Development Challenges, South-South Solutions is the monthly e-newsletter for the United Nations Development Programme’s South-South Cooperation Unit (www.southerninnovator.org). It has been published every month since 2006.
Stories by David South
Design and Layout: UNDP South-South Cooperation Unit
Follow @SouthSouth1
The document discusses several social enterprises that use business approaches to address social problems. These include organizations that provide employment opportunities and job training to disadvantaged groups, literacy programs, transportation services for seniors, accessible books for the visually impaired, small business assistance, construction waste recycling, fair trade certification, and a membership alliance supporting social enterprises. The common theme is that social enterprises harness the power of business to solve important social and environmental issues.
This document summarizes a public-private partnership between Winrock International and the toy company Hathay Bunano-Pebblechild brand to provide job training and income opportunities for rural women in Bangladesh. Through this partnership, over 1,000 vulnerable women received two months of training in toy making skills. They then produced toys to be sold by the company, earning a fair wage of around 2,000 taka per month. This sustainable partnership model has improved the economic security and empowerment of women while supporting conservation efforts in the region.
AID Ann Arbor is a chapter of AID India, a volunteer movement committed to promoting sustainable and equitable development in India. It supports grassroots organizations through various projects focused on education, livelihoods, health, women's empowerment, and social justice. The chapter has around 1000 volunteers and has supported over 365 projects across 18 Indian states. It raises funds through local events and engages the community on social issues like the Bhopal gas tragedy. The current chapter coordinators and teams are listed along with some potential new project partners.
This document discusses strategies for global collaboration in the 21st century. It provides two examples of collaboration at the grassroots level and two examples of collaboration at the global level. The first grassroots example is the Global Giving Foundation, which links donors to small social projects around the world. The second is Ushahidi, a nonprofit that maps reports of violence and has since expanded to track other crises globally. At the global level, it discusses the Japan Platform model of cooperation between NGOs, businesses and government for emergency relief. It also mentions the potential for an Asia Platform to replicate this model of tripartite collaboration.
The document discusses the rise of the local living economies movement as an alternative to corporate globalization. It argues that corporate globalization has led to the decline of local communities and consolidation of wealth and power into large corporations. The local living economies movement aims to build sustainable local economies through independent and community-based businesses that remain locally owned and foster strong community relationships. It promotes regional brands and decentralized decision-making over national branding and centralized corporate control. The goal is to maximize social and environmental benefits rather than profits and growth.
Microcredit, Microfinance, Social Business, MicrofranchisingMarty Jenkins
Microcredit programs provide small loans to low-income individuals, usually women, to start or expand small businesses. Loans are repaid in weekly installments and have high repayment rates of over 98% due to group lending structures. Microcredit has grown significantly and now serves over 150 million people worldwide, empowering the poor and increasing dignity. Related programs include microfinance, which offers additional services like deposits and insurance, and microfranchising, which replicates small, low-cost business models to promote entrepreneurship. Social businesses use profits to further social goals rather than paying owners.
This document discusses National Philanthropy Day, which is celebrated across Canada and North America on November 15th. It provides statistics on charitable donations and volunteering in Canada. The Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) organizes events and activities on this day to recognize and encourage philanthropy. AFP works with charities, donors, and volunteers to raise over $115 billion annually for charitable causes. National Philanthropy Day aims to celebrate regional philanthropists and volunteers who contribute to their communities.
The document summarizes the work of the Lex Mundi Pro Bono Foundation in providing pro bono legal services to social entrepreneurs around the world. It discusses how the Foundation leverages the expertise of 160 top-tier law firms in its network to match entrepreneurs with lawyers who can help them with issues like expanding to new countries and compliance with regulations. Since 2006, 95 member firms have helped over 450 social entrepreneurs in 57 countries, supporting organizations working on challenges like education, health, poverty alleviation, and the environment. The Foundation aims to help social entrepreneurs scale their impact and better achieve their missions of creating social change.
The document discusses several social enterprises that use business approaches to address social problems. These include organizations that provide employment opportunities and job training to disadvantaged groups, literacy programs, transportation services for seniors, accessible books for the visually impaired, small business assistance, construction waste recycling, fair trade certification, and a membership alliance supporting social enterprises. The common theme is that social enterprises harness the power of business to solve important social and environmental issues.
This document summarizes a public-private partnership between Winrock International and the toy company Hathay Bunano-Pebblechild brand to provide job training and income opportunities for rural women in Bangladesh. Through this partnership, over 1,000 vulnerable women received two months of training in toy making skills. They then produced toys to be sold by the company, earning a fair wage of around 2,000 taka per month. This sustainable partnership model has improved the economic security and empowerment of women while supporting conservation efforts in the region.
AID Ann Arbor is a chapter of AID India, a volunteer movement committed to promoting sustainable and equitable development in India. It supports grassroots organizations through various projects focused on education, livelihoods, health, women's empowerment, and social justice. The chapter has around 1000 volunteers and has supported over 365 projects across 18 Indian states. It raises funds through local events and engages the community on social issues like the Bhopal gas tragedy. The current chapter coordinators and teams are listed along with some potential new project partners.
This document discusses strategies for global collaboration in the 21st century. It provides two examples of collaboration at the grassroots level and two examples of collaboration at the global level. The first grassroots example is the Global Giving Foundation, which links donors to small social projects around the world. The second is Ushahidi, a nonprofit that maps reports of violence and has since expanded to track other crises globally. At the global level, it discusses the Japan Platform model of cooperation between NGOs, businesses and government for emergency relief. It also mentions the potential for an Asia Platform to replicate this model of tripartite collaboration.
The document discusses the rise of the local living economies movement as an alternative to corporate globalization. It argues that corporate globalization has led to the decline of local communities and consolidation of wealth and power into large corporations. The local living economies movement aims to build sustainable local economies through independent and community-based businesses that remain locally owned and foster strong community relationships. It promotes regional brands and decentralized decision-making over national branding and centralized corporate control. The goal is to maximize social and environmental benefits rather than profits and growth.
Microcredit, Microfinance, Social Business, MicrofranchisingMarty Jenkins
Microcredit programs provide small loans to low-income individuals, usually women, to start or expand small businesses. Loans are repaid in weekly installments and have high repayment rates of over 98% due to group lending structures. Microcredit has grown significantly and now serves over 150 million people worldwide, empowering the poor and increasing dignity. Related programs include microfinance, which offers additional services like deposits and insurance, and microfranchising, which replicates small, low-cost business models to promote entrepreneurship. Social businesses use profits to further social goals rather than paying owners.
This document discusses National Philanthropy Day, which is celebrated across Canada and North America on November 15th. It provides statistics on charitable donations and volunteering in Canada. The Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) organizes events and activities on this day to recognize and encourage philanthropy. AFP works with charities, donors, and volunteers to raise over $115 billion annually for charitable causes. National Philanthropy Day aims to celebrate regional philanthropists and volunteers who contribute to their communities.
The document summarizes the work of the Lex Mundi Pro Bono Foundation in providing pro bono legal services to social entrepreneurs around the world. It discusses how the Foundation leverages the expertise of 160 top-tier law firms in its network to match entrepreneurs with lawyers who can help them with issues like expanding to new countries and compliance with regulations. Since 2006, 95 member firms have helped over 450 social entrepreneurs in 57 countries, supporting organizations working on challenges like education, health, poverty alleviation, and the environment. The Foundation aims to help social entrepreneurs scale their impact and better achieve their missions of creating social change.
This is a brief presentation about the KIDS Young Leadership Board. There is also a Group Page set-up on LinkedIn, and the link can be found on my profile.
Oxfam is a large international non-profit organization that fights poverty and suffering. It was founded in 1942 as the Oxford Committee for Famine Relief and now has operations in many countries. Oxfam uses various communications strategies like media relations, lobbying, advocacy campaigns, and social media to raise awareness and influence policy decisions. Stakeholder surveys show that while supporters, volunteers, and partners have a positive view of Oxfam, staff and donors want more involvement in campaigns. Oxfam has a good reputation due to its impactful campaigns and relationships with stakeholders.
