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The Customer is Always Right – Especially at the Base of the Pyramid
GiveWell, a charity-rating organization, has raised questions about whether providing microcredit or selling a good product to the poor is enough to demonstrate social impact. But GiveWell’s methodology is hard-pressed to evaluate market-oriented development approaches and it illustrates what patient capital can do that "charity" does not.
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Announcing NextBillion’s Advisory Board
Following the announcement of the William Davidson Institute joining as Managing Partner of NextBillion, we’re pleased to introduce the site’s new Advisory Board.
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Announcing the William Davidson Institute as a New Partner to NextBillion
We are pleased to announce that the William Davidson Institute at the University of Michigan has agreed to join the NextBillion community as a Managing Partner. WDI joins the World Resources Institute and Acumen Fund as co-Managing Partners.
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The Competitive Relationship Between Mainstream and Microfinance Banks
This article examines the competitive relationship between mainstream and microfinance banks, which is beginning to shape the microfinance landscape in developing countries. I examine how these two groups are developing strategies and financial products that play with their respective competitive advantages and against their competitors.
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The Top 5 ICT4D Trends for 2010
The year started with the world teetering on economic and financial collapse. The technology industry withered in general due to lack of demand. Intel, for example, reported its first loss in 21 years in the second quarter. As we head in to 2010, things seem to be on the mend, albeit slowly. So what will 2010 look like for ICT4D?
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Time to Refresh Your Social Entrepreneurship Reading Wishlist
2009 was a big editorial year for those of us interested in the role of business and entrepreneurship combating poverty. Well, this year kicked off on a high note with the come-back of a heavy wight in the social enterprise literature space: David Bornstein.
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A Question of Causality
There is no shortage of evaluation frameworks/impact assessment tools out there for the BoP space and no shortage of discussion around metrics. Last year, I asked the question ’Why should we evaluate social enterprises?’ In this post, I ask the question ’What should we try to measure?’
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3 Hot Topics for 2010: Impact, Leadership Development and Replication
Around this time last year, Rob and I got on the phone to discuss the trends that would shape the Base of the Pyramid/ social enterprise space in 2009. We quickly came to consensus: "2009 will be the year of ANDE". What about 2010? Here’s my bet for three themes we’ll be hearing about time and again.
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