Standard Chartered’s Social and Economic Impact in Indonesia
One of the priorities for all of us interested in harnessing the power of business for development impact is to demonstrate and communicate much more precisely just what that impact is. Stories and anecdotes just won’t do, when we need to demonstrate the case to sceptics in the development community, and within businesses themselves. In […]
Private Sector Development Advisors, UK Department for International Development
DFID is recruiting for Private Sector Development Advisors at various grades. In October 2010, the Secretary of State for International Development, Andrew Mitchell, stated that “It is my intention to recast DFID as a government department that understands the private sector, that has at its disposal the right tools to deliver and that is equipped […]
CGAP concerned about efforts to remove Nobel Prize winner Yunus from Grameen Bank
PRESS RELEASE: CGAP yesterday released the following statement from Tilman Ehrbeck, CGAP CEO, and Vijay Mahajan, Chair of CGAP’s board, on the efforts to remove Nobel Prize winner Muhammad Yunus as Managing Director of Grameen Bank. View and contribute to the Business Fights Poverty discussion on Muhammad Yunus and his contribution: “We are deeply concerned […]
The Microfinance Industry is a Hack? I Beg to Differ
The recent crisis in Andhra Pradesh, India triggered a rigorous debate about the merits and viability of microfinance as a tool for poverty alleviation. Stories of over-indebted borrowers committing suicide and microfinance institutions charging exorbitant, sky-high interest rates are rampant in the media. Looking at the facts and studying the alternatives, I believe the skepticism […]
The UK's Department For International Development Launches New Private Sector Department
In 2010, International Development Secretary Andrew Mitchell announced that the UK’s Department for International Development (DFID) would establish a new department to step up its engagement with the private sector. The Private Sector Department is now open. The new department intends to prompt and help catalyse change across DFID to deepen our capability to work […]
The UK’s Department For International Development Launches New Private Sector Department
In 2010, International Development Secretary Andrew Mitchell announced that the UK’s Department for International Development (DFID) would establish a new department to step up its engagement with the private sector. The Private Sector Department is now open. The new department intends to prompt and help catalyse change across DFID to deepen our capability to work […]
Shell Foundation: New Solutions to Global Development at Scale?
Post written for Business Fights Poverty by Richard Gomes, Communications and Business Manager, Shell Foundation A new report called ‘Enterprise Solutions to Scale’ has recently been released by Shell Foundation, the global development charity, charting its ten year journey to implement a new enterprise-based model for tackling global challenges affecting poverty and the environment. The […]
Banking on Development – Standard Chartered's impact in Ghana
Since the financial crisis of 2008, many stakeholders have asked whether banks really serve the public interest. When we recall that the central function of banks in modern economies is to mobilize national and, increasingly, international savings, and to allocate those funds to their most productive use within the economy, it seems that many financial […]
Banking on Development – Standard Chartered’s impact in Ghana
Since the financial crisis of 2008, many stakeholders have asked whether banks really serve the public interest. When we recall that the central function of banks in modern economies is to mobilize national and, increasingly, international savings, and to allocate those funds to their most productive use within the economy, it seems that many financial […]
A Fair Hearing for Fairtrade
Passions are running high among the defenders and detractors of Fairtrade. Sparked by a recent report by the right-wing economic think tank, the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA), a long-running debate has be reignited (see the article by Simon Bowers on this site). A couple of years ago, the same thing happened when another right-wing […]
VC4Africa launches first African Venture Capital platform – Crunch your business idea!
Today VC4Africa starts the first African online venture capital matchmaking platform. Many investors are looking for businesses to get involved with but have difficulties in finding promise. At the same time many businesses seek knowledge, capital and practical support. Without matchmaking their promise is never realized, hindering economic growth. The VC4Africa community currently consists of […]
MicroWHAT?? From Microfinance to Microinsurance.
As a social business dedicated to improving access to insurance among economically disadvantaged communities in the US and across the globe, Avana wants to raise awareness about the importance of microinsurance in development and poverty reduction. Our first several blog entries will be dedicated to answering some of your most commonly asked questions about the […]
Aureos committed to ensuring its investments contribute to the Millennium Development Goals
PRESS RELEASE, AUREOS Private sector institutions investing in areas suffering from high poverty and poor healthcare must step up their efforts to advance the United Nations’ Millennium Development Goals, says Aureos Capital Ltd, the private equity fund management company specialising in investing in small and medium-sized businesses in emerging markets. The UN launched the Millennium […]
Blog Action Day 2010: Could a floating brewery provide a business solution to water scarcity?
Without water there can be no beer. It might seem like an obvious statement, but the ability to get enough good quality water to make high quality beers over the coming decades is an issue that SABMiller is putting a lot of effort into. This week we unveiled some research that our technical team has […]
A New Era Of Private Sector-Led Development Work
In a milestone speech last night, the UK International Development Secretary, Andrew Mitchell, placed the private sector at the heart of the new coalition government’s development agenda: “I want this department to be the place that lives and breathes the new DFID culture of private sector-led development, an example for other development bodies to follow. […]
Blog Action Day 2010: Water
Water is the focus of this year’s Blog Action Day – an annual event that unites the world’s bloggers in posting about the same issue on a single day – October 15. Last year, more than 13,000 bloggers participated from 152 countries. The aim is to raise awareness and trigger a global discussion about an […]
Andy Wales: Big Business, Big Responsibilities: from ‘villains’ to ‘visionaries’
Big Business, Big Responsibilities: from ‘villains’ to ‘visionaries’ charts the journey that many major companies have been on over the last twenty years, where issues that were previously defined as corporate social responsibility (CSR), philanthropy or environmental compliance are now becoming core to future growth strategies. We welcome your comments and thoughts in the debate […]
The Role Of Innovation And Technological Diffusion In Increasing Economic Growth
The UK’s Department for International Development (DFID) is planning to undertake a research programme on the role of innovation and technological diffusion in increasing economic growth in low-income countries and how policy can be used to encourage it. DFID plans to commission a number of research projects as part of this programme, and a call […]
The Global Financial Crisis and Developing Countries
In early 2009, a global network of 50 researchers coordinated by the Overseas Development Institute (ODI) embarked on a unique monitoring study on the economic and social impact of the global financial crisis in 10 developing countries. They revealed a clear impact by the time the G20 leaders met in London in April 2009, with […]
Responsible and Accountable Garments Sector (RAGS) Challenge Fund – First Call for Project Concepts
The Responsible and Accountable Garments Sector (RAGS) Challenge Fund is now operational and is formally calling for Project Concepts. Visit the website for more information. The deadline for applications 26 April 2010. Funded by UKaid for the UK Department for International Development (DFID), RAGS has been set up to drive better working conditions for women […]