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The Hidden Value of Untapped Ideas: Three Development Sector Approaches that Deserve a Second Look
The development challenges facing African countries – from income inequality to crippling infrastructure gaps – are huge and growing. But while tackling these issues will require innovative responses, “innovative” may not necessarily mean “new.” Aubrey Hruby at the Atlantic Council’s Africa Center explores three ideas that the development sector discarded – or never considered in the first place – which may hold the key to solving some of Africa’s biggest challenges.
- Categories
- Entrepreneurship
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Press Release: Social Entrepreneurs Have Improved 622 Million Lives: Schwab Foundation Report
Social entrepreneurs with the Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship have improved the lives of more than 622 million people in 190 countries.
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- Entrepreneurship
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Women Feeding Africa: Innovative Business Solutions to Close the Gender Gap in Agricultural Productivity
Women quite literally feed sub-Saharan Africa: They make up 50% of its agricultural labor force and contribute 60-80% of its food. Yet they also face unique constraints that limit their productivity and reduce their returns. What would happen if women could access the same productivity resources as men? Agnes Makena and Racheal Wangari at Intellecap explore that question, highlighting enterprises and initiatives with innovative solutions to support Africa’s female farmers.
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- Agriculture, Entrepreneurship
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Press Release: Citi Launches $150 Million Impact Investing Fund
This is the largest fund of its kind to be launched by a bank using its own capital. Investments, which could be as high as $10 million, will primarily be made in companies that have demonstrated proof of concept, built an existing customer base, secured prior rounds of funding and exhibited the potential for scale in multiple markets. A portion of the fund is designated for earlier stage seed investments.
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- Entrepreneurship, Finance, Investing
- Region
- North America
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Filling the Funding Gap: Two Innovative Ways to Improve Financing Opportunities for Social Impact Entrepreneurs
Social entrepreneurs often struggle to scale their enterprises because of difficulties accessing tailor-made capital. According to Carola Schwank at Siemens Stiftung's empowering people.Network, this is often due to a clear mismatch in pairing up social entrepreneurs and impact investors. She explores two key solutions to this crucial challenge, featured in Siemens Stiftung's “Innovative Financing for Social Entrepreneurs” report.
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- Entrepreneurship, Investing
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Viewpoint: Today’s Africa Is the China of 20 Years Ago
The barriers that slow down entrepreneurship in Africa are similar to those I had to fight against twenty years ago when I created Alibaba. By relying on the digital revolution, it is possible to turn Africa into a global hub.
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- Entrepreneurship
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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Employment, Entrepreneurship and Data: Announcing NextBillion’s 2020 Special Series
NextBillion is pleased to announce the topics of our 2020 special series. These three year-long series will cover innovations and challenges in employment, the "untold stories" of social entrepreneurs, and the risks and opportunities of Big Data. Each will be managed by a different member of our editorial team. Check out the descriptions here, and email the appropriate editor if you’d like to discuss a potential guest article. We’re looking forward to following the discussion!
- Categories
- Entrepreneurship, NextBillion Originals, Technology
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How ‘Market-Creating Innovations’ Can Lift Nations Out of Poverty: A Q&A with Efosa Ojomo
Efosa Ojomo is a senior research fellow at the Clayton Christensen Institute and a rising star in the world of impact-focused business. He has spoken and written extensively about the potential of innovation to lift developing countries out of poverty – including in his recent book “The Prosperity Paradox," co-written with Christensen. In this Q&A, Ojomo discusses the concept of market-creating innovations, and their unique value as a global development tool.
- Categories
- Entrepreneurship, NextBillion Originals
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