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Afford Two, Eat One: A new report explores financial inclusion in rural Myanmar
Myanmar is a country with very low formal banking penetration, but changes are afoot that will stimulate domestic financial activity. In March of this year a team of Myanmar-based researchers mapped the changing financial landscape in the country, aiming to provide a foundational reference for organizations wishing to develop products and services for financially constrained consumers.
- Categories
- Education, Impact Assessment
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A Renewable Proposition (Part 1): Formerly E+Co, Persistent Energy Partners looks to solar horizon
The near collapse of E+Co as non-profit renewable energy impact investor has served as a cautionary tale throughout the impact investment community. Out of its ashes, for-profit Persistent Energy Partners emerged, and made its first acquisition late last year.
- Categories
- Energy, Impact Assessment
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Engaging Diasporas in Development Through Investment – Part 2: Calvert explores ways to facilitate migrant investment flows
Calvert Foundation explores ways to engage diasporas and migrants in international development through investment flows in their recent post, published in two parts on NextBillion. Part two discusses topics like how to appeal to younger investors, and whether social and environmental impact should play a role.
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- Impact Assessment, Investing
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Engaging Diasporas in Development Through Investment – Part 1: Calvert explores ways to facilitate migrant investment flows
There is increasing interest among development organizations and aid agencies in harnessing the financial resources of global migrants to fund development needs in their countries of origin or heritage. Calvert Foundation shares lessons learned and key issues to consider when creating a strategy to engage diasporas in investment and international development.
- Categories
- Impact Assessment, Investing
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Nigeria, From Pure Growth to Harnessed Opportunity: A new report on the 3D role of business in the unfolding transformation
It is easy to pretend that there are two separate Nigerias: one a thrusting consumer powerhouse, and one socially divided and pocked by violence and poverty. For business, which relies on the success of the former, acknowledging the latter can be difficult, but they are two sides of the same coin. This week we are in Abuja to launch a new report by Business Action for Africa and the Initiative for Global Development: “The New Africa – Nigeria: From Growth to Opportunity”.
- Categories
- Education, Social Enterprise
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A Small Drop in a Large Bucket: The World Economic Forum’s Abigail Noble, on why impact investing needs to go mainstream
In 2012, less than $40 billion of capital had been committed to impact investments - out of tens of trillions in global capital. The World Economic Forum’s Mainstreaming Impact Investing initiative wants to help change that. In part 1 of our Impact Investing Insights series, we spoke with the initiative’s leader, Abigail Noble, about how to bring “$40 billion” a bit closer to “tens of trillions.”
- Categories
- Environment, Impact Assessment, Investing
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Good Ideas, Multiplied: How NGO, research collaboration is boosting social entrepreneurship
Social entrepreneurs are celebrated for bringing new ideas to the table. But is a great idea enough to have the intended impact? While entrepreneurship celebrates the new, what role should existing research networks and NGOs, who bring deep sector expertise and trusting relationships with target communities, play in supporting social entrepreneurship?
- Categories
- Education, Impact Assessment, Social Enterprise
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When For-profit Is the Right Answer for a Social Enterprise: Nuru International’s Transformation Toward Profitability, Without Losing Its Social Values
Late last year nonprofit Nuru International made a major transition from a donor-focused operating model toward a profit driven one. Nisha Chakravarty, who joined as the first President and Founder of Nuru Social Enterprises, describes the process and the quest for a “perfect” model of sustainability.
- Categories
- Uncategorized
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