Planting the Seeds for Development
It has been eight years since Wangari Maathai won the Nobel Peace Prize for her work planting trees in Kenya. During that period, the Rio+ 20 conference has been and gone, Climate Change has finally come to be recognised as a serious worldwide threat, and terms such as ‘Green Growth’ have started to emerge. In […]
Working Towards Responsible Labour Standards for Cocoa Growing
Child labour is both a symptom and a self-perpetuating cause of poverty. Children in cocoa growing areas often face the harsh realities of rural poverty (including scarcity or low-fertility of land, food insecurity, lack of education infrastructure, poor access to potable water, and remoteness from markets). The practice of children working on cocoa farms is […]
Women Mean Business: Supporting Enterprising Women
At Paper Craft Africa in the Bwebajja neighborhood of Kampala, Uganda, Harriet Nantale oversees a bustling workshop. Outside, employees soak and recycle paper, banana fiber and pineapple fiber, creating thick sheets of paper in vibrant colors. Inside, the team uses the paper and other recycled material to craft calendars, notebooks, cards, jewelry, soap and other […]
Helping Corporates achieve Sustainable Development Goals through new funding models
The innovative Carbon for Water programme unlocked private sector finance to deliver safe water to 4.5 million people a year. For 15 years, ClimateCare has worked with large blue chip organisations who, having taken steps to reduce carbon emissions and want to address their residual footprint, by funding external emission reduction projects. Our name is […]
Building an inclusive businessmovement in the Asia-Pacific
How can corporate Australia do more to address global poverty? This was the question that in 2006 brought together a group of leading and progressive Australian companies, and soon after, led to the formation of Business for Millennium Development (previously named Business for Poverty Relief Alliance). Founded as a collaboration between government, business and charity, […]
The Water Food Energy Nexus
By 2050 demand for resources is set to increase significantly as the global population grows to nine billion and becomes more prosperous. Global economic growth is being driven largely by emerging markets. Over the medium term, the World Bank estimates economic growth of 6% in developing countries compared to 2.7% in higher-income countries1. This is […]
My Experience as a Mentor for the Cherie Blair Foundation for Women
I’m a mentor with the Cherie Blair Foundation for Women, an international organisation that supports women by building their skills and businesses in developing nations. Mentors embark on year-long, one-to-one mentoring relationships. I am half-way through mine and wanted to take this chance to reflect on the experience. At first glance, my mentoring relationship was […]
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 […]
Clean water: a conduit for a healthier society and better business
As we prepare to publish our annual Global Sustainability Report next week*, I wanted to take the opportunity to highlight the importance of water, the most important ingredient in all of our brands, and underline our drive to improve water efficiency around the globe, particularly at our production sites in ‘water-stressed’ areas – predominantly in […]
Microinsurance for microentrepreneurs: Fonkoze helps its clients recover from natural disasters
Tropical Storm Isaac has left at least 24 dead in Haiti and done untold destruction, battering above all the country’s poor. Nevertheless, some will find relief thanks to a unique collaboration spearheaded by Fonkoze, Haiti’s largest microfinance organization. The program is called Kore W—microinsurance for microentrepreneurs. Coming to terms with disaster Fonkoze realized several years […]
Corporate pulling power to push sustainable development
Around the world many communities are distressed and in turmoil. The re-emergence of right wing political parties as credible electoral options, riots in European capitals, deterioration of living conditions and the development of movements (like ‘occupy’ and the ‘tea party’) are all part of a continuum of discontent. What all of these phenomena share in […]
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 […]
Inclusive innovation to Fight Hunger
Eradicating hunger is amongst the most pressing societal challenges of our times and the lack of substantial progress a shameful failure of the international governance system. Besides the necessary increase in international development aid, a higher emphasis on promoting inclusive innovation to fight hunger is also necessary. This means that low-income countries most affected by […]
Empowering Girls: International Inspiration using sport to tackle gender issues
One thing that gives me a buzz is that the significance of International Inspiration, London 2012’s international legacy programme, is not just about opening doors for children and young people to PE, sport and play. Of course this is important in its own right. But what is exciting is that International Inspiration is using sport […]
Interview: Olympic Medallist, Douglas Wakiihuri
Interview by Chris Markl, Founder, Kourage Athletics Douglas and I connected via mutual friends in the Kenyan running community. After exchanging calls and emails, I was on a plane to Las Vegas, Nevada where Douglas had recently relocated. We spent 15-hours together over a period of two-days. We ate incredible sushi together, which Douglas ordered […]
Brainstorming Fundraising Ideas? Don't Overlook Corporate Philanthropy
For every non-profit, there’s no way around it. Your cause is relevant and worthy. You’ve identified the need and crafted a breakthrough solution that will ensure tangible impact. Your mission statement is both beautiful and inspiring. You’ve assembled an impassioned, dedicated staff ready to execute your vision. All’s in place. Time to get the ball […]
Brainstorming Fundraising Ideas? Don’t Overlook Corporate Philanthropy
For every non-profit, there’s no way around it. Your cause is relevant and worthy. You’ve identified the need and crafted a breakthrough solution that will ensure tangible impact. Your mission statement is both beautiful and inspiring. You’ve assembled an impassioned, dedicated staff ready to execute your vision. All’s in place. Time to get the ball […]
My Journey as a Woman Entrepreneur in India
As a woman who was married at a young age into a conservative family by arranged marriage, starting my own business felt like a miraculous life-time achievement. In my community, it is frowned upon in unwritten, bold lettering for a woman to do anything other than look after the home. After coming so far as […]
Supporting Local Innovation to Improve Nutrition and Health
Encouraging local business to accelerate delivery of nutritious foods into markets One in seven people do not get enough food to lead an active and healthy life, and an estimated two billion people suffer from micronutrient deficiencies globally. There is plenty of published evidence to suggest undernutrition is having a severely negative impact in the […]