The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation is the largest private foundation in the world, founded by Bill and Melinda Gates to enhance healthcare, reduce poverty, and expand education opportunities globally. The Foundation is controlled by Bill and Melinda Gates and Warren Buffett and had over $38 billion in endowments as of 2013. It was established in 1997 and has increased its funding to over $2 billion through donations from its founders, focused on addressing global health issues like polio eradication.
Presentation by Dr. Jane Ives, Director, Global Grameen & NGO Student Internship Program, Thunderbird School of Global Management, 29Oct2009, Lokey Graduate School of Business, Mills College
View the video: http://vimeo.com/7925115
This document discusses different forms of crowdsourcing according to Jeff Howe and Marty Zwilling. It provides examples of crowdsourcing including Coldplay creating a music video with fan submissions to raise awareness of land grabs, and the organization Kiva which connects lenders with borrowers around the world through crowdfunding, having provided over $1.5 billion in loans with a 98.86% repayment rate. The document also introduces the story of Elham, a mother in Iraq requesting a loan through Izdiharona, a nonprofit organization that provides financial assistance through small business loans.
The document discusses different models of philanthropy in India, including corporate social responsibility programs run by large organizations, private family foundations set up by business families, and the combination of corporate and family foundations. It notes that many top Indian business leaders and CEOs make large donations focused on education, with Azim Premji, chairman of Wipro, donating the most wealth of over $2 billion for educational causes. Overall, the document examines trends in philanthropy in India and profiles some major philanthropic donations made by business leaders in 2010.
I am currently working towards developing the foundations for an NGO that is dedicated to the establishment of recreation and resource centers in global communities with the collaborative efforts of diverse groups and foreign governments. This power-point demonstrates the initial framework upon which the organization will be founded.
The document summarizes the work of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation in improving global development and reducing poverty. It details how Bill Gates founded Microsoft and later transitioned to focus on global health and education through the Foundation. The Foundation aims to increase opportunities for people in developing countries through initiatives in agriculture, financial services, water and sanitation. Since 1998, it has helped vaccinate over 670,000 children and invested in initiatives providing clean water, sanitation, internet access, and supporting crop growth.
The document summarizes an action alert from Rainforest Action Network (RAN) regarding Ford Motor Company. It notes that according to the EPA, Ford ranks lowest in fuel economy and highest in greenhouse gas emissions. It calls on readers to write to Ford's CEO to demand increased fuel efficiency and zero tailpipe emissions by 2020 using proven technology. The rest of the document provides additional context about RAN's work and campaigns.
Eller Partnership Presentation 03 06 09 Fina La Bmpbphilippi
This document discusses poverty reduction efforts and cross-sector partnerships. It notes that over 2.6 billion people live on less than $2 per day. The Millennium Development Goals aimed to reduce extreme poverty by 2015 through partnerships between governments, NGOs, and businesses. However, partnerships often fail due to cultural and organizational differences between sectors. True partnerships require understanding different perspectives and empowering local communities.
Micro-finance provides small loans and other financial services to low-income individuals who do not have access to traditional banking services. It has helped many people start small businesses and increase their incomes. However, some argue that interest rates on micro-loans are sometimes too high and micro-finance does not address the underlying structural causes of poverty. The document discusses different models of micro-finance organizations and provides examples of how micro-loans have helped individuals and families in developing countries.
Microfinance: Giving a Chance to the Working PoorJason Duff
Microfinance is one of the most powerful vehicles to help the working poor create jobs, opportunity, and to build a sustainable lifestyle. Jason Duff presents for Opportunity International about Microfinance, Microlending, and other tools helping the words entrepreneurs.
The document discusses two philanthropists, Jack Sim and Bill and Melinda Gates, and their efforts to improve health for the poor. Jack Sim founded the World Toilet Organization to improve sanitation globally and pioneered social enterprises to provide affordable toilets in India and Cambodia. Bill and Melinda Gates co-founded their foundation, which focuses on global health and development issues like immunizing over 100 million children annually and providing HIV treatment to 17 million people. Both work to improve lives and health conditions for vulnerable populations worldwide.
This document provides a 3-page summary of Counterpart International's 2012 annual report. Some key details include:
- Counterpart is a global development organization with $56 million in revenues and 600 employees working in 23 countries.
- In 2012, Counterpart partnered with 2,600 local organizations that reached over 3.3 million beneficiaries.
- The report highlights 6 success stories from Counterpart projects in Guatemala, Senegal, Mauritania, Yemen, Armenia, and the Dominican Republic.
- These stories showcase how Counterpart builds the capacity of local organizations to empower communities and create sustainable impacts.
How to Start or Convert to a Co-operative BusinessNFCACoops
This presentation from the 46th NOFA Summer Conference is for folks interested in establishing your food/farm business as a legacy and retaining jobs using the co-operative business structure. Co-ops root business in communities, strengthen buy-in, build a resilient & sustainable economy. Learn how co-ops work, the start-up process, benefits of conversion & track record. Hear from those who’ve converted their business to the co-op model, members from worker co-ops, and co-op developers.
Presenters:
Bonnie Hudspeth, Co-op Developer, Neighboring Food Co-op Association.
Adam Trott, Executive Director, Valley Alliance of Worker Co-ops & Shared Capital Co-operative, Member Relations Director.
Food Co-ops: Democratizing Human Health & Food SecurityNFCACoops
This document summarizes a presentation given at the 2019 NOFA Summer Conference about food co-ops and their role in democratizing human health and food security. It discusses the cooperative business model of being owned and controlled by members, with any profits reinvested in the business. Case studies are presented from the Franklin Community Co-op in MA and Brattleboro Food Co-op in VT, focusing on increasing access to healthy local food and building business ownership. The presentation emphasizes how co-ops can improve food security through education, local food purchasing, and programs that make healthy food affordable to more community members.
Thank you for the summary. I appreciate you highlighting the key points and initiatives discussed in the document. Summarizing complex topics concisely while maintaining essential details is an important skill.
Investments in Rural America: Impact Investors and Rural Readiness ruralxchange
A webinar from NARP
Speakers:
Amy Domini (Domini Social Investments), David R. Dangler (National Alliance for Rural Policy Network)
This webinar discusses how impact investors view investments, innovative and supportive investments, and community development banks and funds.
TRUSTED TECH FINANCE INITIATIVE Dedicated to Advancing Freedom and Opportuni...Keith Krach
TRUSTED TECH FINANCE INITIATIVE
Dedicated to Advancing Freedom and Opportunity for Microentrepreneurs
by Closing the Digital Divide in Low-income Countries
The Trusted Tech Microfinance Partnership (TechFinance) is devoted to transforming the lives of microentrepreneurs by empowering them to participate in the digital economy, with innovative paths to earn income, gain confidence in trusted technology, and improve the quality of life for their families and communities.
The Trusted TechFinance (TTF) initiative will enable participants to access trusted technology products, online education, and training to make existing businesses more scalable and efficient and pursue a broad array of technology-enabled careers including programming, e-commerce, web design, customer service . The partnership leverages the strengths of Opportunity International (OI), as the global leader in issuing microloans to lift people out of poverty, and the Krach Institute for Tech Diplomacy at Purdue (KITD), as the leading global authority for advancing freedom through trusted technology.
The transformative power of trust is a key theme of the partnership. Opportunity International transforms lives through the power of its Trust banks and trust groups.
The Trusted Tech Microfinance Partnership (TechFinance) opens a new dimension of Opportunity International microfinancing in low-income countries, expanding beyond its education finance (EduFinance) and agriculture finance (AgFinance) microfinance initiatives. The partnership extends the Krach Institute’s global tech diplomacy mission to low-income countries, defending against technological authoritarianism and advancing freedom through the adoption of trusted technology.
