NextBillion - A WDI Publication

IIT Fest to Focus on Environment, Rural Aid, Empowering Rural Folk

CHENNAI: This year, Shaastra, the annual technical festival of the Indian Institute of Technology - Madras, will be all about saving the environment and empowering people in rural areas to do the same. It will be held from September 28 to October 2. The Shaastra Social Innovation Challenge, a new event, is expected to have a direct impact on rural India. The problem statement includes designing a solar cooker to replace traditional wood-based cooking and designing a fully autonomous rob...

Source

The Times of India (link opens in a new window)

Region

South Asia

Beer Could Provide Lifeline for South Sudan’s Small Farmers

Husband to three wives, father of 10, Joseph Yekisuk, is nothing if not persistent as he detains visitors in a muddy cassava field just as they are about to head back into town. With the noonday sun beating down, the heat and humidity steadily rising, Yekisuk is making a pitch for money, hoes and gumboots. Especially the wellies. Gumboots here denote status in much the same way as the latest iPad does in London or New York. Yekisuk, with his stick-thin legs, is more likely to wear rubber boot...

Source

Guardian.co.uk (link opens in a new window)

Region

Sub-Saharan Africa

A Famine-proof World Requires Investment in Farm Research

Once again the Horn of Africa is suffering a hunger crisis of dizzying magnitude. Nearly 12 million people are in the need of humanitarian assistance, despite more than $1.5 billion in emergency aid efforts to date. It is easy to get lost in these mind-boggling statistics. However, we must urgently act in support these efforts. Relief agencies, community organizations and governments are providing much needed support to save more lives from being lost. But with the America’s e...

Source

DesMoinesRegister.com (link opens in a new window)

Region

Sub-Saharan Africa

Innovative Financing

Besides looking for the most commercially viable, innovative enterprises to invest in, Geneva-based Bamboo Finance also looks for another trait - investment targets that bring a direct, positive benefit to low-income communities by providing access to health care, sanitation, clean water, housing and the like. Having a socially positive impact while making a profit can be a huge challenge for a private equity (PE) firm like Bamboo. But it looks like it has scored an early success throug...

Source

Knowledge@Wharton (link opens in a new window)

Categories

Uncategorized

Google Launches Affordable Wi-Fi Product in Kenya

Google in collaboration with African cable and internet services provider, The Wananchi Group has launch a new high-speed wireless broadband network ’Wazi WiFi’ in Nairobi, Kenya with Aptilo Networks. This launch is a part of Wananchi’s commitment to bring high speeds and low cost Wi-Fi in emerging markets. The company sees big opportunities in using WiFi technology for mobile data offloading and providing high speed unmetered access away from home. "The internet is a ...

Source

Microfinance Focus (link opens in a new window)

Region

Sub-Saharan Africa

Want to Make Aid More Effective? Bring in the Private Sector

The question of aid effectiveness has moved to the centre of development debates. If donors want to make their aid more effective, then they need to engage strategically with the private sector . We know that development of the private sector is probably the most ...

Source

Guardian.co.uk (link opens in a new window)

Social Innovation Putting Hope in the Hands of Kenya’s Starving

As the severe drought continues taking lives in Kenya and the rest of east Africa, Concern Worldwide is turning to social innovation to try to save lives. The international humanitarian organisation has created a programme that enables people to make cash transfers to buy food. It is hoped this initiative will help 20,000 people over the next five months. Earlier this year, Concern began noticing a disturbin...

Source

Justmeans (link opens in a new window)

Region

Sub-Saharan Africa

Facing Up to the Global Water Crisis

With rising population growth and changes in the earth’s climate putting stress on the consumable 1% of the planet’s water , the global water crisis risks becoming a source of cross-border conflict. Sub-Saharan Africa is especially vulnerable given its dry climate, which is exacerbated b...

Source

Guardian.co.uk (link opens in a new window)

Region

Sub-Saharan Africa