Business Perspectives on Mandela's Legacy
Millions of us around the world embraced him as our own, and many millions more will be inspired by him for generations to come. Yet perhaps Nelson Mandela’s most endearing trait was his humility. His humanity brought people together across traditional divides to build a better world. This week, as we collectively mourn the passing […]
Business Perspectives on Mandela’s Legacy
Millions of us around the world embraced him as our own, and many millions more will be inspired by him for generations to come. Yet perhaps Nelson Mandela’s most endearing trait was his humility. His humanity brought people together across traditional divides to build a better world. This week, as we collectively mourn the passing […]
Financing the Missing Middle: Small Business Finance in Africa
which has established a specialised small business leasing institution in Tanzania. Madeleine was one of the winners of the G20 SME Finance Challenge. She previously worked in the UK venture capital industry, and is a former McKinsey consultant. She spoke at the recent Business Action for Africa, DFID, IDS event in London. The missing middle […]
Event Audio: Base of the Pyramid Consumers – Getting the Right Product to the Right People
Stoves, water purifiers, off-grid power, nutritious foods – so many innovative products and services are being developed for base of the pyramid (BoP) markets. But companies developing these products have to be innovative and creative in the face of several challenges: low purchasing power, traditional consumer preferences and logistical problems (such as inadequate infrastructure) that […]
Launching the New Business Fights Poverty
I am delighted to announce the launch of the most ambitious upgrade to Business Fights Poverty to date. The key strength of this community is you. Over 95% of the 3,000 content items on the site are generated by members. Combine that with the fact that over 95% of members are professionals in this field, […]
Launching Branson's B TeamLaunching Branson's B Team
Today sees the launch of the B Team – a collective of some of the world’s leading figures in business, including Sir Richard Branson and Jochen Zeitz. The B Team believes that global business is at a crossroads – with the need for a new way of doing business – motivated by people, planet and […]
Launching Branson’s B TeamLaunching Branson’s B Team
Today sees the launch of the B Team – a collective of some of the world’s leading figures in business, including Sir Richard Branson and Jochen Zeitz. The B Team believes that global business is at a crossroads – with the need for a new way of doing business – motivated by people, planet and […]
A New Global Partnership: Eradicate Poverty and Transform Economies through Sustainable Development
Last July, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, brought together a High-Level Panel to advise on the development framework that should replace the Millennium Development Goals when they expire in 2015. The group delivered its much-anticipated report at the end of last week, “A New Global Partnership: Eradicate Poverty and Transform Economies Through Sustainable Development”. One of […]
Emerging Africa: Unleashing Africa’s Innovation Potential
By Kris M. Balderston, US Special Representative for Global Partnerships In the last week, I’ve travelled from Johannesburg to Cape Town to Addis Ababa. Along the way, I’ve been struck over and over again by the ingenuity, entrepreneurship and innovation of the people I have met from townships to capital cities, from villages to major […]
The League of Intrapreneurs: Meet the Winners
April 9 was a day for the unsung heroes driving change within large corporations – either by shifting development challenges up their CEO’s agendas or bringing the expertise (and/or budget) of a multi-national to bear on identifying and solving a specific social problem. These are the Social Intrapreneurs, and at an awards ceremony in London, […]
The Power of Music
On 6 March, Business Fights Poverty will be helping make a little history, but not of the sort you would probably imagine. For the first time, house music will be coming to the UK’s House of Commons, with headline act Fat Boy Slim (aka Norman Cook). According to Fat Boy Slim, “I’ve played some exciting […]
Promised Land: Big Business vs Small Town America
Big business tries to squash small town America. Against all odds, small town America prevails. Sound familiar? It’s been a staple story line of many Hollywood movies, and audiences love it. The most recent version of Dr. Suess’ The Lorax uses the plot to powerful and entertaining effect, much to the delight of my kids. […]
Grassroots Business Fund Closes $47 Million Fund for Impact Investing in Asia, Africa, and Latin America
December 4th, 2012 (Washington, DC) –The Grassroots Business Fund (GBF) announces today that is has successfully closed a $47,000,000 fund, with support from the Overseas Private Investment Corporation, the German Development Bank, the Netherlands Development Finance Company and more than two dozen additional governments, foundations and private individuals. GBF will target businesses in emerging markets […]
Post-2015: Why a focus on business responsibility and tax would be a missed opportunity
In contrast to twelve years ago, when the Millennium Development Goals were first agreed, now – as the world starts to think about what will replace them in 2015 – business is very much on the agenda. Business Fights Poverty has co-hosted two events that looked at this (one on Tuesday and one in September), […]
Healthcare Delivery Programs at Harvard Business School
Harvard Business School Executive Education Healthcare Programs Today’s intense healthcare debate has increased the focus on the performance and effectiveness of healthcare delivery systems across the globe. In response, Harvard Business School Executive Education offers a growing portfolio of healthcare programs aimed at improving clinical and financial outcomes. Featured Programs Business Innovations in Global Healthcare […]
The Power of We
October 15th is Blog Action Day, and the theme this year is “The Power of We”. That idea is at the very heart of Business Fights Poverty. I am continuously blown away by the energy and innovation of individuals around the world who are pioneering new ways of fighting poverty through business: just take a […]
Richard Branson, Founder, Virgin Group: Supporting Entrepreneurs in the Caribbean
It was very exciting to be at the opening of our second Branson Centre of Entrepreneurship. Following our not-for-profit foundation Virgin Unite’s launch of the first Branson Centre in Johannesburg, 2005, Virgin Unite together with Virgin Holidays have opened the second Centre in Montego Bay, Jamaica, and it was a truly great event. The entrepreneurs […]
Experiencing Village Banking – In the Field with Loan Officers
After being well introduced in the project and the loan business, I took the opportunity to join Vasity and Mabvuto, two FINCA Loan Officers, to get a closer insight into the field work. It was a great experience which I enjoyed immensely. I was particularly impressed of how professionally Vasity and Mabvuto manage their Village […]
Grassroots Business Fund Invests in Jaipur Rugs to Drive Economic Development in India
The Grassroots Business Fund (GBF), a global impact investing organization, is proud to announce a $1 million investment in Jaipur Rugs, one of the largest manufacturers of hand-knotted carpets in India. Jaipur Rugs uses a decentralized rug production system, centered on a network of 7,000 low-income home-based weavers and an additional 3,000 wool spinners. Looms […]
The ‘Bottom of the Pyramid’ Approach: Responsible Capitalism or Business as Usual?
Yesterday evening I took part in a Public Debate at Saïd Business School, organised by the Centre for New Economies of Development – a collaboration between the Universities of Oxford, Sussex and Edinburgh. The event also saw the launch of a new website to encourage academic discussion and knowledge sharing on the BoP: responsiblebop.com Below […]