Archive for the ‘Development’ Category

Arusha, Tanzania, June 4-7, 2007
TED’s first global conference is taking place with amazing people who are doing something valuable for Africa’s future. Their voices will inspire. And their ideas will spread.
“Over the past few years a growing number of people in the TED community have become passionate about Africa, a continent that appears to be at an important tipping point. Its problems and challenges are well known. Less well known is that across the continent, change is afoot. Instead of relying only on development aid, Africans across the continent are beginning to take matters into their own hands. Ingenious solutions are being applied to tackle some of the toughest health and infrastructure problems. Businesses are being launched that are capable of transforming the lives of millions. New communication technologies are allowing ideas and information to spread, enabling markets — and governments — to be more efficient. And the numbers suggest that incomes are starting to nudge up in some countries and real growth is on the way. A new Africa beckons.”
Some of the speakers already confirmed include:
Jacqueline Novogratz: After 20 years’ involvement in Africa, she founded the Acumen Fund, a leader of the “new philanthropy” movement which, instead of offering charity, supports entrepreneurs who are building businesses in areas such as healthcare, low-cost housing and water distribution.
Eleni Gabre-Madhin: Economist and leading researcher on African agricultural markets.
Danniel Annerose: CEO of and founder of Manobi, developer of prize-winning cellphone-based services that, for example, give farmers market intelligence and allow them to achieve better prices for their crops.
Jane Goodall: Famous for her pioneering work with chimpanzees in Tanzania, she has become a globally recognized conservationist and a United Nations “Messenger of Peace.”
Patty Stonesifer: CEO of the Gates Foundation, the world’s largest philanthropic organization. The Foundation funds multiple projects in Africa with a major focus on tackling AIDS, malaria and other public health issues.
See the full list of speakeres.
You can Register here.
What is TED?
What are TEDTALKS?.

IE Business School has signed an agreement with the Consejería de Empleo y Mujer de la Comunidad de Madrid to collaborate in offering forty-two scholarships intended for women graduates who are resident in the Autonomous Community of Madrid who wish to improve their skills in business administration. These scholarships cover 70% of all academic expenses; the remaining 30% is covered by the candidate. The scholarships by program are the following:

Executive MBA: 17 scolarships
Executive MBA online: 4 scolarships
International MBA: 4 scolarships
International Executive MBA: 4 scolarships
MBA Part Time: 13 scolarships
All tose interested must request the scholarship here before December 7th. At the same time, they must fil their admission form at Instituto de Empresa in a 40 day period. Admission is mandatory in order to obtain the scholarship.
For more information click here (In Spanish).

Independent Research and Practical Ideas for Global Development
The Center for Global Development is looking for a Controller, who will report to the Vice-President of the Center and will be responsible for financial policies, controls, strategic planning, and procedures. Individual must be “hands-on” as he/she prepares all financial reports and budgets and responsible for all audit and tax compliance. Other responsibilities include cash management, investment analysis, grant budget preparation, compliance, and reporting, employee benefits analysis and processing, receipting of funds, and maintenance of the general ledger. This position supervises one employee who is responsible for payroll and accounts payable.
learn more about the position and the required qualifications.
About the CGD:
The Center for Global Development is dedicated to reducing global poverty and inequality through policy-oriented research and active engagement on development issues with the policy community and the public. A principal focus of the Center’s work is the policies of the United States and other industrial countries that affect development prospects in poor countries.

Read more…

Looking to help drive Google.org‘s Global Poverty & Sustainable Development efforts?
Google is looking for several candidates for this position, based in Mountain View, California. This team works to innovate, establish and support sustainable models for global development. “Our mission is to accelerate growth and positive social impact using market-based, entrepreneurial approaches that promote sustainable economic growth and empowerment. We are exploring several potential approaches and creative interventions, including the following: creating jobs, fostering entrepreneurial support, discovering and advancing market-based solutions for basic socio-economic needs, bolstering girls’ and women’s education, providing access to financial services, clean energy and BOP innovations. These Program Directors will help lead program activities, assist in the development of Google.org’s poverty alleviation strategy and manage the portfolio of grants and investments.”
Take a further look at the Responsibilities and Requirements.

Read more…

Interested in doing business in Mexico? If so, perhaps you might find quite useful the following Doing Business in Mexico 2007 report. This report gives federal, state, and local policymakers the ability to measure regulatory performance against other states and countries, learn from global and national best practices, and prioritize reforms.
Aguascalientes has bee the top ranked state for the second straight year. Querétaro, one of the most beautiful states of all (there’s no direct relation with it being my home state), was the lowest ranked overall performer last year. However it has now created a public-private task force dedicated to improving its benchmarks and thus has ended up in a more respectable 7th place.
Take a look at the full report.
The top ten cities within these states for doing business in Mexico are:
1. Aguascalientes, Aguascalientes
2. Guanajuato, Celaya
3. Nuevo León, Monterrey
4. Sonora, Hermosillo
5. Campeche, Campeche
6. Zacatecas, Zacatecas
7. Querétaro, Querétaro
8. Mochoacán, Morelia
9. Sinaloa, Culacán
10. Mexico City

Fast Company business magazine has announced the 2007 Social Capitalist Award winners. These represent social entrepreneurs which are both generating financial profit and social benefit. Companies like Endeavor and PeaceWorks where this past week sharing their projects and passion with IE MBA students. Some of the most interesting companies awarded are:

Trains banks around the world to be microfinance partners, making small loans (averaging $674) to help poor people start businesses. Eventually, these microlenders become self-sustaining. ACCION has recently developed new services–home-improvement loans, insurance, and savings vehicles.