The Trusted Tech Microfinance Partnership Solution
A need of this magnitude and complexity requires a multi-faceted solution on a massive scale. To have a profound impact on closing the digital divide, the strategy is designed to integrate all 4 critical success factors:
Noble Mission:
• Lift the poor out of poverty
• Economic empowerment of women
• Close the digital divide
• Adoption of trusted technology to defend against authoritarianism
• Advance freedom
Proven Scalable Model
• 50 years of history with $2.5 Billion in loans
• Sustainable business model with 98% payback rate
• Reach exceeding 250 million families, 94% women
• 38,000 on the ground partners in low-income communities
Whole Solution
• Low cost prepackaged integrated technology stack
• Global on-line training capability with the first public global on-line university
• Established in country banking capabilities with 25 financial service firms
• Proven methodology of Innovation with two existing programs
Critical Partners: Experience with; support from; and training programs for;
• Leading technology companies (Microsoft, DocuSign, Meta, Cisco, Google)
• US State Department and Commerce Department
• U.S. Development Finance Corporation (DFC), USAID, and development banks
The document discusses how multinational corporations can profitably sell goods and services to the world's 4 billion poor people, who collectively have substantial purchasing power. It provides examples of companies like ITC in India that have built networks to connect with rural farmers, providing information and enabling direct sales of crops and supplies. While infrastructure and other challenges exist, companies that find ways to understand and serve the needs and lifestyles of the poor can tap into a large, growing market. Selling to the poor can be very lucrative while also benefiting consumers and helping reduce poverty.
This is a brief presentation about the KIDS Young Leadership Board. There is also a Group Page set-up on LinkedIn, and the link can be found on my profile.
Oxfam is a large international non-profit organization that fights poverty and suffering. It was founded in 1942 as the Oxford Committee for Famine Relief and now has operations in many countries. Oxfam uses various communications strategies like media relations, lobbying, advocacy campaigns, and social media to raise awareness and influence policy decisions. Stakeholder surveys show that while supporters, volunteers, and partners have a positive view of Oxfam, staff and donors want more involvement in campaigns. Oxfam has a good reputation due to its impactful campaigns and relationships with stakeholders.
The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation is the largest private foundation in the world, founded by Bill and Melinda Gates to enhance healthcare, reduce poverty, and expand education opportunities globally. The Foundation is controlled by Bill and Melinda Gates and Warren Buffett and had over $38 billion in endowments as of 2013. It was established in 1997 and has increased its funding to over $2 billion through donations from its founders, focused on addressing global health issues like polio eradication.
Presentation by Dr. Jane Ives, Director, Global Grameen & NGO Student Internship Program, Thunderbird School of Global Management, 29Oct2009, Lokey Graduate School of Business, Mills College
View the video: http://vimeo.com/7925115
This document discusses different forms of crowdsourcing according to Jeff Howe and Marty Zwilling. It provides examples of crowdsourcing including Coldplay creating a music video with fan submissions to raise awareness of land grabs, and the organization Kiva which connects lenders with borrowers around the world through crowdfunding, having provided over $1.5 billion in loans with a 98.86% repayment rate. The document also introduces the story of Elham, a mother in Iraq requesting a loan through Izdiharona, a nonprofit organization that provides financial assistance through small business loans.
The document discusses different models of philanthropy in India, including corporate social responsibility programs run by large organizations, private family foundations set up by business families, and the combination of corporate and family foundations. It notes that many top Indian business leaders and CEOs make large donations focused on education, with Azim Premji, chairman of Wipro, donating the most wealth of over $2 billion for educational causes. Overall, the document examines trends in philanthropy in India and profiles some major philanthropic donations made by business leaders in 2010.
I am currently working towards developing the foundations for an NGO that is dedicated to the establishment of recreation and resource centers in global communities with the collaborative efforts of diverse groups and foreign governments. This power-point demonstrates the initial framework upon which the organization will be founded.
The document summarizes the work of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation in improving global development and reducing poverty. It details how Bill Gates founded Microsoft and later transitioned to focus on global health and education through the Foundation. The Foundation aims to increase opportunities for people in developing countries through initiatives in agriculture, financial services, water and sanitation. Since 1998, it has helped vaccinate over 670,000 children and invested in initiatives providing clean water, sanitation, internet access, and supporting crop growth.
The document summarizes an action alert from Rainforest Action Network (RAN) regarding Ford Motor Company. It notes that according to the EPA, Ford ranks lowest in fuel economy and highest in greenhouse gas emissions. It calls on readers to write to Ford's CEO to demand increased fuel efficiency and zero tailpipe emissions by 2020 using proven technology. The rest of the document provides additional context about RAN's work and campaigns.
Eller Partnership Presentation 03 06 09 Fina La Bmpbphilippi
This document discusses poverty reduction efforts and cross-sector partnerships. It notes that over 2.6 billion people live on less than $2 per day. The Millennium Development Goals aimed to reduce extreme poverty by 2015 through partnerships between governments, NGOs, and businesses. However, partnerships often fail due to cultural and organizational differences between sectors. True partnerships require understanding different perspectives and empowering local communities.
Micro-finance provides small loans and other financial services to low-income individuals who do not have access to traditional banking services. It has helped many people start small businesses and increase their incomes. However, some argue that interest rates on micro-loans are sometimes too high and micro-finance does not address the underlying structural causes of poverty. The document discusses different models of micro-finance organizations and provides examples of how micro-loans have helped individuals and families in developing countries.
Microfinance: Giving a Chance to the Working PoorJason Duff
Microfinance is one of the most powerful vehicles to help the working poor create jobs, opportunity, and to build a sustainable lifestyle. Jason Duff presents for Opportunity International about Microfinance, Microlending, and other tools helping the words entrepreneurs.
The document discusses two philanthropists, Jack Sim and Bill and Melinda Gates, and their efforts to improve health for the poor. Jack Sim founded the World Toilet Organization to improve sanitation globally and pioneered social enterprises to provide affordable toilets in India and Cambodia. Bill and Melinda Gates co-founded their foundation, which focuses on global health and development issues like immunizing over 100 million children annually and providing HIV treatment to 17 million people. Both work to improve lives and health conditions for vulnerable populations worldwide.
This document provides a 3-page summary of Counterpart International's 2012 annual report. Some key details include:
- Counterpart is a global development organization with $56 million in revenues and 600 employees working in 23 countries.
- In 2012, Counterpart partnered with 2,600 local organizations that reached over 3.3 million beneficiaries.
- The report highlights 6 success stories from Counterpart projects in Guatemala, Senegal, Mauritania, Yemen, Armenia, and the Dominican Republic.
- These stories showcase how Counterpart builds the capacity of local organizations to empower communities and create sustainable impacts.
How to Start or Convert to a Co-operative BusinessNFCACoops
This presentation from the 46th NOFA Summer Conference is for folks interested in establishing your food/farm business as a legacy and retaining jobs using the co-operative business structure. Co-ops root business in communities, strengthen buy-in, build a resilient & sustainable economy. Learn how co-ops work, the start-up process, benefits of conversion & track record. Hear from those who’ve converted their business to the co-op model, members from worker co-ops, and co-op developers.
Presenters:
Bonnie Hudspeth, Co-op Developer, Neighboring Food Co-op Association.
Adam Trott, Executive Director, Valley Alliance of Worker Co-ops & Shared Capital Co-operative, Member Relations Director.
Food Co-ops: Democratizing Human Health & Food SecurityNFCACoops
This document summarizes a presentation given at the 2019 NOFA Summer Conference about food co-ops and their role in democratizing human health and food security. It discusses the cooperative business model of being owned and controlled by members, with any profits reinvested in the business. Case studies are presented from the Franklin Community Co-op in MA and Brattleboro Food Co-op in VT, focusing on increasing access to healthy local food and building business ownership. The presentation emphasizes how co-ops can improve food security through education, local food purchasing, and programs that make healthy food affordable to more community members.
Thank you for the summary. I appreciate you highlighting the key points and initiatives discussed in the document. Summarizing complex topics concisely while maintaining essential details is an important skill.
Investments in Rural America: Impact Investors and Rural Readiness ruralxchange
A webinar from NARP
Speakers:
Amy Domini (Domini Social Investments), David R. Dangler (National Alliance for Rural Policy Network)
This webinar discusses how impact investors view investments, innovative and supportive investments, and community development banks and funds.
