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At the Vatican, a different type of investing conference
There were several more nuns and priests in attendance than at a typical impact investing conference, but the third Vatican Impact Investing Conference, held last week, explored both where the field is headed globally and what role the Roman Catholic Church might have moving forward.
- Categories
- Investing
- Region
- Europe & Eurasia
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Report: Innovating our way to a better life
A look at the leaders in global innovation and how gaps in economic and technological capacity is creating inequality.
- Categories
- Technology
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Press release: Solar brings economic boost to East African households
The report, ‘Powering Opportunity: The Economic Impact of Off-grid Solar’ provides data demonstrating the economic benefits of off-grid solar power in the developing world. The findings show that nearly 60% of off-grid solar owners undertake more work and enterprise within just three months of using a solar home system.
- Source
- Press release
- Categories
- Energy
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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Home Solar + Microfinance: Mitigating Risks and Maximizing Rewards
The social impact of home solar systems in off-grid villages has shown itself to be broader than initially thought. But while social enterprises continue to roll out new forms of solar, financing their purchase can put these innovations out of reach for the low-income households that need them most. Mark Roesink of Oikocredit shares how weaving responsible microlending into the solar industry could generate greater impact for energy access in emerging markets like India and Kenya.
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- Energy, Social Enterprise
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Mini-grids could be a boon to poor people in Africa and Asia
Vijay Bhaskar of Mlinda says a big mistake in development has been to assume that, once people are hooked up to electricity, businesses will automatically flourish. People have to be taught how to make the most of power, he says. “Bringing energy is the easy part. The hard part is finding productive ways to make use of it.”
- Categories
- Energy
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Developing countries may need their own strategies to cope with job-taking robots
Reports by the McKinsey Global Institute and the World Bank both suggest that agricultural and industrial sectors have higher potential for automation than service sector jobs, which typically require creative thinking or face-to-face interaction.
- Categories
- Technology
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Siemens Stiftung launches empowering people. Award 2019 for social enterprises
According to a statement, entries will be assessed by technology and business experts, and the top three winners will be selected by an experienced international jury panel. The first prize is worth 50,000 Euros, with 30,000 and 20,000 Euros awarded to the second and third prize winners respectively.
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Viewpoint: The Future of International Development: South-South Cooperation
The Western development system has largely been premised on the flow of knowledge and financing from the “Global North” to the “Global South” with the goal of assisting in driving economic development and poverty alleviation. Ironically, the expertise flowing from the “developed” world represents best practices from countries that have never been able to solve their own poverty.