Though I have some background in
international development and know many of the key players and stakeholders,
crossing over to the business realm of sustainable development level brings a
new challenge. Not unlike visiting a
foreign country for the first time, there is a new language and culture to
learn. There are new laws and often
there is not a clear road map for finding your way.
For the entrepreneur passionate about making a
difference in the world, the encounter of these obstacles only add to the
adventure. Such is the case for Caroline
Delaire, a PhD candidate at the University of California Berkeley who is
working on a
solution that could end the largest mass poisoning in history.
“Nearly 60 million people in Bangladesh and
West Bengal, India have to rely on arsenic-contaminated groundwater for their
basic needs.” According to a bulletin of the World
Health Organization.
Professor Shok Gadgil’s water group at
Berkeley has invented ElectroChemical Arsenic Redemtion (ECAR), which is
designed to provide locally affordable arsenic-safe water at the community
level. Caroline’s quest now is to study
the new technology and better understand distribution strategies to maximize
the impact of ECAR in the field.
According to an article in the Harvard
Business Review on How
to Design a Winning Business Model the task that lies ahead of Caroline
includes understanding two main factors: the customer and their perceptions of
this product and the way it is presented; and the sphere of competitors and
institutions which surround the customers and this new innovation.
On the customer perception front, Caroline is
working on marketing strategies for the social understanding and acceptance
that is needed. She is also looking
further into the cultural ramifications that may arise due to the potential
disruption of current prestige that is connected to communities and individuals
that own wells and have access to water.
In the sphere of institutions, partnerships
with local schools are being established to teach children the importance of
clean water to health — it seems Caroline is off to a good start. But I’m interested in what other institutions
might be of resource and support to her in her efforts. This question led me to embark on researching
players and stakeholders that are at work in the developing world.
Since I have not yet found one central
location for information and resources, this blog is also dedicated to creating
a platform for the ongoing collection of resources for further investigation as
I dive deeper into values, value creation and business models.
Though this list is not currently exhaustive,
I will continue to add to it throughout the term. I welcome your input by suggesting links
that will further provide a broad base of understanding of who the existing
enterprises and institutions are that have a significant role in the spear of
sustainable international development particularly in Africa.
===== RESOURCE LINKS =====
BANKS
Mission: to contribute to the sustainable
economic development and social progress of African countries.
Lends to
governments of middle-income and creditworthy low-income countries.
Mission: to reduce poverty in middle-income and creditworthy
poorer countries by promoting sustainable development through loans,
guarantees, risk management products, and analytical and advisory
services. Structured like a cooperative
owned and operated for the benefit of 188 [developing] countries, it is the
original institution of the World Bank Group.
Provides
international facilities for conciliation and arbitration of investment
disputes and member of the World Bank Group.
The World Bank’s Fund for the Poorest
Provides
interest-free loans—called credits— and grants to governments of the poorest
countries. A member of the World Bank Group.
Provides loans,
equity and technical assistance to stimulate private sector investment in
developing countries. A member of the
World Bank Group.
Provides
guarantees against losses caused by non-commercial risks to investors in
developing countries.
Mission:
to promote foreign direct investment (FDI) into developing countries to
help support economic growth, reduce poverty, and improve people's lives.
A member of the
World Bank Group.
Working for a World Free of Poverty
Five Agencies, One Group
BOTTOM OF THE PYRAMID
The Aspen Institute is an educational and
policy studies organization based in Washington, DC.
Mission: to foster leadership based on
enduring values and to provide a nonpartisan venue for dealing with critical
issues.
Empowered lives. Resilient nations.
Helps developing countries attract and use
aid effectively. They encourage the protection of human rights and help in the
following areas: fighting poverty, building democratic societies, preventing
crisis, enabling recovery, protecting the environment, halting and reversing
HIV/AIDS, empowering women and growing national capacity (capacity
development).
WHO is the directing and coordinating
authority for health within the United Nations system. It is responsible for
providing leadership on global health matters, shaping the health research
agenda, setting norms and standards, articulating evidence-based policy
options, providing technical support to countries and monitoring and assessing
health trends.
Working at the intersection of environment and human need
Mission: to move human society to live in
ways that protect Earth’s environment and its capacity to provide for the needs
and aspirations of current and future generations.