TRUSTED TECH FINANCE INITIATIVE Dedicated to Advancing Freedom and Opportuni...Keith Krach
TRUSTED TECH FINANCE INITIATIVE
Dedicated to Advancing Freedom and Opportunity for Microentrepreneurs
by Closing the Digital Divide in Low-income Countries
The Trusted Tech Microfinance Partnership (TechFinance) is devoted to transforming the lives of microentrepreneurs by empowering them to participate in the digital economy, with innovative paths to earn income, gain confidence in trusted technology, and improve the quality of life for their families and communities.
The Trusted TechFinance (TTF) initiative will enable participants to access trusted technology products, online education, and training to make existing businesses more scalable and efficient and pursue a broad array of technology-enabled careers including programming, e-commerce, web design, customer service . The partnership leverages the strengths of Opportunity International (OI), as the global leader in issuing microloans to lift people out of poverty, and the Krach Institute for Tech Diplomacy at Purdue (KITD), as the leading global authority for advancing freedom through trusted technology.
The transformative power of trust is a key theme of the partnership. Opportunity International transforms lives through the power of its Trust banks and trust groups.
The Trusted Tech Microfinance Partnership (TechFinance) opens a new dimension of Opportunity International microfinancing in low-income countries, expanding beyond its education finance (EduFinance) and agriculture finance (AgFinance) microfinance initiatives. The partnership extends the Krach Institute’s global tech diplomacy mission to low-income countries, defending against technological authoritarianism and advancing freedom through the adoption of trusted technology.
The Trusted Tech Microfinance Partnership Solution
A need of this magnitude and complexity requires a multi-faceted solution on a massive scale. To have a profound impact on closing the digital divide, the strategy is designed to integrate all 4 critical success factors:
Noble Mission:
• Lift the poor out of poverty
• Economic empowerment of women
• Close the digital divide
• Adoption of trusted technology to defend against authoritarianism
• Advance freedom
Proven Scalable Model
• 50 years of history with $2.5 Billion in loans
• Sustainable business model with 98% payback rate
• Reach exceeding 250 million families, 94% women
• 38,000 on the ground partners in low-income communities
Whole Solution
• Low cost prepackaged integrated technology stack
• Global on-line training capability with the first public global on-line university
• Established in country banking capabilities with 25 financial service firms
• Proven methodology of Innovation with two existing programs
Critical Partners: Experience with; support from; and training programs for;
• Leading technology companies (Microsoft, DocuSign, Meta, Cisco, Google)
• US State Department and Commerce Department
• U.S. Development Finance Corporation (DFC), USAID, and development banks
The document discusses how multinational corporations can profitably sell goods and services to the world's 4 billion poor people, who collectively have substantial purchasing power. It provides examples of companies like ITC in India that have built networks to connect with rural farmers, providing information and enabling direct sales of crops and supplies. While infrastructure and other challenges exist, companies that find ways to understand and serve the needs and lifestyles of the poor can tap into a large, growing market. Selling to the poor can be very lucrative while also benefiting consumers and helping reduce poverty.
This document discusses various approaches to corporate social responsibility (CSR). It describes different types of organizations - Corporate B Corps that consider people, planet and profit equally; and non-profits focused on social missions. It provides examples of companies like Google that implement environmental initiatives while also discussing outliers like Patagonia and its founder Yvon Chouinard who are highly invested in sustainability. It explores challenges like balancing brand and profit with CSR and how democratization can help influence social causes.
Essay On Global Warming In Hindi. Online assignment writing service.Beth Garcia
This document discusses the different types of feminism, which is an ideology that seeks total equality in rights for women and people who self-identify as women. It outlines three waves of feminism: first wave feminism focused on legal issues like women's suffrage in the 19th-20th centuries, second wave feminism was prominent in the 1960s-1980s and focused on issues of sexuality, reproductive rights, and family law, and third wave feminism emerged in the 1990s and focuses on further including issues important to women of color and LGBTQ women.
Development Challenges, South-South Solutions is the monthly e-newsletter of the United Nations Office for South-South Cooperation in UNDP (www.southerninnovator.org). It has been published every month since 2006. Its sister publication, Southern Innovator magazine, has been published since 2011.
ISSN 2227-3905
Stories by David South
UN Office for South-South Cooperation
Contact the Office to receive a copy of the new global magazine Southern Innovator. Issues 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 are out now and are about innovators in mobile phones and information technology, youth and entrepreneurship, agribusiness and food security, cities and urbanization and waste and recycling. Why not consider sponsoring or advertising in an issue of Southern Innovator? Or work with us on an insert or supplement of interest to our readers?
Follow @SouthSouth1.
In this issue:
Women Empowered by Fair Trade
Manufacturer
Global South Trade Boosted with
Increasing China-Africa Trade in 2013
India 2.0: Can the Country Make the
Move to the Next Level?
"Pocket-Friendly" Solution to Help
Farmers Go Organic
Cheap Farming Kit Hopes to Help
More Become Farmers
This document discusses several topics related to youth development and preparing youth for the future global economy. It summarizes initiatives taken by the Ministry of Youth and Culture in Jamaica to engage and train over 280,000 youth. It discusses trends in the global economy and the growing markets of China, India, and other emerging economies. It emphasizes the importance of technology, highlighting that the world's economic axis has shifted eastward and is driven by Millennials. It calls for improving access to technology and WiFi across Jamaica to give youth tools to succeed globally. It also stresses the importance of entrepreneurship, the creative economy, agriculture, and preparing youth with a global mindset.
The Annual Women And Fair Trade Festival EssayAngie Lee
Here are the key points to consider in Greg McNally's decision of whether DataClear should go global or not:
Pros of going global:
- Potential for significant market expansion and revenue/profit growth into new industries and countries. This could help DataClear maintain its competitive edge.
- First mover advantage - by expanding internationally before competitors, DataClear can establish itself as the leading data analysis provider globally.
Cons of going global:
- High costs and risks of expanding operations internationally in terms of compliance, localization, currency risks, etc. Proper infrastructure and resources would need to be developed from scratch.
- Loss of focus on core home market. Competing at home and abroad could stretch DataClear
Acumen Fund's mission is to create a world beyond poverty by investing in social enterprises, emerging leaders, and breakthrough ideas that provide critical goods and services to improve lives and unleash human potential. They support entrepreneurs focused on affordable access to water, health, housing and energy for people living on less than $4 per day. Since 2001, Acumen Fund has invested $73 million in 65 enterprises through a global network, positively impacting tens of millions of lives.
The Economics of Kindness: The Birth of a New Cooperative Economy.
Here is the link for Part 2: https://www.slideshare.net/GuyDauncey/the-economics-of-kindness-part-2
Today’s economy has become for many a kindness-free zone, in which most of the benefits go to the rich, while others suffer, and nature is assaulted.
Capitalism is based on the competitive pursuit of self- interest, but a new economy is emerging to replace it, based on cooperation and kindness. It is being built in cities and on farms, in new kinds of business and banking, and in new approaches to work.
Guy Dauncey is a futurist who works to develop a positive vision of a sustainable future, and to translate that vision into action. His work has been enthusiastically received by environmental activists, politicians, scientists and community planners, including prominent Canadians such as David Suzuki and Elizabeth May. He is the author of Journey to the Future and The Climate Challenge: 101 Solutions to Global Warming.
The Queen of Green IPO aims to raise $150 billion to invest in empowering 200 million poor people globally to live sustainably. The IPO is led by CEO Gill Wallace Hope who has 30 years of experience in international development and partnerships. The IPO will allow both individual and institutional investors to invest in the company's social development portfolio and environmental and economic programs in 70 countries.
Financial Times article on Social entrepreneurship in LatAMInnovation Tank
1) Social entrepreneurs in Latin America are increasingly focusing on creating financially sustainable business models to address social and environmental problems, rather than relying solely on donations.
2) Examples include a partnership in Colombia between a nonprofit and building supplies company to improve housing for the poor, and a Brazilian cardiologist who secured funding for heart treatments by increasing patient volumes.
