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NexThought Monday – Cash Transfers, Prejudice and Mental Health: MIT researchers discuss some overlooked aspects of their RCT on GiveDirectly
Cash transfers to the poor are often criticized as “handouts,” which dilute incentives to work, instill dependency, and may be wasted on alcohol, tobacco or other potentially harmful activities. But the researchers behind the recent randomized controlled trial on the cash transfer charity GiveDirectly argue that these criticisms are based on prejudice rather than fact, and that the economic impact of cash transfers is only part of the story.
- Categories
- Health Care, Impact Assessment
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Weekly Roundup – 5/17/14: How big is the BoP? IFC’s Global Consumption Database offers answers
The IFC has updated and significantly expanded the picture of the market first articulated by “The Next 4 Billion” report and this week delivered it in a publicly accessible resource called The Global Consumption Database. More than 1 million household surveys, conducted between 2005 and 2010, provide the source data for the database. The free database is designed it help large companies and small social enterprises devise future strategies.
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- Uncategorized
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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.
- Categories
- Impact Assessment, Investing
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How Haiti is Becoming a Leader in the Production of Quality Clothing: Industrial Revolution II is taking on the old garment industry
In late 2013, clothing industry leaders launched Industrial Revolution II, a Haiti-based garment factory that aims to invest 50 percent of profits into its workers, their families and the community while paying a living wage. While IRII has received much in the way of good press, Rahul Desai says he wanted to see for himself whether this ambitious endeavor had found a way to benefit workers while being commercially viable.
- Categories
- Education
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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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Farm to Family (and, Hopefully, Health and Wealth): Produce distribution model in India builds in economic empowerment
eKutir’s VeggieKart initiative is filling gaps in the value chain in India so small farmers and consumers alike can share in healthier, more productive livelihoods.
- Categories
- Agriculture, Health Care
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From Financial Education to Capability – A Paradigm Shift: Financial education on its own is not enough to improve consumers’ financial health
Classroom-based educational programs for improving financial health have mixed results. Improved methods that support behavior change as well as knowledge gains are needed. Sarah Gordon, Vice President, Innovation Labs at CFSI spoke with the Citi Foundation’s COO, Brandee McHale, about the importance of these new approaches, and the organizations that are pioneering them.
- Categories
- Education, Impact Assessment
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Beyond the Pioneer : Why Monitor’s next chapter on scale focuses on factors from outside of the social enterprise
We spoke with Harvey Koh, director at Monitor Inclusive Markets, about the new study, Beyond the Pioneer: Getting Inclusive Industries to Scale. It is the widely anticipated follow up to 2012’s From Blueprint to Scale: The Case for Philanthropy in Impact Investing. The new report details the very real structural barriers that social entrepreneurs must overcome if they expect to go beyond their pioneering days and reach scale.
- Categories
- Education
- Tags
- infrastructure, research
