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Impact Investing: Take the Risk Your Challenge Deserves
At the risk of stating the obvious, investing in early-stage companies is risky. Why then would a foundation – which some might argue are organizations that have a low risk tolerance – get into impact investing? Jami O'Toole, of Michael & Susan Dell Foundation, explains why investments in for-profit firms can fill a missing piece of the puzzle in a foundation’s portfolio and generate social benefit at the same time.
- Tags
- impact investing
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Urvashi Sahni, founder of SHEF, wins social entrepreneur award
SHEF has demonstrated a business model of education for inclusion, empowerment and leadership building for India’s most disadvantaged and girls at risk.
- Categories
- Education
- Region
- South Asia
- Tags
- gender equality
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Stanford launches research center focused on global poverty and development
The center’s mission is threefold: to support path-breaking research on global poverty and development within Stanford and beyond; to inspire students through hands-on research opportunities, fellowships and events; and to inform policies and practices through strategic partnerships with global policymakers and thought leaders as well as on-campus events that foster new ideas and university-wide collaborations.
- Categories
- Education
- Region
- North America
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Funding struggle: Can Liberia’s controversial privately-run schools pilot continue?
Some funders are also said to be questioning the program after an independent evaluation released earlier this month showed mixed results for the public-private partnership’s first year. While researchers of the randomized control trial reported impressive learning gains among students, they also raised concerns about the program’s cost-effectiveness and its potential to negatively impact non-participating schools in the country.
- Categories
- Education, Impact Assessment
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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World Bank warns of ‘learning crisis’ in global education
“This learning crisis is a moral and economic crisis,” World Bank Group President Jim Yong Kim said. “When delivered well, education promises young people employment, better earnings, good health, and a life without poverty. For communities, education spurs innovation, strengthens institutions, and fosters social cohesion. But these benefits depend on learning, and schooling without learning is a wasted opportunity."
- Categories
- Education, Impact Assessment
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Ghana Launches Free High School Education
Ghana introduced free compulsory education at the primary and junior high school levels in 1995 as required by the constitution, but implementation took time. It wasn't until 2014 that the World Bank said Ghana had achieved near-universal access at the primary level.
- Categories
- Education
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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Ag Stigma Be Damned: Flipping the Script for Young People, Farming and Investment
Smallholder farmers are getting older – the average age of a coffee farmer is 60 – and fewer and fewer young people are replacing them. This problem isn’t new. But it’s becoming more and more urgent. Will McAneny at Root Capital writes about several agricultural businesses that are flipping the script by asking: What if opportunity flourished on the farm?
- Categories
- Agriculture, Education, Investing
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Chilean startup ComparaOnline raises $14 million for its financial education tools for Latin America
The company, now backed by private equity firm Bamboo Capital Partners and the International Finance Corp., the investment arm of the World Bank Group, pitches financial educational tools to consumers in Brazil, Chile, and Colombia.
- Region
- Latin America
- Tags
- fintech, venture capital
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