-
Can Anything Good Come Out of Playing Poverty?: The Two Dollar Challenge says Yes – if it’s done the right way
A lot of us feel compelled to do something about global poverty, whether it’s through mission trips, buying a pair of TOMS shoes, or starting a non-profit. Some of these approaches are effective; a lot are not. Shawn Humphrey explores the lack of consciousness that causes many anti-poverty efforts to fail, and describes how the Two Dollar Challenge hopes to help people develop this consciousness.
- Categories
- Education
-
One Drop at a Time : A new book examines how CARE’s long-term efforts in the dairy value chain have benefited Bangladeshi farmers
CARE’s long-term work in the dairy sector in Bangladesh is considered one of the most intensely developed agricultural value chain initiatives in the world. Authors Kevin McKague and Muhamad Siddiquee discuss its business-centered successes in their new book, Making Markets More Inclusive: Lessons from CARE and the Future of Sustainability in Agricultural Value Chain Development.
- Categories
- Agriculture
-
Four Ways Big Data Can Improve Financial Lives: CFSI previews its upcoming report on harnessing data technology for the underserved market
Big Data is a buzzword, but it’s also a very real phenomenon: analysts estimate that annual data production will increase by a whopping 4300% between 2009 and 2020. In advance of a new report on the subject, the Center for Financial Services Innovation discusses four key trends driving Big Data innovation that can unlock value for both financial providers and consumers.
- Categories
- Education
-
Don’t Cover Everything: Why targeted health microinsurance can work better than full coverage
EA Consultants’ efforts to understand both the business case and client value of microinsurance led to some interesting findings. For instance, catastrophic health insurance represented much greater value than primary or outpatient care for clients, but its behavioral effects skewed against good health outcomes. Barbara Magnoni discusses these findings, and offers some solutions.
- Categories
- Education, Health Care
-
A Radio Jingle … Followed by an Economic Transformation
Hernando de Soto, economist and best-selling author, was determined to figure out what was keeping Peruvians in poverty. He quickly found that Peru had a bureaucracy that moved at glacial speeds. His solution? Catchy commercial jingles and a reality TV show featuring the president of Peru.
- Categories
- Education
-
When Operations Equal Value Creation: Process innovation up and down value chains can leap the ‘voids’ in BoP markets
Business models are important, but in reality they are derived from the aggregation of value-creating processes. Put succinctly, operations = value creation in exemplary social ventures, argues James Koch, of the Center for Science, Technology and Society at Santa Clara University.
- Categories
- Technology
-
NexThought Monday – My ‘big bet’ is equal economic opportunity for everyone
We can’t just give people tablets and access to education and expect to create change. We need to go one step further – to show them how to use these tools to supplement their incomes in the short term, argues Leila Janah, founder and CEO of Sama Group.
- Categories
- Education, Technology
-
Weekly Roundup – 2/20/15: A Turning Point in the Evolution of Microfinance?
There has been plenty of research questioning the social impact of microcredit. But the latest studies in the American Economic Journal feel far more momentous. Conducted by prominent poverty researchers, and covering six countries on four continents, they consistently undermine the sector’s core social impact claims. NextBillion will cover the Feb. 27 event on the research and the path ahead.
- Categories
- Education, Environment, Impact Assessment
