Activity Description: In 1998, Nike began the development of the World Shoe, a footwear line designed exclusively for emerging markets in Asia, Africa, and Latin America. The shoe was designed to be low-price and high quality, and marketed specifically towards the poor. The project failed (2001) because the shoes were still overpriced relative to the local/bootlegged brands.

Activity Description: NutriDelight was a Proctor and Gamble health drink originally designed to give children needed nutrients in Venezuala. The drink was a result of a unique public-private partnership with USAID. The product was initially sold in McDonalds within the country, but was eventually removed due to political instability. Rebranded as NutriStar, the drink is now manufactured and distributed in Nicaragua.

Activity Description: Mitra Mandal is an e-cooperative being set up for empowerment of disadvantaged women. The hi-tech cooperative will focus on the key question of sustainability and replicability. A Women's Core Group with the aptitude and ability to institutionalize the cooperative will be identified. As far as training, placement, and income generation are concerned, the Core Group will be supported by a network of professional and partner institutions who in turn will be backed by a consortium of public/private sector agencies. Mitra Mandal will function via community centers in such a way that the surrounding population will be exposed to different aspects of computer-based earning/learning. In due course, these centers will become focal points for services like e-health and e-education.

Activity Description: The new c2it service offered by Citibank charges a low, flat fee for money transfers from the U.S. to over 120 countries in the world using the Internet. The sender does not have to own a Citibank account, but rather registers with c2it online. Overseas recipients do not need to have an e-mail address or computer to receive the funds. As opposed to charging a percentage rate for transfers, c2it charges a flat rate of $10 for international checks, and $15 for direct deposits.

Activity Description: The UNEP's AREED initiative fosters the development of rural energy entrepreneurs in Mali, Ghana, Tanzania, Senegal, and Zambia through partnerships with local NGOs. With the support of international development organizations and financial institutions, the initiative provides a combination of business development services and start-up financing. AREED aims to attract investments from mainstream financial partners to these entrepreneurs.