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The Global Development Sector Is Focused On Gender-Based Violence: Investors Should Be Too
In September, the U.N. adopted a resolution condemning all forms of sexual and gender-based violence (GBV), reflecting a growing recognition of the profound consequences of this global problem. But as Josh Dobiac at Milliman Financial Risk Management and Alana Kolundzija at Collective Impact argue, global development organizations aren't the only ones who should play a role in addressing GBV. They explore how investment decisions can impact GBV, and make the case for tackling this issue through socially responsible investing.
- Categories
- Impact Assessment, Investing
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To Stop Climate Catastrophe, Invest in Clean Cooking: Exploring the Lack of Funding – And Signs of Progress – In the Industry
As devastating heat waves and wildfires become an unwelcome part of summer around the world, it's clear that climate change is no longer a future risk we need to prepare for, but an ongoing crisis we need to navigate. To tackle this challenge, Dymphna van der Lans at the Clean Cooking Alliance argues that the world needs to phase out inefficient, greenhouse gas-emitting cooking methods like wood- and charcoal-burning fires – but for that to happen, funders will need to step up. She explores the lack of funding that has typically plagued the clean cooking sector, and discusses some promising signs of growing momentum.
- Categories
- Energy, Environment
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The Untapped Opportunity in African Healthcare: How to Establish a Stronger Private Sector by Giving Doctors a Voice
Africa has around 16% of the world’s population but accounts for around 23% of the global disease burden – and according to Mark Wien at PocketPatientMD, the private sector should be well-placed to address the continent's growing healthcare challenges. But across the region, for-profit providers are dealing with several obstacles that are hindering their growth. He explores the key challenges these providers – and the broader private healthcare sector – are facing, and discusses how businesses like PocketPatientMD are working to overcome them.
- Categories
- Health Care
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Putting Outcomes Above Ideology: Why the Development Sector Must Recognize the Critical Role of Low-Fee Private Schools in Addressing the Global Learning Crisis
The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated the global learning crisis, with up to 70% of children in low- and middle-income countries unable to read and understand a simple text by age 10. Yet Corina Gardner and Stephen Caleb Opuni at the IDP Foundation argue that, despite the urgency of the situation, the development sector remains locked in an ideological debate over whether non-state schools should play a role in the global education landscape. They urge the sector to move past its resistance to private education options and instead work to ensure that these schools are properly regulated, integrated and supported.
- Categories
- Coronavirus, Education
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The Power of Litigation Funding: How Social Enterprises and Other Small Businesses Can Use it to Defend Their Legal Rights – And Access Capital
Social enterprises and other small businesses are often at a disadvantage when disputes arise with larger companies – particularly in the international context, where the option of going to local courts is not always available. Patrick Miller at P Miller Legal Services explores how commercial litigation funding can address this issue, by enabling these enterprises to access skilled international counsel funded by external investors who receive a proportion of any eventual award. He discusses the benefits this approach can offer to both small businesses and investors.
- Categories
- Investing, Social Enterprise
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Water Crises in South Africa Could Lead to Investment Opportunities
South Africa is a water-stressed country, and Investment to address these challenges present a substantial opportunity in the municipal water sector for investors and businesses alike.
- Categories
- WASH
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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The Virtuous Cycle of Representation: Why Global Health Boards Must Include the People They Serve
Much of the global health sector’s work is concentrated in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). However, a new report from Global Health 50/50 reveals that just a quarter of board seats at global health organizations are held by nationals of these countries, and women from LMICs hold a shameful 1% of all seats. Anuradha Gupta at Gavi explores the decades-long, system-wide failure to ensure diversity in global health decision-making, and urges these influential bodies to do a better job of representing the communities whose health they are aiming to improve.
- Categories
- Health Care
- Tags
- failure, gender equality, governance, research
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Business Solutions to a Humanitarian Crisis: Nine Things Companies Must Understand to Support Refugees from Ukraine – And Around the World
As war rages in Ukraine, humanitarian efforts have struggled to keep pace with the needs of the refugees displaced by the conflict. According to Betsy Alley, an independent researcher and analyst with expertise in refugee business investment, the private sector can help. But how can businesses best contribute to something that has traditionally been a humanitarian affair? She shares nine learnings from the refugee crises of recent years, which show how enterprises and their employees can serve and empower refugees while also benefiting host communities – and their own businesses.
- Categories
- Investing