NextBillion - An Initiative of the William Davidson Institute at the University of Michigan

The first Open Source in Energy Access Symposium will serve as a hub where transparency, innovation, interoperability and collaboration will be at the forefront. Open Source technology and tools have been integral to the Energy Access landscape for some time – however, it’s only recently that practitioners and organisations have begun showcasing its benefits, particularly in enhancing interoperability, cost efficiency, and maintaining high quality. Using Open Source has the potential to help reach universal energy access faster, and getting together in person to discuss challenges and collaborating on solutions will mark an important moment toward this objective.

The Symposium will be free to attend, but physical spots will be limited and will be going fast. Virtual spots are unlimited.

Join us at our unique journey to delve into the principles of social entrepreneurship. Listen to key experts from the sector and get first-hand insights from social entrepreneurs. The digital expert-led session are covering topics of Impact Entrepreneurship and the Tripple Bottom Line, Impact Data Generation, and Impact Story Telling:

07.05.2024 at 12:00 CET | Impact Data Generation: Learn the importance of data, and how to develop an impact hypothesis and to set your impact KPI´s. Explore how to develop data collection strategies, get to know tools and technologies for data collection, and learn about its data privacy and ethical considerations. Understand the visualization of data, and how to create a data-driven culture that includes data into your business decisions.

Time: 6:00 AM EST

This webinar will delve into the dynamic landscape of Private Equity (PE) and Venture Capital (VC) with a focus on risk appetite and the evolving expectations of investors. In this session, Lazar Vujaklija, Partner and Director of Systema Capital Partners, will share invaluable insights into equity financing strategies that involve embracing risk in unconventional geographies.

In the Western Balkans (WB) region, companies are mainly financed by traditional banking instruments that are conservative and focus on collateral. In more developed countries, alternative investment funds are used, which are well-capitalized institutions deploying capital from various investors into private companies through equity or equity-like tools.

Western Balkans Private Equity Fund, in collaboration with USAID CATALYZE, has spent the last two years working on the creation of such a fund and will, in the course of this webinar, outline the trajectory, hurdles, and successes we’ve encountered along the way. This experience could shed light on what steps can be taken in the future to see the creation of a vibrant ecosystem of alternative sources of finance within the Western Balkans and other frontier markets.

Speakers will share practical insights on how to navigate the private equity landscape and attract anchor investors for private equity funds in the WB context. They will provide examples of international financial institutions (IFIs) acting as anchor investors and discuss the role of Development Agencies in the WB and Central and Eastern Europe (CEE). Moreover, they will explore ways in which donors can support the establishment of anchor investors.

Learn how USAID CATALYZE is playing a crucial role in opening doors for the Investment Fund Industry in the region, establishing the first AIF asset management company, and making PE and VC more readily trusted as investment mechanisms.

Time: 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM EDT

This four-part webinar series provides insight and perspective for organizations wanting to innovate for greater impact and scale.  Each session will feature frameworks and best practices from CASE’s research as well as an impact leader sharing their story about innovating to supercharge their organization’s mission:

• Innovating for Scaled Impact – May 9
• Creating an Innovation Culture to Drive Scale – May 23
• Financing New Approaches to Scale – June 6
• Using Data to Power Scale – June 20

Sessions take place on selected Thursdays, 12:00-1:00 PM ET over Zoom.

Thanks to the generous partnership of the F. M. Kirby Foundation, this series is open to anyone working in impact. Request one of the free seats using the form below. Upon confirmation of your seat, you will receive calendar invites for all four sessions. We highly encourage – but do not require – participation in all four sessions.

Join us for the public launch of IIX Intelligence™, the cutting-edge impact analytics and AI tool of IIX, where data of sustainable MSMEs will change the way sustainable growth and investment are made. With 15 years of trailblazing financial innovation and US$454 million invested, impacting over 160 million lives, especially women, girls, and gender minorities, we at IIX are thrilled to now unleash the data behind it all. Powered by IIX Values™, IIX Intelligence™ is an analytics platform that aggregates, quantifies, and benchmarks sustainable MSME data, providing unparalleled insights into gender diversity, climate action, ESG standards, and community risk mitigation.

