November 19, 2007 — 01:47 pm
Job: Product Manager
Location: San Jose, California
2136 Views
November 19, 2007 — 08:16 am
Guest blogger Matt MacGregor is a second year Masters Candidate at the Fletcher School, studying development economics and international environmental resource policy. A native of Little Compton, RI, USA, he has consulted on savings-led microfinance programs for Catholic Relief Services in Guatemala and El Salvador, and on sustainable development initiatives for Planet Tech Associates in Boston, MA. He has also worked in health development for the Timmy Foundation in Ecuador, and taught high school political science courses in both Boston and Costa Rica.
By Matt MacGregor
Reporting from Microfinance: The Next Decade
4436 Views
November 16, 2007 — 04:15 pm
It is often the case that business models touch but rarely elaborate on the aspirational value of many products offered for the first time at the BOP level and the subconscious consequences they have on BOP consumers. I recently read, with a touch of sadness, a short article published in the Sunday Times on September 30th called: "Book now for the flight to nowhere."
In this article the author talks about an old airplane, an Airbus 300, in Delhi. This airplane never actually takes off. But it offers the service of helping passengers imagine how it would be to take a flight. The plane only has one wing and is missing part of its tail. Meals are served with a trolley cart, and a generator powers the air-conditioning.
The plane simulates its flight every Saturday. Irrespective of the veracity of this story, it points to an acute unmet need at the BOP: the need for consumers to believe there is something more out there worth aspiring for and worth fighting for. There are, by now, several business models for the BOP – many that I have probably never heard about. Their primary aim is often to let the BOP customer avoid the poverty trap and poverty penalties associated with BOP markets while integrating them into the global economy.
But poverty penalties do not only include higher prices for worse goods, and they are not only about dirty water or non-existent transportation.
2122 Views
November 16, 2007 — 11:16 am
In case you haven't heard, there's this new thing called MicroPlace. It's a major turn in the life of the microfinance movement founded by entrepreneur (philanthropreneur?) Tracey Pettengill Turner. In between advancing her vision for solutions to poverty and running Ironman triathlons, Tracey takes a moment to discuss her new project with NextBillion.net.
4692 Views
November 16, 2007 — 06:41 am
Echoing Green is an angel investor for entrepreneurs focused on social change. I wrote about a couple of their 2007 fellows earlier this summer. They provide seed funding and support to entrepreneurs with innovative ideas for social change.
As an angel investor in the social sector, Echoing Green identifies, funds, and supports emerging leaders around the world and the organizations that they launch. Echoing Green has a two-year fellowship program, in which they identify social entrepreneurs that develop new solutions to social problems. They are currently accepting applications for the 2008 fellowship, for which 20 social entrepreneurs will be selected. Fellows will receive up to $90,000 to fund sustainable solutions to social problems.
1911 Views
November 15, 2007 — 04:41 pm
At Acumen Fund's 2007 Investor Gathering, the focus was squarely on three pillars: capital, knowledge and talent. Six-plus years after its creation, Acumen has staked its mission - funding entrepreneurial approaches to poverty alleviation - on these as the centerpieces of a three-pronged strategy.
So, how are they doing? On the capital front, Acumen has raised $48 million towards a $100 million goal. To build knowledge within the field, they are writing case studies, piloting assessment methodologies and launching a new web site. And as far as talent is concerned, Acumen is building and retaining a top-notch worldwide team while investing in the next generation of leaders through its Fellows program.
4778 Views
November 14, 2007 — 12:40 pm
Biofuels have become a fashionable and controversial topic of late (just yesterday, the New York Times reported on resistance to ethanol in Iowa). Debates range from lauding the benefits of renewable energy sources to questioning whether biofuels will raise prices of staple comestibles, leaving millions to starve, or replace food-crop cultivation altogether. Concerns have also arisen about the cost and scalability of the technologies and the mass implementation of apparatuses required for replacing daily uses of fossil fuels on the large scale.
Yet one company recently added to the New Ventures China Portfolio seems to be escaping these conundrums, and providing reason to believe that biomass fuel, even in one of the most polluting developing countries on the planet, can be environmentally and socially and financially sustainable.
2635 Views
November 13, 2007 — 05:08 pm
I am in New York City today, attending the 2007 Acumen Fund Investor Gathering. This annual event is an opportunity for NextBillion ally Acumen Fund to engage its stakeholders - investors, entrepreneurs, partners and supporters - in a discussion of where the fund has been and where it's going. Today was my first Investor Gathering, and it was an event I won't soon forget.
The first speaker was Monitor Institute President Katherine Fulton. Fulton, who before joining Monitor Group, co-lead the Global Business Network, delivered a compelling speech entitled "Acumen's Moment."
2909 Views
November 13, 2007 — 10:09 am
The Center for Global Development (CGD), an independent, non-partisan, non-profit policy research organization in Washington, DC seeks a part time or full time intern to provide administrative and research support to CGD’s executive office. The Intern will support the executive office in a broad array of functions.
Location: Washington, DC
Salary: $10- $14 per hour, commensurate with experience.
General Responsibilities:
- Assist executive office assistants in scheduling, mailings, and coordination of meetings.
- Track policy developments in relevant areas.
- Provide other research, writing and editing support related with specific projects.
- Perform other duties as necessary.
2597 Views
November 12, 2007 — 12:26 pm
Latin American Forum for Inclusive Business: Al Hammond Goes to Chile, and The Next Four Billion Deb
This week, AVINA, FUNDES, and MASISA are hosting a regional 3-day workshop for Inclusive Businesses and a special Business Forum in Santiago, Chile. WRI's Al Hammond is participating as a panelist at the Forum today and sent the following comments in from Santiago:
Inclusive Business Approaches in Latin America
26717 Views