3) There is a growing recognition that entrepreneurship can help accelerate development by bringing services to more people through for-profit models designed to scale rapidly.
This document provides information about crowdfunding and An Idea Nation, which is a membership site and global think tank that connects people to fund projects with global impact. It discusses what crowdfunding and crowdsourcing are, examples of successful crowdfunding campaigns, and why people and businesses might choose to crowdfund their projects or support causes. An Idea Nation allows members to donate and decide how money will be spent on various global priorities. The document also outlines the benefits of the An Idea Nation loyalty program and discusses how social media can be used to promote social value messaging.
The document provides an overview of investment opportunities in Mindanao, Philippines, specifically regarding sustainable development projects on ancestral lands owned by indigenous peoples. It details that over 2.4 million hectares of titled ancestral lands in Mindanao are seeking responsible partners for projects like cocoa farming. The Indigenous People's Economic Union will serve as the exclusive representative to bring companies to the region. The development of the first phase aims to become a model for future shared-value projects worldwide. Key players introduced include the tribal leaders, NGO partners, and investment group that will guide sustainable and community-beneficial development.
This document outlines several business opportunities in Nigeria to help drive economic change and reduce unemployment. It notes that Nigeria has a large population with many unemployed women and youth. To address this, opportunities are identified in the agro-allied sector like farming and livestock processing, manufacturing like water production and chemicals, education like skills training centers, and services like tourism. Pursuing these opportunities could create jobs, entrepreneurial activities, and positive economic and social impact.
Acumen Fund was established in 2001 with a mission to end poverty by investing in social enterprises, leaders, and innovative ideas. Its vision is for all people to have access to critical goods and services to empower them and unlock their potential. Acumen Fund believes entrepreneurial solutions can extend benefits of the global economy to the billions living on less than $4 per day, and supports entrepreneurs providing affordable access to essentials like water, health, housing and energy. Since inception, Acumen Fund has invested $73 million in 65 companies serving tens of millions of poor people in areas like agriculture, water and electricity.
Raisers' Ask - South Asia's Fundraising MagazineRanjini Victor
Raisers’ Ask is a magazine that aims at equipping fundraisers in South Asia with information and good practices to guide their fundraising. It shares skills in the form of articles, case studies and tutorials, besides experiences and perspectives in communication, fundraising, governance, donor relations and technology. It also seeks to provide research based on which fundraisers can make decisions..
The participant recommends three strategies for a food retailer entering the African market: 1) Launch breakfast cereals targeting the growing urban middle class in countries with high GDP per capita and foreign investment. Advertise using mobile marketing. Partner with retailers like Shoprite for distribution. 2) Sell fortified micronutrient powders targeting poor, rural populations in lower GDP countries. Partner with NGOs, schools, and micro-distributors. 3) Invest in internal research capabilities to understand diverse African consumer behaviors and identify new opportunities, partnering with informal retailers, census data, and mobile payment firms.
The document discusses the evolution of philanthropy among ultra-high net worth individuals. It provides an overview of traditional forms of philanthropy like major giving and private foundations. However, it notes that philanthropy is increasingly defined more broadly to include venture philanthropy, impact investing, microfinance, and job creation which aim to promote sustainable solutions and address root causes of problems. The Wealth-X and Arton Capital Major Giving Index is mentioned as having risen 120% over the last decade, indicating increased philanthropic activity among the ultra-wealthy.
The document provides an overview of the brand positioning for the World Wildlife Fund (WWF). It discusses WWF's pillars which focus on being spokespeople for wildlife, conservation of natural habitats, education of future generations, and inspiring the future. It also examines WWF's culture of depending on donors and government support while having influence on both local and global scales. The document proposes positioning WWF as the largest advocate for wildlife conservation working on every level from volunteers to government representatives. It presents WWF's promise of a future where humans and nature live in harmony and describes WWF's personality as respectful, inspiring, and motivational.
Editor-in-Chief: David South
In 1994 a huge schism had grown in Canada between youth and the wider media. Young people were not reflected anywhere and their views were ignored. That is, until Watch Magazine exploded onto the streets of Toronto and into the halls of the city’s high schools. I was hired by Youth Culture to be the Editor-in-Chief for this unique business: a magazine staffed by high school students but covering the wider worlds of pop music, culture, fashion, politics and the arts.
You can read more about my current and past work here: www.davidsouthconsulting.com
El documento describe cómo las mujeres aprenden las normas comerciales a través de la venta en mercados callejeros. Esto les brinda independencia económica y habilidades empresariales. Sin embargo, enfrentan desventajas como comprar en pequeñas cantidades y pagar precios más altos. El uso de teléfonos móviles en Nigeria y un sistema de pedidos en Sudáfrica han ayudado a las mujeres a superar estas desventajas y aumentar sus ingresos.
El documento describe cómo el turismo puede ayudar a los excombatientes después de un conflicto, brindando ejemplos de Aceh, Indonesia, donde antiguos guerrilleros ahora son guías turísticos, y de Rwanda, donde el turismo está ayudando a curar las heridas del genocidio al tiempo que genera ingresos. También menciona cómo el turismo se ha convertido en una importante atracción en lugares como los túneles Cu Chi en Vietnam que solían usarse por el Vietcong.
El documento describe cómo Cuba ha tenido éxito cultivando alimentos en áreas urbanas para abordar su crisis alimentaria. Cuba ahora produce la mayoría de las verduras que consume a través de huertas urbanas que usan métodos orgánicos. Esto ha creado empleos y mejorado la nutrición de los cubanos. Los cultivos urbanos han ayudado a Cuba a reducir su dependencia de importaciones de alimentos a un costo alto.
Este documento discute el potencial de la juventud urbana como fuente de crecimiento económico. Actualmente, la mayoría de los jóvenes que viven en ciudades de países en desarrollo trabajan en empleos informales y con bajos salarios para sobrevivir. Sin embargo, si se les brindan oportunidades para desarrollar trabajos de calidad, los jóvenes pueden impulsar un sustancial crecimiento económico. El documento también describe varios programas y concursos que buscan promover el emprendimiento entre los
Los tejedores tradicionales de la India están recurriendo a la medicina ayurveda para impregnar sus telas con hierbas y especias con propiedades medicinales, con el fin de aumentar sus ventas. Ensayos clínicos han demostrado los beneficios de estas telas llamadas "ayurvastra" para problemas de salud como reumatismo y diabetes. Ahora se exportan a varios países y generan ingresos para los tejedores, ayudando a preservar esta antigua industria textil.
Este documento describe el desarrollo de una máquina de cajero automático llamada Gramateller diseñada para servir a los pobres y analfabetos en la India rural. La máquina utiliza un escáner de huellas dactilares y puede aceptar billetes sucios. Se ha probado con éxito con dos bancos grandes. El objetivo es ampliar el acceso a los servicios bancarios para las 4.000 millones de personas que viven con menos de $2 dólares por día en todo el mundo.
El documento habla sobre aprovechar la energía cinética de los niños jugando en el patio de recreo para generar electricidad que pueda alumbrar las aulas de escuelas en África que carecen de electricidad. Un estudiante británico diseñó un columpio de tabla que, mediante el simple movimiento de subir y bajar, puede generar suficiente electricidad en 5-10 minutos para iluminar un aula por la noche. Actualmente se está realizando un ensayo piloto de este columpio en Uganda, y el estudiante espera establecer una
El documento describe dos iniciativas africanas para abordar problemas agrícolas y de salud utilizando enfoques basados en la biotecnología y la ciencia. La primera involucra el desarrollo de una variedad de maíz resistente al virus del maíz veteado por científicos sudafricanos para ayudar a los pequeños agricultores. La segunda involucra la cría de tilapias en estanques en Kenia para controlar la propagación de mosquitos portadores de malaria y proporcionar una fuente de alimentos. Ambas
El Children's Development Bank de la India transforma a los niños de la calle en empresarios al brindarles servicios bancarios seguros para ahorrar e invertir su dinero ganado trabajando, así como capacitación empresarial. El banco, administrado conjuntamente por niños y adultos, tiene actualmente 1,300 miembros en Delhi que ahorran un promedio de 30-40 rupias por día. Algunos niños miembros ya están estableciendo sus propios negocios con préstamos del banco.
