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Solving the Problem of Renewable Energy Waste: A Circular Economy Approach to Sustainable Batteries
Despite its many benefits, the clean energy revolution has one notable downside: The battery-based storage systems that underpin localised renewable energy have a limited lifespan, contributing to a large and growing e-waste problem. In response, Aceleron set out to develop a more sustainable battery technology. The company's CEO, Amrit Chandan, discusses its impact.
- Categories
- Energy, Environment
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Scaling Solar Irrigation to Fight the Global Food Crisis: Why Subsidies Could be the Solution
COVID-19 has triggered a global food emergency, as the number of people facing starvation could double to 265 million by the end of 2020. Samir Ibrahim at SunCulture explores how solar-powered irrigation systems can help smallholder farmers combat this crisis by drastically improving their yields – and discusses three reasons why smart subsidies can address the affordability barrier.
- Categories
- Agriculture, Coronavirus, Energy
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Digital Platforms: The Virtual Classrooms That Transform India’s Youth into Productive Workers
India is one of the youngest societies in the world, with people aged 15-24 making up a third of the population. That's why the country's economic growth will depend on youth becoming productive workers, says Sreelakshmi Ramachandran at Ola Mobility Institute. As we celebrate World Youth Skills Day, she explores how digital platforms are upskilling young workers and easing their transition to employment.
- Categories
- Education, Technology
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1 Billion People Live in Informal Settlements Worldwide: Here are Seven Key Challenges They’re Facing During COVID-19
“Stay at home” orders are part of life under COVID-19, but they're based on the assumption that one’s home provides protection against contracting and spreading the virus. As Margaret Nakunza at Intellecap points out, this isn’t always the case – at least not for the approximately 1 billion people living in informal settlements. She explores the most critical challenges facing these communities during the pandemic, and what the development sector can do to support them.
- Categories
- Coronavirus
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The Power of Local Women: An Innovative Social Capital Model Addresses Rural Financial Inclusion in India During COVID-19
To reduce the economic impact of COVID-19, the Indian government has transferred money into women’s bank accounts. But as Prabhat Labh at Grameen Foundation India and Sourajit Aiyer at South Asia Fast Track Sustainability Communications point out, the rural population often struggles to access those funds. They explore how the Grameen Mitra model leverages a network of village-based women to get cash transfers to where they're needed most.
- Categories
- Coronavirus, Finance
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From Cauliflower to Unicorns: Five Lessons from Five Years as a Startup
As the Digital Frontiers Institute (DFI) celebrates its fifth birthday, it recently announced that it's merging with CGAP’s Gateway Academy to form a "stronger, more refined new identity at the frontier of capacity building." DFI's co-founder and CEO, Gavin Krugel, discusses five lessons the organization has learned about running a social enterprise startup.
- Categories
- Education, Finance, Social Enterprise
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Who Should Get COVID-19 Funding? How MIT D-Lab’s ‘Urgency Index’ is Helping it Deploy Grants to the Entrepreneurs Who Need Them Most
Entrepreneurs in emerging markets face unprecedented challenges during COVID-19, and there are many organizations working to support them. But as Jona Repishti at MIT D-Lab and Sagar Tandon at Moonshot Ventures explain, it can be hard to determine which of these enterprises are most in need. They explore the process that D-Lab's Bridge fund uses to target its grants for maximum impact.
- Categories
- Coronavirus, Investing
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Four Key Challenges Facing India’s Local Energy Enterprises During COVID-19 – And 16 Ways Funders Can Help
COVID-19 has had a devastating impact on last-mile energy companies. SELCO Foundation recently conducted surveys and conversations with 33 local Indian energy enterprises about the challenges they're facing. Sarah Alexander explores what these businesses shared about how governments, investors, philanthropies and other stakeholders can support them.
- Categories
- Coronavirus, Energy, Finance, Social Enterprise
