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For Arunachalam, MFI Industry Still Has Lessons to Learn
Ramesh Arunachalam, a development practitioner and staunch critic of the microfinance industry, recently published "The Journey of Indian Microfinance: Lessons for the Future." In a NextBillion interview, he suggests a practical framework that policy-makers and other stakeholders will need to follow in order for Microfinance to thrive once more.
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Friday Roundup ? 9/30/11: The IFC’s 7 Business Models for Inclusion, Are There More?
The International Finance Corporation took a close look at its investment portfolio and found seven common traits of successful inclusive businesses. In its recently released report, Accelerating Inclusive Business Opportunities, the IFC highlights those models - from micro distributions to smallholder procurement. Did the IFC miss any?
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Microfinance at a Crossroads: BRAC USA’s Davis on Microcredit, Then and Now
At a time of over-indebted clients, and fear in the face of microfinance exploiters and "loan sharks," Susan Davis, founding CEO of BRAC USA and industry veteran, is adamant: "If your mission is only to offer consumer finance, I wouldn’t call it microfinance. If your core mission is to try and defeat poverty ... then we’re talking."
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Friday Roundup – 9/23/11: Microcredit Rethought
This week Muhammad Yunus told NextBillion writer Sadna Samaranayake if he could do it all over again, he would not have let the "profit-makers" join the microcredit movement. But would there have been a movement without hard-nosed margin seekers in the first place? For the next few weeks, we’ll be taking a closer look at microcredit.
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Africa Election Watch 2011: Zambia
Was this the referendum on Chinese business in Africa? In a somewhat surprising turn, perennial opposition leader Michael Sata secured victory this week against incumbent president Rupiah Banda in Zambia’s national election. Sata is known as "King Cobra" for his often vituperative statements that have targeted Chinese business practices in Zambia.
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With Biochar Stoves, Inyenyeri is a Business Intent on Catching Fire
Eric Reynolds, founder of camping gear giant Marmot and Gore-Tex pioneer, has never shied from big ideas. His latest mission? Making Rwanda the world’s first "carbon-negative" country. His method? A biochar cookstove, a for-profit energy company, and 4 years of serious planning. After spending a few days with him, he may just be onto something big.
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Chronicles of Grassroots Creativity and Innovation: Four Questions for Makeshift?s Steve Daniels
I recently had a chance to catch up with Steve Daniels, founder of the Better World by Design Conference and author of the fascinating Making Do. I’m sure you’ll find Makeshift, is a quarterly magazine and multimedia website about grassroots creativity and invention around the world, as intriguing as I did.
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Friday Roundup – 8-16-11: An MD, Mathematician Leads Gates? Health Initiative
The Gates Foundation this week announced it would tap Dr. Trevor Mundel, the global head of development at Novartis AG, to lead the Gates Global Health Program. Mundel’s charged with finding the most effective (and cost effective) drugs, vaccines and medical devices for the developing world. Clearly he’s someone who understands how to manage scale.
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