El documento discute (1) el gran aumento en la población juvenil en los países en desarrollo y las oportunidades que esto presenta para el emprendimiento; (2) la necesidad de brindar a los jóvenes educación y capacitación en habilidades empresariales para aprovechar esta oportunidad; y (3) algunos programas e iniciativas existentes que brindan apoyo financiero y capacitación a los emprendedores juveniles.
Este documento describe el creciente movimiento de "filantropos empresariales" que usan modelos empresariales para abordar problemas sociales. Se centran más en los beneficios que las organizaciones sin fines de lucro tradicionales, y ven a las empresas como una herramienta para el bien. Algunos ejemplos notables son la Omidyar Network, que busca proporcionar microcréditos a todos los pobres del mundo, y el Acumen Fund, que usa principios de diseño empresarial para resolver problemas de pobreza.
1) Un equipo venezolano dirigido por Ermanno Pietrosemoli estableció un nuevo récord mundial al transmitir una señal Wi-Fi a 282 kilómetros de distancia entre dos montañas en los Andes venezolanos, utilizando equipo de bajo costo.
2) Esto demuestra que las señales inalámbricas de bajo costo pueden llegar a mayores distancias e incluso áreas rurales remotas con pequeñas inversiones, ayudando a reducir la brecha digital.
3) Pietrosemoli
El documento discute varias opciones de financiamiento para empresarios sociales en comunidades de bajos ingresos en África. Describe nuevos enfoques como inversiones de impacto social, empresas sociales y comercio justo que buscan un equilibrio entre personas, planeta y ganancias. También destaca varias organizaciones e iniciativas que brindan fondos, capacitación y mercados para este tipo de empresas, como competencias de planes de negocios, microfinanciamiento, buscadores en línea y redes de comercio justo.
El documento describe el creciente papel de la tecnología de código abierto y las computadoras portátiles en África. Específicamente, menciona 1) una película que destaca el movimiento de código abierto en África, 2) el sistema operativo Ubuntu que se ha vuelto popular en el continente, y 3) el proyecto One Laptop Per Child que planea distribuir millones de computadoras portátiles a bajo costo en países en desarrollo.
El documento describe varias iniciativas creativas para ayudar a los pobres, incluyendo Kiva.org, un sitio web que permite a personas prestar pequeñas cantidades de dinero a emprendedores pobres en otros países sin cobrar interés; Ecologics, una compañía que desarrolla tecnologías apropiadas como bombas de agua accionadas a pedal; y retretes biológicos en Kenia que generan metano para su venta.
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Development Challenges, South-South Solutions: February 2007 Issue
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February 2007 | subscribe | unsubscribe | contact us | version française | versión en español
Grassroots Entrepreneurs Now Have Many
Ways to Fund their Enterprises
In the past, African entrepreneurs were extremely limited in the
options for funding their plans. They had to rely on often ineffective
national banks or local networks based on political, tribal or family
connections to secure funding for enterprises. That has now changed,
and there is an explosion in new thinking on business start-ups an
how best to help grassroots entrepreneurs.
Concepts such as socially responsible investing, social enterprises and
fair trade have opened up new frontiers for business development. All
focus on the so-called triple bottom line: people, planet, profit.
Economist Milton Friedman's refrain that the only social responsibility of
business was to increase profits, is being proven wrong. Some even
go as far as to say social enterprise is the model for the 21st century.
"There's lots of money to be made here," said James Baderman of
What If, an innovation company in the UK that employs 300 people
and devotes 10 percent of its profits to helping social enterprises
develop and grow. "There are huge opportunities; just look at the
double-digit growth in fair trade and organic goods over the past
decade. Consumers are increasingly making choices based on the
ethical nature of products."
Many in the social enterprise movement believe breaking the cycle of
poverty and economic stagnation requires more than charity; it
requires the creation of sustainable businesses that will pay local
taxes and employ local people. They have also adopted and adapted
the techniques used by multinational companies to improve the
desirability of their products. A key part of these new socially
responsible businesses is branding and marketing.
In Kenya, the UK's Traidcraft - an organization that fights poverty
t h r o u g h a w i d e r a n g e o f t r a d e-related activities combining
development charity with a trading company - is working with th
Kenya Organic Agriculture Network to develop markets for Kenyan
herbs, spices and related products in local and international markets.
These include gums, resins (e.g. frankincense), herbs such as
coriander, oregano, garlic and lemon grass; spices such as paprika,
chillies, rosemary, lemon balm, and essential oils such as pepper tree
oil, sinoni oil, and megalocapus oil - all grown in marginalised, arid
areas.
In another development focused on Kenya - but applicable acros
Africa - is being led by the UK-based Mark Leonard Trust. Called th
Mainstreaming African Crafts project, it seeks to boost demand for
Kenyan craft products in the UK market. It will build demand by
focusing on growth areas (such as baskets, jewelry, leather),
emphasizing the distinctiveness of African craft products and support
product development in line with identified market trends. The aim is to
launch a branded Kenyan product range at an international trade fair
in 2008.
Along with improving the branding and marketing of social enterprises
and fair trade businesses, funding options are becoming more varied.
One new source of funding for budding social entrepreneurs is the
William James Foundation's 4th Annual Socially Responsible Business
Plan Competition. It awards winners who develop business plans that
blend people, planet and profit together with over US $40,000 in cash
and expert advice to make sure it is spent well. Past winners have
included business ventures as varied as an Afghan company that
n Grassroots Entrepreneurs
Now Have Many Ways to
Fund their Enterprises
n Securing Land Rights for
the Poor Now Reaping
Rewards
n Dynamic Growth in African
ICT is Unlocking Secrets of
SME Treasure Trove
n African Tourism Leads the
World and Brings New
Opportunities
n Babajob.com
n Equator Initiative
n Kiva.org
n SSC Website
n Window on the World
n Job Opportunities
n Past Issues
2. sends SMS text messages on security alerts, to others making hand
made organic clothing and portable vaccine packs for remote areas.
"We're at a tipping point wherein the entrepreneur who builds in long
term values of sustainability is the one who will be successful," said
Ian Fisk, executive director of the William James Foundation and
long-time sustainable business activist through Net Impact. "Most o
what people think of as environmental and social activism in business
is simply long-term thinking about energy costs and human resources.
There are thousands of good ideas out there. The foundation wants to
find those that are attached to solid business plans and help them
succeed."
The success of this approach has also attracted the attention of
multinational companies like the oil company Shell. At the Shel
Foundation, they look at all the enterprises they support from a
hardnosed, business perspective. Rather than seeing a producer who
needs to produce, they look first at the market and the consumer, and
then work backwards to get the producer to make the appropriate
products that will sell. "No micro-enterprise is sustainable unless ther
is a viable route to market," said Sharna Jarvis, Programme Manager
for the Shell Foundation. "The problem with the standard model for
micro-finance is that it begins with the producer, not the consumer. It
is all about what someone wants to make - there is not enoug
emphasis on whether anyone will buy it."
A new internet search engine has also been launched that is seeking a
new way to create a steady flow of funds to nonprofit enterprises
working to reduce poverty. Called GoodSearch, it plows 50 percent o
its advertising revenue (about a penny a search) back into nonprofits
selected by its users. Powered by the well-known portal Yahoo!, if fo
example 1,000 supporters just searched twice a day, it would raise US
$7,300 a year for an organization.
The Fairtrade Foundation (FTF) helps farmers and other producers to
earn a decent living and obtain good healthcare and education.
Fair Trade Resource Network: http://fairtraderesource.org/about.html
Unltd ( p r o n o u n c e d U n l i m i t e d ) , a c h a r i t y s u p p o r t i n g s o c i a
entrepreneurs.
Excellent resource to link with branded social enterprises and all the
resources required to get started: www.socialenterprise.org.uk
Equitrade helps businesses in poor countries to develop finished o
part-finished products to sell in rich countries.
