and then Rishabh Kaul will be at the U.N. climate summit in Copenhagen to cover any relevant news and events. Except when discussed as victims of climate change, the people at the base of the economic pyramid are largely invisible in the negotiations. This is a huge problem for both the poor and for the negotiations.
The Next:2010 Case Writing Competition is an excellent way to contribute to the emerging field of business for social impact and interact with leading figures in the space. But to enter, you must complete an Intention to Compete Form by January 15, 2010.
New Ventures (NV), an initiative housed at the World Resources Institute, is one of NextBillion.net's sponsors. The attached request for proposal aims to identify capable vendors that work with us in the redesign of our visual identity and web properties.
Well, are you? If you are, then be sure to apply to this year's Unreasonable Institute. The Institute is an social enterprise incubator / fellowship / peer-selected investment fund all rolled into one somewhat messy, completely brilliant ball.
Christine Eibs Singer, CEO of E+Co, comments on Vinod Khosla's excellent article in the most recent Innovations Journal. Click through the jump for the full story.
