NextBillion - A WDI Publication

Calvert Foundation announced today that it invested a total of $1 million during the first quarter of 2006 in Davis, California-based MicroCredit Enterprises (MCE), a not-for-profit, anti- poverty business venture that leverages private capital to make tiny business loans to people -- mostly women -- living in extreme poverty in developing countries. The microloans promoted by MCE are provided at low rates that avoid the crippling costs and heightened risk of failure that result from the predato...

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PR Newswire (link opens in a new window)

Public private partnerships pose challenges for companies, but those who persist can find their effo

Cross-sector partnerships ? such as those between business and non-governmental organisations, or business and government ? are an increasingly popular way for companies to contribute to society. But making partnerships work can be difficult. Establishing clear rules of engagement and building trust is often a problem. Too often partnerships are more like sponsorship, with companies footing the bill for projects in which they are not closely involved. To be successful, par...

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Ethical Corporation (link opens in a new window)

CSR offers a middle way; a sustainable path between unbridled capitalism with its mixed consequences on the one hand and rigidly regulated economies plagued with artificial and stifling limitations on the other, argue David Chandler and William B. Werther, Jr. Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) represents nothing less than a debate about the future of our society. Amidst issues of ethics, corporate governance, and other efforts to balance conflicting demands, society seeks to c...

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Ethical Corporation (link opens in a new window)

Future Capital to Foray Into Retail of Financial Products

Future Capital, a majority-owned company of Pantaloon Retail, is chalking out a massive foray in the next few months into the manufacture and retailing of financial products, based roughly on a Latin American model. Termed ?Project Moneybazaar?, the format will focus on tapping the middle and mass end of the consumption market with a retail credit plan that will offer everything from credit cards, auto and consumer durable finance, mutual funds, insurance, money transfer, financial ...

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

Connecting developing nations

A pregnant woman at home alone in her remote village in Sierra Leone unexpectedly went into a difficult labor and, with no access to a doctor or medical facilities, a minor medical emergency could have taken a tragic turn. But the woman, Emma Sesay, managed to use one of the few cellphones in the village of Port Loko and called her husband, who borrowed a car and rushed home from his job, picking up a midwife along the way. They arrived in tim...

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International Herald Tribune (link opens in a new window)

Region

Sub-Saharan Africa

Competition is Good

It has taken an extraordinarily long time to get this far, when in the late 80s and 90s it was only Mobitel that provided the mobile phone facility, which only the rich could afford. With Areeba coming aboard, the pricing of mobile phone services out of the reach of many people continued. Think of this. Just two years ago, One Touch chips were going for 1.2 million cedis (USD $129) . One needed a letter of introduction and prayers to be able to secure a One Touch chip. Today all one nee...

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Mobile Africa (link opens in a new window)

ACCION and Argentina?s Banco Columbia to Promote Microfinance for Poor Entrepreneurs

ACCION International, a pioneer and leader in global microfinance, today announced the creation of Columbia Microcr?dito, partnering with Argentina?s Banco Columbia to deliver financial services to the country?s entrepreneurial poor. Argentina?s first commercial microfinance venture, the new alliance will deliver microloans through Banco Columbia?s national branch network, with the goal of reaching 20,000 clients within four years. Banco Columbia, a mid-sized Argentine bank with...

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Microfinance Gateway (link opens in a new window)

Celtel International BV, Africa’s third-largest mobile-services provider, has agreed to buy 65% of Nigeria’s Vmobile for just over $1 billion, Celtel’s Kuwaiti parent said. Mobile Telecommunications Co. said in a statement on the Kuwaiti stock-exchange Web site that the deal includes an option for the purchase of the remaining 35% of Nigeria’s third-largest mobile-phone operator. The deal would be the latest for fast-expanding MT...

Source

Wall Street Journal (link opens in a new window)

Region

Sub-Saharan Africa