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Announcing NextBillion’s Most Influential Articles of 2023: Cast Your Vote in our Annual Contest by Jan. 7!
As 2023 draws to a close, it’s time for NextBillion’s annual tradition: our “Most Influential Articles of the Year” contest. As we've done since 2012, we've selected 12 of our most-read articles from the past year, inviting readers to vote for the ones that influenced their thinking the most. You can vote multiple times — up to once per hour — during the voting period, which will run from Dec. 22 to 11:59 pm on Jan. 7. Best wishes for a healthy and prosperous new year!
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- Agriculture, Energy, Environment, Finance, Investing, Social Enterprise, Technology, WASH
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Is Latin America and the Caribbean Really Just 1% Circular?: A New Report Highlights the Hidden Role of Informal Workers in the Circular Economy
Latin America and the Caribbean is 1% circular — far below the global average of 7.2% — according to a recent Circle Economy Foundation report. That means just 1% of all the materials flowing through the region’s economy get a second life through repair, recycling or other means. But Ana Birliga Sutherland and Esther Goodwin Brown at Circle Economy Foundation explain that this number doesn't reflect the contributions of informal workers. They discuss the key role these workers play in the circular economy, and the need for more data and other efforts to support them.
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- Environment, WASH
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Achieving the Latina American Dream: How Entrepreneurship Can Empower Latin American Migrant Women and Their Communities
Latin American migrant women in the U.S. have the potential to be drivers of economic growth for themselves, their families, their communities and their countries — both native and naturalized. But as Carmen Correa at Pro Mujer explains, they often lack the tools and opportunities they need to build successful livelihoods, while facing unique obstacles. She explores why entrepreneurship provides a solution to these challenges, and discusses a free skilling platform that Pro Mujer offers to support Latina migrants in their entrepreneurial journey.
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- Finance
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The Graduation Approach isn’t Just for Extreme Poverty: An Innovative Project Leverages it to Rebuild Livelihoods After Forced Relocation
The Graduation Approach is a proven way to sustainably build the livelihoods of people living in extreme poverty. But as Anton Simanowitz at Social Performance Solutions explains, it is also being leveraged in contexts that go beyond poverty alleviation. He discusses one such application, exploring a pilot program that used the Graduation Approach to rebuild livelihoods in a community that experienced forced relocation due to mining activities.
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- Energy, Environment
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PUE at the BoP: Three Approaches To Making Productive Uses Of Energy Accessible To All
Productive Use of Energy (PUE) technologies, such as solar water pumps, refrigeration and sewing machines, are crucial for helping smallholder farmers and other microentrepreneurs generate incomes. But as Christopher Emmott at Acumen explains, the high up-front costs of PUE appliances prevent many people at the Base of the Pyramid (BoP) from purchasing them. He shares some innovative approaches and business models that can enable vulnerable communities to access these life-changing technologies.
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- Agriculture, Energy, Social Enterprise, Technology
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Making Africa the Animation Capital of the World: A Growing Industry Aims to Take its Place Among its Global Peers
Africa has a rich history in storytelling, as the continent was the site of some of the earliest forms of human creativity. But when it comes to animated works, it has historically been overshadowed by traditional animation powerhouses in the Global North. However, according to Abdulrahman Khedr at Egypt-based animation studio Giraffics, that's beginning to change. He explores how African creators are carving out a unique niche in the animation world, gaining international recognition and bringing substantial economic benefits to the continent.
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- Technology
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The Next Generation of DFI Technical Assistance: Why it’s Time for Development Finance Institutions to Take a Standardised Approach
Development finance institution technical assistance (DFI TA) has expanded greatly in scope and scale in recent years. But Johanna Strikwerda and Justin van Rhyn argue that a lack of standardization in TA approaches has made it hard for DFIs to coordinate their efforts, share best practices and maximize their effectiveness. In this article — the second in a two-part series exploring the uses of TA in development finance — they explore the benefits of a more standardized approach to TA design, delivery and results measurement, and highlight some ways DFIs can move toward this standardization.
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- Investing
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Empowering Emerging Fund Managers in Underserved Markets: The Role of Development Finance Technical Assistance
Emerging fund managers and other capital allocators play a vital role in addressing the "missing middle" financing gap in underserved markets. But as Robert Haynie and Justin van Rhyn point out, the demand for this funding vastly outweighs the current supply. In this article — the first in a two-part series exploring the uses of technical assistance (TA) in development finance — they explore how development finance institutions can leverage TA to meet the earlier-stage financing needs of missing middle businesses and improve the pipeline for later-stage investors.
- Categories
- Investing
