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How Does Economic Empowerment Happen? (Part 1): Listening for answers as five women participate in the Vital Voices GROW Fellowship
This article launches a series on entrepreneurs as part of a wider movement for women’s empowerment. Nathan Rauh-Bieri will follow five women participating in the year-long Vital Voices GROW Fellowship with the ultimate goal of making some conclusions about what training practices bear replicating within the growing field of entrepreneurship education.
- Categories
- Education, Social Enterprise
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Seeing Solutions Instead of Problems: What happens when 16 Changemakers come together to innovate? They hope to find out Sept. 25–27
Being part of a network not only gives social entrepreneurs visibility and recognition for their innovative work, it also puts them in contact with entrepreneurs from all over the world who, like them, are implementing projects that positively impact communities. That’s the idea behind the Ashoka Globalizer Summit on Economic Inclusion taking place in Buenos Aires, Sept. 25–27.
- Categories
- Education, Health Care, Social Enterprise
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Tablets + Smartphones = Easier Microloans?: New Accion case study explores use of digital field applications by microfinance banks
Providing micro financial services often involves manual processes which limit the potential for scaling up and expose clients to poor service, errors and fraud. That's why many microfinance banks are increasing the use of tablets, smartphones and other digital tools among loan officers and other staff. Accion has published a case study aiming to provide some clarity on the impact of these devices.
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- Education, Technology, Telecommunications
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The Risks of Government-Led Financial Inclusion: Why agent networks in India need to move beyond government mandates
Over the years, the government of India has facilitated financial access by promoting account opening through various programs. And, at first glance, some of the numbers associated with the government's inclusion mandates look good. But a more detailed look reveals a bleak picture that includes high agent attrition and low account activity rates.
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- Impact Assessment
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Weekly Roundup 9-11-15: Accelerators for VCs, Ugandan-made EVs and other rare ‘unicorns’ of global development spotted
This week's developments featured a novel tool to help fix the lack of local venture capital and investment expertise in social enterprises, a new era for M-PESA, a new health care alliance and hybrid car in Africa, and a fascinating debate about what type of entity might become the continent’s first unicorn.
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- Health Care, Social Enterprise
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Rising Star or Red Flag?: South Africa’s financial inclusion growth raises questions for the entire industry
South Africa placed second in a recent Brookings Institute study comparing financial inclusion in 21 developing countries – surpassed only by Kenya. But though this has led to celebration in some quarters, there’s a troubling aspect to these findings. Illana Melzer argues that the risks of burgeoning financial access and usage are too significant for beneficiaries, development organizations and donors to ignore.
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- Education, Impact Assessment
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A New Wave of Capacity Building: Enabling private investment in the university education of students in developing countries
Human capital is a nation’s most critical capacity, yet many students in developing countries can't afford a higher education. And neither scholarships and financial aid nor bank loans are sufficient to meet the level of need. Brighter Investment enables private investors to fund the university education of students in the developing world, in exchange for a fixed percentage of their future income - its co-founder discusses their unique model.
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- Education, Impact Assessment
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NexThought Monday – How We Can Improve Ultra-Poor ‘Graduation’: The next generation of innovations required to end the most extreme poverty
There is no great innovation without skepticism, much less in the tireless crusade against global poverty. So it's no surprise that as the ultra-poor ‘graduation’ approach pioneered by BRAC has gained ground as a viable path out of extreme poverty, questions have emerged about its effectiveness and possible next steps.
- Categories
- Impact Assessment
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