NextBillion - A WDI Publication

A Netflix for Batteries to Get Africa on the Grid

Around the world nearly 2 billion people don’t have reliable access to electricity. We’ve covered some of the inspiring plans and products aiming to compensate for that by making solar power cheap enough for off-grid homes in the developing world. But in Tanzania, where just 14 percent of peopl...

Source

Fast Company (link opens in a new window)

Region

Sub-Saharan Africa

ANDE Releases Report on Social and Inclusive Businesses in Brazil

Data from new research coordinated by the Brazil Chapter of the Aspen Network of Development Entrepreneurs (ANDE), the AVINA Foundation, and Potencia Ventures demonstrates significant growth for social and inclusive businesses in Brazil. The purpose of the study was to identify which regions and groups are fueling the most economic and social change. The report, released this week in English in time for Global Entrepreneurship Week, reveals a changing lands...

Source

Press Release (link opens in a new window)

Region

Latin America

Rural Women Banking by Mobile Phone

PLUMTREE, Zimbabwe, Nov 14, 2011 (IPS) - Collecting the monthly subscriptions for her co-operative has always been a headache for Thelma Nare, 41. This is because Nare lives in Tshitshi, Plumtree in rural Zimbabwe, about 60 kilometres away from the humdrum of the nearest town centre where banks are located. "We meet after a long time as here in the rural areas our homesteads can be very far from each other. So members of our club do not meet or contribute regularly...

Source

IPS (link opens in a new window)

Region

Sub-Saharan Africa

Proposed Seal of Excellence Dominates Day One of Global Microcredit Summit

There are summits virtually every week nowadays. Networks, funds, and commercial banks - everyone seems to be inviting everyone along to come and discuss the future of the industry. For the most part, these conferences can be little more than distractions at best. At worst, they can be junkets: opportunities for a trip to a new place while the poor MFI, which is struggling anyway, foots the bill. The Global Microcredit Summit, one must admit, is different. For one thing, it happens ever...

Source

Microfinance Focus (link opens in a new window)

Region

Europe & Eurasia

IDB, Partners Establish New Competition for Hispanic Entrepreneurs in the US

Luis Alberto Moreno, President of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), today announced the establishment of a new competition to help Hispanic entrepreneurs implement creative new social and business ideas addressing issues of economic growth, food, security, water, and climate change in the region. The announcement was made at Unleashing IdEA, an event launching Global Entrepreneurship Week 2011, which highlighted initiatives to encourage Hispanic diaspora entrepreneurs and inves...

Source

Inter-American Development Bank (link opens in a new window)

People from India, China Potential Customers for Future: President Barack Obama

WASHINGTON: Appreciative of achievements made in a short span of time by India and China in areas like poverty alleviation, US President Barack Obama has told top CEOs from the Asia-Pacific region that people of the two Asian giants are "potential customers" for the future. "Whether it’s China, whether it’s India, these emerging countries, what they’re accomplishing in a few short decades -- a...

Source

The Economic Times (link opens in a new window)

Region

Asia Pacific

Global Entrepreneurship Week: Give Entrepreneurs the Tools They Need

Rupert Scofield is the President and CEO of FINCA International and the author of the new book The Social Entrepreneur’s Handbook: How to Start, Build, and Run a Business That Improves the World . It seems that we have lost sight of a simple truth in the midst of today’s global economic and social turmoil: Giving people the tools they need to become ...

Source

The Washington Post (link opens in a new window)

Ennovent Makes Debut Investment, Backs Barefoot Power

Ennovent, a bottom of the pyramid focused investment firm, has made its debut deal by investing an undisclosed amount in Australia-based Barefoot Power. The investment was done by Ennovent’s Sustainable Enterprise Fund along with Insitor (a social venture capital fund), Netherlands’ Oikocredit (a DFI focusing on MFIs) and The Grace Foundation (a charitable foundation). Ennovent is an early stage fund which looks to invest in low-cost innovations in energy, food, water, health an...

Source

VCCircle (link opens in a new window)