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Ladies First: Investing in women-owned SMEs
It pays to invest in women, in more ways than one. Increasing women’s incomes improves countries’ human development indicators and raises their per capita income. Research also indicates that women-owned SMEs have higher repayment rates. Tara Sabre Collier explores ways to better synergize impact investing and women’s economic empowerment.
- Categories
- Impact Assessment
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Decade after debt relief, Africa’s rush to borrow stirs concern
NEARLY a decade after Nelson Mandela and anti-poverty activists Bono and Bob Geldof persuaded the rich world to forgive Africa’s crushing debts, many countries’ debt levels are creeping up again, which could undermine the region’s growth boom.
- Categories
- Impact Assessment
- Tags
- governance, lending
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Pitching Investors in Global Health: Funding Lessons From Social Entrepreneurs
Over the past decade, business models serving the base of the pyramid (BOP) customers have attracted increased attention. At the same time, major development agencies and foundations have identified the public health segments of the Millennium Development Goals as priorities and have expanded programs to support and encourage innovation in health care for low- and middle-income communities around the world.
- Categories
- Health Care, Impact Assessment
- Tags
- impact investing
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Sustainable Investing Comes of Age in South Africa
In recent years, the idea of analysing companies using more than just financial indicators has moved into the mainstream.
- Categories
- Environment, Impact Assessment
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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(With Video) Beyond the Prototype: Wello’s CEO on product design, understanding customers and advice for social entrepreneurs
Cynthia Koenig, CEO of Wello, whose flagship product is a rolling water tank, advises against getting too reliant on a series of check boxes when it comes to measuring impact. In a video interview with NB, she talks about prototyping the next generation of the device, designed for BoP customers.
- Categories
- Education, Impact Assessment, Social Enterprise
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NexThought Monday – China’s Social Enterprise Movement Set to Blast Off: The country is urging a bigger role for social enterprise in society and the economy
China is urging a bigger role for social enterprise in society and the economy. In response, socially-minded businesses are taking off. Given China’s energy and strong entrepreneurial spirit, as the social enterprise movement grows and flourishes, the world’s second largest economy could soon be poised to make a significant global impact.
- Categories
- Impact Assessment, Social Enterprise
- Tags
- housing, scale, social enterprise
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OPINION: Give Impact Investing Time and Space to Develop
Impact investing has captured the world’s imagination. Just six years after the Rockefeller Foundation coined the term, the sector is booming. An estimated 250 funds are actively raising capital in a market that the Global Impact Investing Network estimates at $25 billion. Giving Pledge members described impact investing as the “hottest topic” at their May 2012 meeting, and Prime Minister David Cameron extolled the potential of the sector at the most recent G8 summit.
- Categories
- Impact Assessment
- Tags
- impact investing
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The 5th Annual Impact Conference at Sustainatopia: One of the world’s largest impact investing conferences to be held in Miami, April 16-18, 2014
Sustainatopia is one of the world’s largest events for social, financial, and environmental sustainability, drawing over 350 speakers and hundreds of attendees from 40 countries. Its Impact Conference will feature some of the top names in impact investing and social enterprise. As a media partner, NextBillion will provide extensive coverage and interviews with several key speakers.
- Categories
- Environment, Impact Assessment, Investing, Social Enterprise