-
Formal Insurance for Informal Labor: How Microinsurance Can Cover Young Workers in the Gig Economy
The gig economy is a growing source of employment for youth in emerging markets. But these workers often face a lack of social benefits, including access to insurance – and this vulnerability has been highlighted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Analysts at MSC discuss some innovative ways insurers can extend some of the formal economy's protections to these informal workers.
- Categories
- Finance
-
Food Security During – And After – COVID-19: A Short and Long-Term Strategy for Funding Agribusiness
Over the past 18 months, Grassroots Capital Management had been preparing to launch a fund and technical assistance facility to improve access to capital and technology for smallholder farmers in Central America and the Caribbean. And then COVID-19 happened. Anna Kanze at Grassroots discusses how the pandemic has changed the landscape for smallholders in the region, requiring a new approach from the investors that support them.
- Categories
- Agriculture, Coronavirus
-
A New Take on Silicon Valley: Why it’s Time for the Tech Sector to Embrace Social Impact
From the rise of B Corps to the emergence of social enterprise, the world is experiencing a true revolution in what business can be. Now, according to Tristan Pollock at CTO.ai., smartphone proliferation has brought this shift toward social impact to the technology industry. He discusses the ramifications of this trend, and why the tech sector should fully embrace it.
- Categories
- Entrepreneurship, Technology
-
Impact Measurement and Management During COVID-19: Tips and Resources to Help Social Impact Organizations Adapt
As the scope of the COVID-19 economic crisis becomes clear, social impact organizations are scrambling to cut costs. According to Matthew Guttentag and Mallory St. Claire at ANDE, this might lead them to reduce their focus on impact measurement and management (IMM). They explain why this would be a mistake – and how organizations can adapt their IMM activities during the crisis.
- Categories
- Coronavirus, Impact Assessment
-
Fighting a Pandemic in the Dark: How SolarAid is Helping Countries in Sub-Saharan Africa Respond to COVID-19
As COVID-19 starts to spread through sub-Saharan Africa, John Keane and Sofia Ollvid at SolarAid point out that an estimated 600 million people on the continent live without access to electricity at home, and a staggering 75% of health facilities have unreliable power. They explore what solar providers are doing to help African countries respond to the pandemic.
- Categories
- Coronavirus, Energy, Health Care
-
Facing Up to Failure: An Open Letter to Entrepreneurs During COVID-19
Leading a startup is hard. Leading a purpose-driven startup is harder. And as Mike Quinn, co-founder of Zoona writes, leading a purpose-driven startup while a deadly global pandemic has shut down the entire economy is almost impossible. In this heartfelt letter, he offers some straight talk – and a surprising silver lining – to help entrepreneurs through this unprecedented time.
- Categories
- Coronavirus, Entrepreneurship
-
Four Stories of Financial Exclusion: How Identity Barriers are Blocking Financial Access for Refugees and Other Vulnerable Groups
Venezuela's emigration crisis has reached epic proportions. And according to Anjali Ramachandran at Storythings, among the millions who have fled the country, countless people lack financial access because they struggle to prove their identity. She highlights the stories of refugees and others whose lives could be improved by alternatives to traditional ID requirements.
- Categories
- Finance
-
A No-Brainer for SMEs: How Solar Can Help Small Businesses Recover from COVID-19 – And Save Money in the Long Term
The coronavirus lockdown is leaving many small- and medium-sized enterprises – especially in emerging economies – on life support. As businesses restart, they will be seeking ways to boost their cash position. According to Philippe Flamand at candi solar, shifting to solar can save SMEs money from day one – if funders can help them overcome a key obstacle.
- Categories
- Coronavirus, Energy
-
@NextBillion (link opens in a new window)
Updated 3x weekly, NextBillion's #coronavirus (link opens in a new window) resource page features news, webinars, funding opportunities and more… https://t.co/12Z1ZE8pQ5 (link opens in a new window) -
@NextBillion (link opens in a new window)
Looking for a job with #socialimpact (link opens in a new window)? Check out NextBillion's #Jobs (link opens in a new window) Page - dozens of positions, updated daily!… https://t.co/0Z7xO2lwmI (link opens in a new window) -
@NextBillion (link opens in a new window)
Through a partnership with #Openi2i (link opens in a new window), we're exploring themes from program design + stakeholder engagement, to Africa… https://t.co/p0INhCnYfY (link opens in a new window)