Since joining the World Resources Institute in 1990, Al Hammond has been mixing things up.  Against steep odds, he built the World Resources Report into a best-in-class publication featuring extensive datasets of environmental indicators – putting it on par with the World Bank's World Development Report and the UNDP's Human Development Report.  He built on that experience to write a widely-read book – Which World? Scenarios for the 21st Century – that laid out scenarios for how the world might develop over the next 50 years given the twin constraints of climate change and poverty.  

Al then convened a group of leading technologists, business leaders and development experts to discuss the importance of bridging the digital divide - a meeting that spawned WRI's Digital Dividends research initiative and gave the first public platform for the base of the pyramid message. Along the way, Al directed numerous internal initiatives at WRI and served as an advisor for the UN Commission on Sustainable Development, the Global Environment Facility and the Human Development Report - among many others.

Surprisingly, however, Al doesn't consider these notable accomplishments as his most significant contribution to World Resources Institute and to our sector at large.  Last month, over a dinner of sandwiches and salad, he reflected a bit on his work at WRI.  "NextBillion.net," Al said, "has to be one of the creations I'm most proud of during my tenure at WRI.  Three years on, it's amazing to see the energy around base of the pyramid research and practice.  Along with 'The Next 4 Billion' report, I'd have to say that NextBillion.net really captures what I feel are world-changing trends when it comes to poverty alleviation."

As we finished dinner, Al gave the news: he would be leaving WRI at the end of June to take a position at Ashoka. I asked Al what his new position would entail. "Ashoka will give me the opportunity - and the global platform - to scale what we've been doing at WRI.  Furthermore, I'll be focusing on rural connectivity and healthcare, two issues I care deeply about, which happen to be priorities for Ashoka.  It's a good match."  Sounds like it.

(This post continues past the break; click "Read More" to continue)