CONFERENCES
Is an international conference exploring the
latest trends in developing, growing and financing Small and Medium Enterprises
(SMEs) in emerging markets.
United Nations Conference on Sustainable
Development
World Domination Summit
The World Domination Summit (WDS) is a gathering of creative, interesting people from all over the world. Every summer, thousands of people travel to Portland, Oregon for an immersive experience in life, work, and travel.
World Domination Summit
The World Domination Summit (WDS) is a gathering of creative, interesting people from all over the world. Every summer, thousands of people travel to Portland, Oregon for an immersive experience in life, work, and travel.
FUNDS
Mission: to create a world beyond poverty by
investing in social enterprises, emerging leaders, and breakthrough ideas.
IMPORTANT & INTERSTING DOCUMENTS
$100 Start-Up
How to lead a life of adventure, meaning and purpose – and earn a good living.
$100 Start-Up
How to lead a life of adventure, meaning and purpose – and earn a good living.
Market Size and Business Strategy at the Base of the Pyramid.
Discussions of base of the economic pyramid (BOP)
markets have, until now, relied principally on business case studies and rough
estimates of market size. The Next 4 Billion uses previously unreleased data to
measure market opportunity at the BOP.
This report highlights the experience of 32 New
Ventures entrepreneurs and provides valuable insights into the challenges that
hinder the growth of environmental enterprises in emerging markets. It also
illustrates how business accelerators like New Ventures can help them scale
their small businesses, with a recognition and call for more support to help
move the environmental entrepreneurship industry forward.
NETWORKING
Local Business –
Global Network
The
mission of BNI is to help members increase their business through a structured,
positive, and professional "word-of-mouth" program that enables them
to develop long-term, meaningful relationships with quality business
professionals.
Redefining Growth for a Sustainable World
Is an independent, global members organization of
over 150 leading
multinational companies. We work across the sectors of
business, governments and civil society, focusing on critical sustainability,
growth and leadership issues.
The worlds business organization
Development through enterprise
Mission: NextBillion.net is a website and
blog bringing together the community of business leaders, social entrepreneurs,
NGOs, policy makers and academics who want to explore the connection between
development and enterprise. It is a discussion forum, networking space and
knowledge base for individuals and organizations interested in the "next
billion". Our goal is to highlight the development and implementation of
business strategies that open opportunities and improve the lives of the
world's approximately 4 billion low-income producers and consumers.
The first global business awards to recognize
the crucial role of the private sector, large and small, in implementing the
millennium goals.
NEWS & BLOGS
News, analysis and opinion
Environmental & Energy
Management News
Most Innovative Companies: Co.Design
Co.Create Co.Exist Co.Lead
Information for the World’s Business Leaders
Defining and accelerating
the business of sustainability
In Partnership with the Schwab Foundation for
Social Entrepreneurship
Informing and Inspiring Leaders of Social
Change
The Bride to Better Brands
Enhancing society by
creating, collecting and distributing high-quality news and information.
People, Planet, Profit
NGOs & NONPROFITS
Handouts will not solve poverty
Mission: to
lift millions of people in Africa out of poverty, quickly, cost-effectively and
sustainably.
Mission: Alleviate
suffering, poverty and oppression by helping people build secure, productive
and just communities.
Entrepreneurship. Environment. Emerging Markets.
The mission of New Ventures is to empower environmental
entrepreneurs in emerging markets to develop market-based solutions that
protect Earth’s environment and its capacity to provide for current and future
generations.
Sustainable
Development Africa is a Private Organization set up to promote sustainable
economic growth in Africa through, technology transfer, education,
collaboration and partnership.
Techno Serve
Business Solutions to Poverty
Mission: to works with enterprising people in
the developing world to build competitive farms, businesses and industries.
Wow, Arlene, what a great topic -- and what a great list as a starting point! I'll try to pull together some resources to add to your list at some point. There are a LOT of people working in this area -- far fewer working effectively.
ReplyDeleteI'll be interested to see where you take your discussion and how you begin to figure out what works and what doesn't. We'll definitely have a conversation about all this at some point -- especially in terms of what you hope to do with your future.