For those of you who do not check the activity database faithfully, you might have missed the recent changes (Courtland and I updated and recategorized the 280+ activity capsules last week). There is now a "water" category, owing to the growing number of water-related activities. Some of these are focused on low-cost pumps for the BOP [2], others on individual [3] or household water filtration [4] , a village-wide solar-powered irrigation systems with delivery via "water credit cards." [5] , and nutritional supplements [6] to mix with water.
While you're checking out these amazing activities, note the other new categories: housing, general banking, and most controversially, the "role of the BOP." This last one was the result of much ongoing debate. No one is surprised when the BOP is engaged as a consumer, but what about as a producer? This area is still gray, obscured partially by "fairtrade" and other MNC-outsourcing-of-labor models that we initially did not want to include. However, it is clear that the creation of local supply chains, when they provide jobs (particularly when they encourage entrepreneur [6]ship), teach skills, and add value to basic goods on the local level, is what alleviating poverty sustainably is all about.