Sumitomo Chemical and the Market for Bednets
When I first learnt about the partnership of Sumitomo Chemical and A to Z Textile Mills Ltd. in Tanzania it seemed like pure success. In 2007, I was working on the UNDP report “Creating Value for All”, and the story about local manufacturing of mosquito nets was one of my favourite case studies. Sumitomo Chemical, […]
Getting to the Bottom of…Toilet Innovation
Danielle Batist, Communications Associate at Ashoka UK More than a third of the world population does not have access to a clean toilet. 1.1 billion people defecate in the open. On the first UN-recognised World Toilet Day on 19 November, two social entrepreneurs explain why “everyone should give a shit”. When the UN Deputy Secretary-General […]
Breaking The Cycle of Paying for Water
With taps every few metres in most UK city centres, quenching your thirst with expensive bottled water can feel both unnecessary and unsustainable. The booming retail market for drinking water on-the-go has made asking for a free glass somewhat of a taboo. One young social entrepreneur is trying to turn the tide. For 28-year old […]
The Challenges of Going to Scale – A BIF Perspective
In our latest BIF insider “Scaling Inclusive Business – Why do some successful IB pilots fail to scale”, Jack Newnham identifies and examines seven broad reasons why some inclusive businesses do not go to scale. The publication draws on a range of examples (mostly not related to BIF), illustrating which hurdles could and could not […]
Zambian Businessman Starts Africa's First Green Party
After years in the maize exporting business and fifteen years of fighting to protect the rich natural resources, environment and landscape of Zambia, Peter Sinkamba has decided it is time to swap his activist hat for a politician’s. All the same, he will keep his business hat on when trying to persuade corporates to jump […]
Zambian Businessman Starts Africa’s First Green Party
After years in the maize exporting business and fifteen years of fighting to protect the rich natural resources, environment and landscape of Zambia, Peter Sinkamba has decided it is time to swap his activist hat for a politician’s. All the same, he will keep his business hat on when trying to persuade corporates to jump […]
'Eco' Status Quo? Why We're Growing Our Own Food
Social entrepreneurs are driving a global movement to think, eat, and grow local. UK Venture Manager Julia Koskella shares Ashoka’s key insights for success as part of a series on leading trends in social entrepreneurship and the environment coming out of Europe. The past few years have seen a massive increase in demand for locally-sourced […]
‘Eco’ Status Quo? Why We’re Growing Our Own Food
Social entrepreneurs are driving a global movement to think, eat, and grow local. UK Venture Manager Julia Koskella shares Ashoka’s key insights for success as part of a series on leading trends in social entrepreneurship and the environment coming out of Europe. The past few years have seen a massive increase in demand for locally-sourced […]
A Chance to See Is a Chance At Life
Public health care coverage in Mexico continues to be low, relative to international standards. While the Mexican government provides traditional health care to the formal sector, in 2004 it created “Seguro Popular” — insurance for low-income, informal/self-employed individuals. Internationally, in 2011 the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development average health expenditure per country was 9.3 […]
The Best Social Innovations of 2013
The SAB Foundation has announced the finalists of its 3rd Annual Social Innovation Awards 2013. A total of 26 finalists will vie for the R1-million first place prize, which will be used to grow and commercialise their product or service. The SAB Foundation Social Innovations Awards was first launched in 2011 by its chairperson, Cyril […]
Strengthening Micro-Enterprise in Peru
Alfredo Peña Rojas owns a local mini-market and delivery service in Iquitos, Peru. He has built himself a strong business thanks to his boundless personal enthusiasm, and established a good trade despite the location’s poor roads and consequent access difficulties. But basic efficiency problems were evident in day-to-day operations. For example, some customers were no […]
Helping to Change the Lives of Disadvantaged Girls
The 2013 chapter of finally came to a close on 30 August with a total of US$45,000 in grants awarded to three well-deserving projects put forward by young and inspiring changemakers from India, Uganda and the United States. I met this year’s finalists for the first time at the welcome dinner which kick-started the four-day […]
Microfinance: Helping Shopkeepers in Colombia
Politicians and executives alike know the force of change that lies in the hands of small business owners in Colombia. Many of these are micro-business proprietors, often undervalued entrepreneurs who have established business to help ends meet. People in low socio-economic groups frequently opt to create their own small business in Colombia due to a […]
A Vision for Mobile Phone Based Health Education
The critical importance of community healthcare workers (CHWs) in Africa, where there are not enough doctors per person, cannot be overstated. They are the unsung heroes of African healthcare and there is a growing belief that they hold the key to dramatically improving mortality rates. Indeed it’s estimated that nearly 200,000 more CHWs are needed […]
Nutrition in Rural China
President of Amway (China) Co. Ltd.; Executive Vice Chairman of Amway Charity Foundation I’ve lived and worked in China most of my life, and have witnessed firsthand the country’s economic rise. The stories one hears outside of China focus on prosperity, massive infrastructure projects, and an increasing middle class and consumer base. But when I […]
Getting Funds to Those Who Need it Most
When Mariam, a Syrian refugee, enters the Western Union location just outside of Tripoli, Lebanon, she isn’t walking into a typical money exchange. Instead, she is entering one of thousands of locations across the globe enabled with Western Union’s NGO GlobalPay product, through which NGOs can move cash efficiently and directly to those in need. […]
Backing College Loans To Low-Income Students In Mexico
According to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), Mexico has a smaller proportion of college students than other countries on a similar path of growth and progress, and a significantly lower proportion compared to their main trading partners. Although higher education in Mexico grew to record levels this past decade, just over […]
Creating Opportunities for Rural Girls in India
A two-year-old girl named Arshi was one of last people in India to get polio. Her case is remarkable for a number of reasons. First and most obvious, her case – now more than two years old – shows the tremendous strides we’ve made against polio. There has been no case of wild polio in […]
Improving the Entrepreneurial Value Chain in Panama
When Aurora Escalante’s son was diagnosed with meningoencephalitis in 2007 she was forced to leave her job and devote herself full-time to his treatment and recovery. The disease left him with hemiparesis, a weakness on one side of the body, and attention-deficit disorder requiring Aurora to become his full-time carer for several years. Last year, […]
Supporting Entrepreneurs in Latin America
SABMiller, has announced the launch of ‘4e, Camino al Progreso’, a major five-year initiative that will benefit over 40,000 entrepreneurs throughout Latin America.The program will provide selected shop owners – or ‘tenderos’ – in six countries (Panama, Colombia, Ecuador, El Salvador, Honduras and Peru) with professional training, advice and assistance to support the growth of […]