Time: 4:00 AM ET

Background

The gradual decommissioning of the 3G mobile network is currently in progress across the United Kingdom. While the 2G, 4G, and 5G networks will continue to operate, the phase-out of 3G will inevitably have adverse effects on certain segments of the population. For example, 3G SIM cards are integrated into various medical devices, highlighting a critical area of concern.

This online discussion aims to delve into the unforeseen repercussions of the 3G network’s cessation, explore effective strategies for alleviating these impacts, and discuss ways to foster greater public engagement with these ongoing developments.

Everyone is free to join the discussion. Simply login 2 and get typing. And if you would like to be a named contributor to this written discussion please do drop us a line at: Team@BusinessFightsPoverty.org

Moderator: Katie Hyson, Director of Thought Leadership and COO, Business Fights Poverty

Questions

1. In what ways will the 3G mobile network decommissioning affect vulnerable people?
2. In your experience how can we best engage vulnerable groups with these ongoing developments?
3. What kind of support would vulnerable customers need from their service provider as part of the 3G switch off?

How to add your comments

If you are already a member of the Business Fights Poverty online community, login here 2 and then return to this page and click “Log In” at the top right of this page – if you are logged in correctly you will not need to enter your details again. If you have not logged into our new community platform, you will have to reset your password here.

If you are not already a member of the Business Fights Poverty online community, you will need to sign up here . Once you have joined the community, you can return to this discussion page and click “Log In” at the top right of the page.

Amplifying Human Enterprise: How might we find uplift amid upheaval?

Every day, organizations around the world set out to do good work—solving complex problems, addressing seemingly intractable issues, generating relational, social, and financial wealth, and finding new ways to create a better world for their communities. And every day, whatever comes, organizations around the world do their important work in the face of disruption, distress, turmoil, and turbulence. We dedicate our time together at this year’s Positive Business Conference to explore how we are living and working together in this time of both grief and gratitude, upheaval and uplift.

Although the current climate poses many challenges, it also calls us to reimagine organizational strategies that amplify the human in human enterprise. Companies have the opportunity to prioritize cultures of empathy, compassion and trust, renew their commitments to inclusion and belonging, and heighten employee engagement. To do these things as part of the new business imperative demands that we adopt more creative and agile approaches to work.

Join us for a deeper exploration of how leaders can harness the potential to create supportive structures and practices that foster well-being. We will share real-world examples, evidence-based tools, and cutting-edge thinking about creating compassion, connection, purpose, and meaning as part of an organization’s ecosystem of long-term value. You don’t want to miss the 2024 Positive Business Conference, amplifying a human-centered approach to global enterprise and exploring how we find uplift in a time of upheaval.

The Positive Business Conference Amplified

During the conference, you’ll engage with thought leaders and the latest research on how to build and bolster thriving organizations. You’ll have the opportunity to connect with like-minded individuals from diverse industries. Attendance is limited to ensure high-quality experiences for all, so early registration is recommended. We encourage group attendance to experience the most content and to help enact positive initiatives coming away from the conference.

About the Center for Positive Organizations

Standing on the threshold of a quarter century of innovation, The Center for Positive Organizations is the hub of a global network of scholars, practitioners, leaders, organizations, teachers, and students dedicated to designing and sustaining thriving organizations.

As the leading home for Positive Organizational Scholarship, the Center for Positive Organizations looks to a future of advancing new lines of inquiry, supporting emerging scholars, and inviting leaders globally to put the science of thriving to work as they unlock human-based capabilities and create the thriving organizations the world needs to ensure a vibrant human future.

Housed in the Stephen M. Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan, we are actively and passionately helping prepare the organizations of today, create the leaders of tomorrow, and build a sustainable future of meaning for all.

Join us at our unique journey to delve into the principles of social entrepreneurship. Listen to key experts from the sector and get first-hand insights from social entrepreneurs. The digital expert-led session are covering topics of Impact Entrepreneurship and the Tripple Bottom Line, Impact Data Generation, and Impact Story Telling:

14.05.2024 at 12:00 CET | Impact Story Telling: Explore how to structure the narrative of your enterprise, and its key elements. Learn how to integrate data, showcases and personal narratives into your story to make your story innovative and exciting. And know the do´s and don´ts as well as storytelling methods and techniques, and learn what role visuals can play.

Time: 6:00 AM EST