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WDI Developing BoP Asset Class in Asia Pacific Region
Developing a "blueprint" for a new asset class of private equity funds considering base of the pyramid enterprises and investments in the Asia Pacific region is the goal of a new project at the William Davidson Institute’s Development Consulting Services group.
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- Impact Assessment
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Transforming Deserts: The 2011 International Property Rights Index
The 2011 International Property Rights Index (IPRI) was released last week, bringing to mind a vital - yet overlooked - global development debate about the role of property rights in improving economic opportunities at the base of the pyramid. In fact, property rights alone are rarely enough to spur financial sectors into small business lending.
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- Agriculture
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Disruptive Innovation in Service of Social Business Growth (Part 1)
Innovation in social businesses is not limited to development issues: it goes beyond the borders of sectors, creating disruption in the market, with the potential to generate a new wave of creative destruction. These posts seek practical answers to the reality of entrepreneurs that continue their battle to ensure the survival and growth.
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- Uncategorized
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Small Business Might Be Big Business for Mobile Money
Small business owners and entrepreneurs are getting in on the action of mobile money. This post summarizes conversations I had over the past few months, as well as two new research pieces that highlight some challenges ahead for the industry to cater this important segment.
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- Uncategorized
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Thoughts On Strategic Transitions From Humanitarian to Development Work
The Humanitarian Innovation Fund (HIF), outside of improving humanitarian aid practices, may present an opportunity for us to better examine this cross-section of modern change by innovating programs that consider the important transition from short-term (humanitarian) to long-term (development and beyond) ownership of projects.
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ViewChange Video of the Week: World Water Day and Drip Technology
Water issues are top of mind today, which is World Water Day. Modern agriculture tends to focus on helping farmers with large fields (and more money to spend). But an innovative, inexpensive drip irrigation systems, developed with investment from the Acumen Fund, are helping smallholder farmers in India dramatically increase crop yields.
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- Agriculture, Technology
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How to Save Rural Kenyan Farmers $200 Per Year
An innovative natural resource management program in Kenya is smartly integrating efficiency improvements into already strong agricultural programs. Leveraging the profit-enhancing work underway in programs, such as TechnoServe?s dairy development work in Kenya, makes products like solar more accessible for families in rural communities.
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- Agriculture, Energy, Environment
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- rural development, solar
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Unreasonable Institute Finalists Emerge
The 2011 Unreasonable Institute, an intensive six-week mentorship program that seeks to accelerate budding ventures serving the base of the pyramid consumers, fielded applications from 300 entrepreneurs who hoped to attend. The first test was competing with other applicants to raise $8,000 in tuition fees, while rallying support for their mission.
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- Uncategorized