The 4th Annual Socially Responsible Business Plan Competition is open
to for-profit business (or business ideas) with at least one member
who is a current student or has graduated within the past five years.
For more information contact: www.williamjamesfoundation.org o r
email: ian.fisk@williamjamesfoundation.org.
3. Securing Land Rights for the Poor Now Reaping Rewards
The hotly debated issue of land rights for the poor has never been more relevant. There is mounting
evidence that access to land rights can catapult the poor out of poverty and spur growth for the economy.
Experience in India and China is now showing the economic power unleashed when the poor gain full legal
rights over their land. But it can be a thornier issue in Africa, where much land is still held under customary
law, with people either holding it through their clan or tribe, or being considered as owners of where they
live, without formal documents. Many countries are now adapting their laws to switch to a system of formal
titles, but the process is very uneven and some question whether western-style property titles are
appropriate in an African context.
While there are many schemes to alleviate or eliminate poverty through micro-credit, grants or aid, some
believe the secret is in creating a sound framework of property rights, giving poor people important
collateral to raise money against the value of the land on which they live. The Peruvian economist,
Hernando de Soto, has calculated that the total value of informal urban dwellings and rural land owned
under customary law is around three times greater than Africa's entire gross domestic product and 100
times greater than its foreign direct investment.
But the urgency of this problem can be seen in the numbers of rural poor - many of whom will migrate to
the world's fast-growing cities. In China there are 800 million, in India the rural poor number 270 million
and 70 percent of Africa's 888 million (2005,UN) are rural poor.
The Rural Development Institute (www.rdiland.org), an NGO based in Seattle, Washington, USA - and with
offices and projects in India, China, Indonesia, Russia, Africa - uses lawyers to advocate and fight for land
rights for the rural poor. To date, RDI has helped provide land rights to more than 100 million poor families
worldwide. Their approach is called micro-owning whereby the poor are helped to acquire land assets.
These are often small plots of land - sometimes 1/10th acre - that can provide the nutritional needs for a
family and help them on the road to the virtuous cycle of long-term, sustainable and generational poverty
alleviation.
"Micro-ownership transforms the lives of the rural poor," according to Radha Friedman, Associate Director,
Development and Communication, just back from visiting RDI's Indian projects. "Outside Bangalore in the
state of Karnataka one woman who was landless worked two shifts a day in the hot sun. She was barely
able to feed her children. She was making 8 to 10 rupees a day - when a bottle of water costs 10 rupees.
We helped her secure a plot of land to grow jasmine flowers which she sells in the market. She now makes
between 85 to 200 rupees a day. She can eat three times a day and her kids can afford to go to school.
She said she had not thought about how far she had come, but it clearly showed she had such pride in
what she had achieved. A number of Indian states have adopted this program, enabling people to
purchase micro-gardens and micro-plots of land. It has been such a success that other Indian states are
now showing interest."
"All of this didn't happen overnight," said Lincoln Miller, Chief Operations Officer at RDI. "We conducted lots
of research and surveyed the rural poor. We analyzed how the laws were affecting them. It took a long
time to change government attitudes. We hopefully find a voice in the government who will listen to us.
They need to recognize that land rights are one of the best routes out of poverty. In Africa we are primarily
working in Burundi, Rwanda and Angola. In addition to working with government to change national policy
and laws, we also conduct awareness-raising and education at the grassroots level, especially targeting
women. Land rights are a political issue. The majority of the world's poor is rural. By giving them land rights
this process can help mitigate migration to the city."
The benefits of owning land include improved family status, pride and hope, reduced hunger and improved
family nutrition from crops produced on land , increased income from sale of excess production, improved
rural health, including reduction in infant mortality and reduction in death from disease or infection due to
malnutrition, labor-intensive and productivity-enhancing, investments in land motivated by secure land
rights, increased family savings as a result of ability to invest in land improvements, ability of poor to
benefit from any market increases in land values, enhanced capacity to conduct micro-enterprise activities,
empowerment of women, and decreased pressure to migrate to already crowded urban areas.
However in South Africa, land rights have been further complicated by the legacy of apartheid. In 1994, 80
percent of farmland was in white hands. The ruling African National Congress (ANC) want to see 30 percent
of that transferred to black ownership by 2015. Blacks are also able to claim ownership for land as long as
they live on it.
The strong reaction against past experiments in collectivizing land can be understood in the experience of
Zambia. Under President Kenneth Kaunda, everything was nationalized, from copper mines to corner
shops. Average annual incomes almost halved in 40 years despite the country receiving more aid per head
of population than virtually any other in the world.
Any organizations or individuals seeking land rights need only to contact the RDI by email to get the legal
ball rolling.
The Centre on Housing Rights and Evictions tracks forcible evictions from land. In its latest global survey of
forced evictions from 2003-2006 reveals that nearly 2 million people in Africa and over 2.1 million people in
4. Asia and the Pacific have been forcibly evicted from their homes since 2003. http://www.cohre.org/
Based in Cape Town, South Africa, the Shack/Slum Dwellers International targets the plight of people living
in semi-urban and urban areas: http://www.sdinet.org/
The Cities Alliance: Cities without Slums links together a global coalition of cities and their development
p a r t n e r s c o m m i t t e d t o s c a l i n g u p s u c c e s s f u l a p p r o a c h e s t o p o v e r t y r e d u c t i o n :
http://www.citiesalliance.org/index.html
Rural Development Institute: Email: info@rdiland.org Website: www.rdiland.org
5. Dynamic Growth in African ICT is Unlocking Secrets of SME
Treasure Trove
A newly released survey of 14 African countries in 2006 has documented the impact of Information and
Communication Technology (ICT) on private sector development and how it is contributing to developing a
vibrant Small Medium Enterprise (SME) sector in Africa. It discovered how dynamic the SME sector is, how it
has rapidly adopted mobile phone technology (96 percent have it), and how if used properly in concert with
this new technology, extraordinary economic growth is possible.
The survey - Towards An African e-Index: SME e-Access and Usage in 14 African Countries - covered only
businesses employing fewer than 50 people and took in the vast informal sector in the countries. It
investigated if they had access to ICTs, how they are using them and if it was making them more
productive. SMEs were especially interesting because they do not waste money (most people are just
trying to survive) and they only use what is really useful to them to increase income. In the informal sector
this has become the mobile phone.
The countries surveyed included Botswana, Cameroon, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Mozambique, Namibia,
Nigeria, Rwanda, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe. With most of the continent's poor
working in the SME sector, little was actually known about the impact of ICT and its link to profitability and
labour productivity. And surveying only formal businesses would be telling half the story since about two-
thirds of non-resource driven GDP generation is derived from SMEs, and a large share of that from informal
ones.
"This is a sector that has no access to formal finance," said Dr. Christopher Stork, a senior researcher at
the Witwatersrand University in South Africa. "The mobile phones present an opportunity to tap into this
market and offer finance, banking services, cash transfers - we see this already in Kenya - without the risks
of other services. These informal businesses can build up a history, learn how to better control their
businesses, and receive loans. Where the financial system is dysfunctional or overpriced, airtime credits can
be the new cash form."
Africa has a high proportion of entrepreneurs because people have next to no social supports to fall back
on and need to do business to survive. Most fall into the informal sector where they can avoid paying tax,
pay low wages, and keep overheads down. According to Stork, if governments are serious about dealing
with poverty, then the best approach is to acknowledge this sector, and rather than crush it, draw it in to
become more sophisticated and efficient. He sees the mobile phones as key to this strategy.
"Innovative technology can help these entrepreneurs to acquire the tools they need to do business better.
There is a lack of skills in all areas, a lack of accounting skills, a lack of basic financial management. This is
where ICT can overcome this. SMEs can get a monthly statement with all their business transactions,
making it easier to manage things. This would be a great way to distribute micro-finance. Savings clubs
could store cash on the phones."
