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Impact Investing Lessons for NGOs: Mercy Corps’ Scott Onder Discusses its Social Venture Fund
We don’t typically associate NGOs, particularly humanitarian organizations like Mercy Corps, with impact investing. But since 2015, Mercy Corps has run the Social Venture Fund, which invests in and accelerates the growth of innovative, scalable ventures that can positively impact millions in the developing world. NextBillion interviewed Scott Onder, managing director of the fund, about Mercy Corps' experiences as an investor, the rationale behind this ground-breaking approach – and lessons for other NGOs that may be considering a similar move.
- Categories
- Entrepreneurship, Impact Assessment, Investing
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Most Influential Post Nominee: A Milestone in Innovative Finance: Exploring the First-Ever Outcome-Based DIB for Poverty Alleviation in Africa
The graduation approach to poverty alleviation has been effective in helping raise incomes and savings over the long term. But traditional funding models don't provide enough flexibility or performance incentives to boost this impact, since funding is typically tied to activities rather than outcomes. To address this challenge, Village Enterprise and Instiglio have partnered with USAID and DFID to launch the first-ever outcome-based development impact bond for poverty alleviation in Africa.
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- Entrepreneurship, Investing
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Reserve Bank of India to Launch Financial Literacy Drive in Nine States
Six NGOs registered with the Depositor Education and Awareness Fund -- CRISIL Foundation, Dhan Foundation, Swadhaar Fin Access, Indian School of Micro Finance for Women (ISMW), Samarpit and the PACE Foundation -- have been selected to execute the pilot project in collaboration with banks.
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- Inclusive Fintech
- Region
- South Asia
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Study finds microfinance can help, even if goals aren’t met
"We can't just think about what the projects are doing for people but should also examine what people do for projects," Beck said. "We need to look at how policies get transformed on the ground."
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- Uncategorized
- Region
- Latin America
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Of Course Research Has Impact. Here’s how.
Such impact is more often drip, drip than earth shattering light bulb moment.
- Categories
- Uncategorized
- Tags
- global development, humanitarian aid, INGO, NGO, Oxfam, research
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Rural Knowledge Meets Tech Innovation: What Ultra-Poor Entrepreneurs Can Teach the World
What happens when Barefoot College, a global NGO which trains entrepreneurs in poverty-stricken rural areas, melds its expertise and values with tech innovators like Apple? It sparks the emergence of a new kind of entrepreneur who has much to teach the world, says Scot Bolsinger – along with new opportunities for rural communities to share and connect in ways never before possible.
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- Education, Entrepreneurship, Technology
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Asheesh Advani: ‘Anybody can be an entrepreneur’
Asheesh Advani, 45, is president and chief executive officer of Junior Achievement Worldwide, one of the largest NGOs in the world, dedicated to educating young people about financial literacy, entrepreneurship and work-force readiness.
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- Entrepreneurship
- Region
- South Asia
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NGOs in East Africa must monitor health issues
The East African Community (EAC) Council of Ministers has directed that non-governmental organisations in the region incorporate health issues into their projects. NGOs will be expected to integrate issues like population control, disease prevention and treatment in their project work plans in order to have a direct impact on humanity.
- Categories
- Environment, Health Care
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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