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Viewpoint: This is how to create inclusive growth for an Aspiring Africa
The “Africa Rising” narrative is increasingly giving way to that of “Aspiring Africa”, as the Base of the Pyramid (BoP) shrinks and the new middle class burgeons. Central to this new narrative is inclusive growth: the idea that economic growth must come with equitable opportunities for all participants, with benefits enjoyed by every section of society.
- Categories
- Uncategorized
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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Staying and ideating together, the start-up way
A young and successful Kerala-based entrepreneur is leading by example and piloting an ‘impact sourcing’ project in the State. Also known as socially responsible outsourcing, ‘impact sourcing’ is an arm of the business process outsourcing industry that employs people from the base of the pyramid.
- Categories
- Impact Assessment, Technology
- Region
- South Asia
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OPIC Grants USD$5million to Venture Capital Group in Emerging Markets
The U.S. government’s development finance institution, the Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC) has announced $5 million financing to support Unreasonable Capital Fund. Elizabeth L. Littlefield, OPIC’s President and CEO said, “OPIC is delighted to support Unreasonable Capital as the fund invests across several regions and in a variety of sectors, from energy access to financial technology, that will have a positive development impact.”
- Categories
- Impact Assessment
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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Finding the Right Last-Mile Distribution Model
Experiments in bringing market-driven solutions to base-of-the-pyramid customers are often done in isolation, with little sharing of what works and what doesn’t. To address this knowledge gap, MIT D-Lab created the Practical Impact Alliance, which brings together leaders from diverse organizations working in inclusive business. The group has just released a 43-page guide called Best Practices for BoP Door-to-Door Distribution.
- Categories
- Education
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Grameen Uniqlo social business gains ground in Bangladesh
Six years on, the joint venture between Grameen Bank Group and Japan's Fast Retailing Co. Ltd, which is operator of the UNIQLO brand, continues to steadfastly pursue business expansion by cultivating factories that share its social business ideals, developing traditional dress and other products to meet local needs and reviewing store development strategies.
- Categories
- Impact Assessment
- Region
- South Asia
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As Uganda’s education system struggles, for-profit schools become flashpoint
In Prossy Nsereko’s cramped office, the writing is literally on the wall. One side is covered with peppy, hand-written slogans: "Winners never quit." "We are what we believe we are." On the other is a list of school fees.
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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Microcredit isn’t dead
The concept — reducing poverty in impoverished countries by giving very small loans to people without collateral — was once the most promising innovation in development economics. But after its inception in the early 1980s and its subsequent explosion in the following decades, one thing was missing: results.
- Categories
- Impact Assessment
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Indonesia’s farmers to enjoy microloan boon next year
Indonesian farmers can expect to find a micro-credit program specifically designed to fulfill their financing needs next year. On Tuesday, President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo called on his Cabinet to design a micro-credit program specifically designed for the agriculture sector to increase the amount of financing farmers could receive. He acknowledged that the current micro-credit program was too broad.
- Categories
- Agriculture
- Region
- South Asia