Rob Katz

BOP Announcements: Citi Job, Tech Awards, CGAP Prize

As we move into the weekend, here are a couple of BOP announcements (a prize, an innovation challenge, and a job) that should pique your interest. Coming soon–a report from the UN Meets Silicon Valley event held this week that I attended, and a review of the Fast 50 Awards in this month’s issue of Fast Company. Oh, and a formal book review of You Can Hear Me Now and Business Solutions for the Global Poor are on their way as well. Have a good weekend…

2007 Tech Museum Awards – Global Call for NominationsThe Tech Museum Awards – Technology Benefiting Humanity honors innovators from around the world who use technology to benefit humanity in the categories of Environment, Economic Development, Education, Health, and Equality. The Award categories are based on the fifteen Global Challenges identified in the State of the Future report, published by the Millennium Project of the American Council of the United Nations University.

25 Laureates will be honored at a Gala event on November 7, 2007 and five Laureates will share a cash prize of $250,000. Successful candidates address universal human needs through cutting-edge breakthroughs or innovative applications of existing technologies.

Self-nominations are accepted and encouraged. Individuals, nonprofit organizations, and for-profit companies are all eligible. Reward those making a difference and nominate today at http://www.techawards.org/nominate/. Deadline is March 26.

CGAP Pro-Poor Innovation Challenge

CGAP is inviting applications for round IX of the Pro-Poor Innovation Challenge (PPIC), a program we created to recognize microfinance institutions that actively innovate to reach very poor and marginalized clients.

This round of the PPIC will focus specifically on partnerships that link delivery of financial services by MFIs to non-financial services delivered by other organizations, in order to create sustainable livelihoods for the poorest. Examples of organizations with which MFIs could partner to serve poorer clients could include livelihoods/enterprise support organizations; programs that help very poor people start higher-return income-earning activities; organizations that provide productive assets to very poor people; or organizations that help specific groups–such as youth or people with disabilities–start successful earning activities.

Five awards of $50,000 each will be made to institutions that are developing partnerships that link financial and non-financial services to reinforce the economic activities of the very poor. Organizations will have to demonstrate that the poorest are being targeted and that the program includes specific sequenced steps for clients to improve their conditions and maintain sustainable economic activities.

The deadline for applications is March 23rd, 2007. Click here for more information and to fill out a simple application form.

Citigroup Community Development is actively seeking to hire a Vice President in its Private Equity / Alternative Investments unit.

This position will be an integral part of our expanded investment team that focuses on private equity, New Markets investments, and other investment products for community development and emerging domestic markets. The Private Equity / Alternative Investments unit is a national leader in “double bottom line” investing – seeking to create attractive risk-adjusted returns for investors as well as to promote community development social objectives. Our product set continues to grow each year but currently includes a fund-of-funds investment program that involves both private equity as well as real estate vehicles, an active New Markets Tax Credit investment program, and a growing number of community development related fixed income securities products.

Job responsibilities will be highly focused around completing new investments – sourcing and evaluating new investment opportunities, completing all aspects of the due diligence process including financial, legal, and social evaluations, presenting investments to internal committees. The position will be based out of NY and will involve some travel (approximately 25% of the time).

The ideal candidate should have a minimum of 3 – 5 years of transactional experience, either in middle market finance or private equity investing; a MBA or equivalent degree; and a strong interest in socially responsible investing.

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