Connects financial markets to social markets by raising capital from private and institutional investors, then lending it to more than 200 socially oriented organizations. Borrowers repay at a 99.8% rate, and investors get their capital back with interest, less a slice to fund Calvert’s operations.

Has forged a network of 70 companies committed to publishing sustainability reports and improving environmental and social performance. Its Global Reporting Initiative, launched in 1997 with the United Nations Environment Program, is now the de facto standard used by 850 companies.

Helps entrepreneurs across Africa and Latin America build and fund successful businesses, creating jobs and vibrant communities. Endeavor Entrepreneurs have created 38,418 jobs in 140 companies, 96% of which stay in business longer than 42 months. Endeavor plans to expand into 26 additional countries.

Fights poverty in sub-Saharan Africa by selling low-cost technology that dramatically raises farmers’ crop yields and incomes. Farmers earn $4 for every $1 they invest in pumps, lifting average income to $1,100 annually, from $110. As a result, 225,000 people no longer live in poverty.

Via workshops, town-hall meetings, and college tours, PeaceWorks emphasizes tolerance and coexistence between Israelis and Palestinians–and trains young people to serve as youth leaders who promote nonviolence. In 2005, 180,000 people participated in its programs. Eight hundred Israeli and Palestinian youth were trained in leadership and negotiation, and young leaders organized 30 events.
To see the full list of 43 companies click here.

Oxfam International has just brought out their report on Health, Education, and Water and Sanitation for All.
This report shows that developing countries will only achieve healthy and educated populations if their governments take responsibility for providing essential services.

Rich country governments and international agencies such as the World Bank should be crucial partners in supporting public systems, but too often they block progress by failing to deliver debt relief and predictable aid that supports public systems.
For those job hunting, in order to provide basic health care and education for all, the world needs 4.25 million more health workers and 1.9 million more trained teachers.
I believe that Oxfam reports, by being so critical put things in balance and bring people, institutions and governments into action, which is already a big contribution; but I also find it important to be critical with such reports and moreover with their overall contribution.
It is interesting to see raising critical voices on this year’s Oxfam report, as being “more of the same”, arguing that “The Oxfam doctor’s prescription is to throw more money at these self-same entities – but more consistently and in larger amounts”.
How much value are these reports really adding? Can they be improved or modified in accordance to new realities?
Read the Oxfam Report.

The New York Times has Published today an article on phylanthropeneurs, social entrepreneurs, philanthropists, you name it. It is regarding stories which have made the media, ranging from Richard Branson’s recent $3 billion dollar pledge to developing greener fuels, including Pierre Omidyar and Jeffrey S. Skoll.
Acording to Alan Abramson, director of the nonprofit sector and philanthropy program at the Aspen Institute, “These guys have firsthand knowledge of the market’s power, and they’re asking themselves why they can’t make money and tackle some of the problems once addressed primarily by government at the same time.”
It is very interesting to continue seeing the coverage that Corporate Responsibility, Social Entrepreneurship and Phylanthropy are getting by reducing the boundries between business, society and the environment.
read the whole New York Times Article.

A set of questions ranging from poverty, microfinance, Millennium Development Goals and others, have been asked to Jeffrey Sachs, author of The End of Poverty, through Daniel Altman’s Managing Globalization blog.

Are the existing multilateral and bilateral development institutions efficient in fighting poverty?
What kind of agenda do you think our politicians need if they want to affect the kind of changes you advocate for in poverty elimination and environmental sustainability?
What are your views on the Latin American region, especially Brazil and Argentina? Where do you think that the challenges for growth, poverty eradication and political stabilty should stand?
These and many other questions proposed by the blog readers’ can be followed here.

Muhammad Yunus, the microfinance entrepreneur and founder of the world renowned Grameen Bank, won the Nobel Peace Prize last week. It is a tremendous achievement which will bring not just microfinance but social entrepreneurship and BoP to the spotlight. Their efforts to create social and economic benefit addressing the world poor has proven not only to be an innovative idea, but a sustainable one which can directly be related to poverty reduction, thus having a direct impact on world peace.
The Grameen Bank has issued more than US$ 5.1 billion to 5.3 million borrowers, having the model being used in more than 23 countries. The Norwegian Nobel Prize Committee explained it as follows: “Lasting peace cannot be achieved unless large population groups find ways in which to break out of poverty. Micro-credit is one such means. Development from below also serves to advance democracy and human rights.”
There are more initiatives intended to relieve poverty through other sectors, such as the Grameen Phone, Grameen Star Education and Grameen Check. Our most sincere congratulations to the 2006 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate.
Know more about Muhammad Yunus
Know more about the Grameen Bank
Ashoka’s Video Series, Featuring Muhammad Yunus