Another “in case you missed it” entry, this time about Tanzanian A to Z’s long-lasting malaria net enterprise mentioned in blog posts and activity capsules past. The nets – as well as the underlying for-profit business model – are featured in a nice column by the Guardian’s Jon Snow. Excerpts:

The source of malarial relief is the A to Z plastics factory in Arusha. The revolutionary net is being produced here on a truly dramatic scale. The net is made of extruded resin sold at market price by Exxon Mobil. Hardly at the forefront of altruistic repute, Exxon too is a member of the global partnership to "Roll Back Malaria". The money it makes from the Saudi-produced resin, Exxon gives back to Unicef to buy more nets, to try to create a mosquito net market. Sumitomo hasn't given money. Instead it has made a free technology transfer of the secret ingredient that gives the net its long-life properties... Anuj Shah, who runs the company, is no do-gooder [either]. He's in it for profit and is determined that net making in Africa is a seriously commercial activity. Currently producing 3m of these nets a year, he expects his new factory, which is under construction nearby, to start producing 7m a year by April. After that he hopes to expand to 20m - a tenth of Africa's entire need.

DuPont’s food division, Solae, is working with the BOP Protocol team at Cornell University to set up a pilot project in Hyderabad, India. The project is looking to hire four dedicated, paid interns. An excerpt of the description, which can be found at Zoo Station, mentions that

[i]n terms of background, we are looking for someone with a serious interest in catalyzing economic development in India through sustainable private enterprise. Ideally, you will will have expertise in one of the following areas: business and social entrepreneurship; social work; development nutrition. Knowledge of Telugu is a plus, though not a requirement.

The second opportunity is with the Grameen Foundation USA to run a pilot of their Village Phone program in the Philippines.