The e-Index also noted the trend for mobile phone providers to consolidate and offer common regional
services. This could fuel an explosion in cross-border trade as it becomes cheaper and easier to
communicate via mobile phone for business. The e-Index also found the ever-growing importance of
internet cafes remains. They continue to evolve into multi-purpose business centres offering a wide range
of services, from post to word processing. At present they still remain the main means of accessing the
internet. And with broadband still minimal and very expensive, it falls on mobile phones to offer internet
access, though this will remain mainly in the continent's capitals.
The survey's sponsor, Research ICT Africa! (RIA!) network, seeks to build an African knowledge base in
support of ICT policy and regulatory design. The network emerged out of a growing need for hard data and
analysis to help the continent join the information age. Throughout 2007 it is conducting household surveys
on e-access and e-usage and will present the findings in 2008.
You can download for free the entire report Towards An African e-Index: SME e-Access and Usage in 14
African Countries here: Click
6. African Tourism Leads the World and Brings New Opportunities
Tourism around the world is growing rapidly again after the setbacks caused by the September 11, 2001
terrorist attacks. Tourism is also finally acknowledging Africa - home to 888 million people (2005, UN) - and
where 46 percent of sub-Saharan Africa's people live on less than US$1 a day. Led by Kenya and South
Africa, the continent has come out on top in world tourism growth according to the United Nations World
Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) (http://www.unwto.org/). While global tourism is forecast to grow by four
percent in 2007, Africa as a whole enjoyed growth of 10.6 percent in 2006.
Tourism, because it is a labour intensive industry, is seen as a great way to both reduce poverty and meet
all the Millennium Development Goals. It favours small scale businesses, it is decentralized and can diversify
regional economies, it is relatively non-polluting and can contribute to the conservation and promotion of
natural and cultural heritage, and most importantly it can act as a catalyst for kick-starting other sectors of
the economy.
Tourism is now generally recognized to be one of the largest industries-if not the largest-in the world. It
has grown rapidly and almost continuously over the past 20 years, and is now one of the world's most
significant sources of employment and of Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Tourism particularly benefits the
economies of developing countries, where most of the sector's new tourism jobs and businesses are being
created. This rapid growth has encouraged many developing nations to view tourism as key to promoting
economic growth, and global development assistance agencies see it as having real potential to help
achieve many of their own development goals.
Tourism provides opportunities for diversifying local economies and promoting formation of micro and small
enterprises, many of them women-owned. These enterprises promote better lives for poor entrepreneurs,
especially in rural areas where there may be few other livelihood options. Tourism is generally labor-
intensive and it tends to employ relatively higher proportions of women and young people than most other
sectors. Tourism introduces technology and basic infrastructure, and strengthens linkages with the outside
world. Well-planned and -implemented tourism projects can improve local governance, natural resources
management, biodiversity conservation and other important development goals.
Within Africa, sub-Saharan Africa led the way with 12.6 percent growth. The countries benefiting the most
included Kenya, South Africa, Mozambique, Swaziland and the Seychelles. Kenya received almost a million
tourists in 2006, and earned US $857 million in revenue.
Kenya's success rests on the fact it set aside 10 percent of the country for wildlife and biodiversity
conservation. The majority of its tourists come to see the 'big five' - elephant, rhino, lion, buffalo, and
leopard. Tourism currently employs 11 percent of the country's workforce.
In October 2004 the World Tourism Organization released the Washington Declaration on Tourism as a
Sustainable Development Strategy (www.worldtourism.org). Governments, international aid agencies, and
the world's leading universities agreed to make sustainable tourism development a top priority in their
strategies to reduce poverty and meet other MDGs.
Aid agencies like USAID ( http://www.usaid.gov/locations/sub-saharan_africa/) have targeted women for
micro-funding for tourism projects. They have been able to help women start businesses making crafts in
Tanzania and Botswana. The UK's DfID helped Toni Shina from the Cape Town-based The Backpack
(http://www.backpackers.co.za/) to become a fair trade business. "Fair Trade Tourism South Africa
recognises our commitment to uplifting our staff and community, and our utilisation of local service
providers," she said. "As a business we also have a strong and positive attitude to working with and
supporting staff who are affected by HIV and Aids and we abide strongly with required labour and legal
standards."
And the fair trade concept is getting greater recognition. In a recent survey of the local tourism industry in
South Africa, half recognised the Fair Trade in Tourism South Africa brand.
On the other hand, the scale of missed opportunities is illuminated in Rwanda. A consultant on a tourism
management plan for the Volcano National Park, Edwin Sabuhoro, is urging communities living nearby to
embrace eco-tourism and cash in on the tourists visiting nearby gorillas.
"According to our research," he told Kigali's The New Times. "some tourists say they carry their money back
to their countries because they can't find what to spend on." And he pointed out the fate of the gorillas
were directly linked to the poverty of the community: poachers would not be stopped if the community
remained poor and had no other source of income.
How popular Africa has become is exemplified by Ethiopia's rise into the top ten travel destinations for 2007
according to travel guide specialist Frommer's (www.frommers.com). According to the guide, "Ethiopia has
finally emerged out of the shadows caused by years of political strife, economic hardship and famine. The
improved infrastructure has made travelling in Ethiopia increasingly popular, especially among independent-
minded travellers and those seeking adventure."
Another country, Tanzania, is targeting tourism as a key growth area. The country is trumpeting its
peaceful and stable status and low-crime to attract tourists.
7. LINKS:
n Namibia Community Based Tourism Association: http://www.nacobta.com.na/
n Official South African Tourism website: www.southafrica.net
n African Travel and Tourism Association: www.atta.co.uk
n Comprehensive website for searching all things on African tourism: www.africanet.com
n World Tourism Organization: There is an excellent Infoshop packed with resources on sustainable
tourism and how it can meet the Millennium Development Goals. http://www.unwto.org/
n More books on sustainable tourism in Africa:
http://www.unwto.org/regional/africa/publications/publications.htm
n Fair Trade in Tourism South Africa: www.fairtourismsa.org.za
8. Window on the World
Job Opportunities
n The Official Ubuntu Book
by Benjamin Mako Hill, Jono Bacon, Corey Burger, Jonathan Jesse and Ivan Krstic.
Ubuntu is a complete, free operating system that emphasizes community, support, and ease of use
while refusing to compromise on speed, power, and flexibility. It's Linux for human beings-designed for
everyone from computer novices to experts.
n New News Out of Africa
by Charlene Hunter-Gault, Oxford University Press
In New News Out of Africa, this eminent reporter offers a fresh and surprisingly optimistic assessment
of modern Africa, revealing that there is more to the continent than the bad news of disease, disaster,
and despair.
Website: www.oup.com/us
n African Development: Making Sense of the Issues and Actors
by Todd J. Moss, Lynne Rienner Publishers (February 2007)
Website: www.amazon.com
n East Asian Visions: Perspectives on Economic Development
edited by Indermit Gill, Yukon Huang, and Homi Kharas
This volume brings together the views of noted East Asian policymakers and academics on
development prospects in the region. The topics include governance, inequality, corruption, provision of
public goods, China's 'peaceful rise', rural-urban disparities, domestic trade networks, industrial and
financial sector networks, and the consequences of regional financial integration.
Website: www.worldbank.org/publications
n New Industries From New Places: The Emergence of the Hardware and Software Industries in
China and India
by Neil Gregory, Stanley Nollen and Stoyen Tenev
Could China and India dominate the world's technology industry by bringing together Chinese
hardware and Indian software production?
Website: www.worldbank.org/publications
n Africa Recruit Job Compendium
n Africa Union
n CARE
n Christian Children’s Fund
n ECOWAS
n International Crisis Group
n International Medical Corps
n International Rescue Committee
n Internews
n IREX
n Organization for International Migration
n Oxfam
n Relief Web Job Compendium (UN OCHA) (1)
n Relief Web Job Compendium (UN OCHA) (2)
n Save the Children
n The Development Executive Group job
compendium
n Trust Africa
n UN Jobs
n UNDP
n UNESCO
n UNICEF
n World Bank
n World Wildlife Fund (Cameroon)
Please feel free to send your comments, feedback and/or suggestions to Cosmas Gitta
[cosmas.gitta@undp.org] Chief, Division for Policy, Special Unit for South-South Cooperation
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