Search Results

In: Resources

Just how inclusive is ‘inclusive business’?

The growing effort to make markets work for the poor has seen the emergence of several initiatives and practices that claim to be more inclusive of smallholders and poor workers. But how far such initiatives genuinely reduce poverty and empower small-scale producers remains open for debate.

In: Resources

Inclusive Business Solutions: Expanding Opportunity and Access at the Base of the Pyramid

IFC’s new report, Inclusive Business Solutions: "Expanding Opportunity and Access at the Base of the Pyramid" outlines IFC's business solutions that are designed to facilitate new opportunities for innovation, growth and competitiveness at the base of the pyramid (BoP).

In: Resources

Inclusive Business in Latin America - Inclusive Business offers a 21st Century solution to the intractable problem of poverty in Latin America

Neil Ghosh, head of the Washington office for SNV, the Netherlands Development Organization, focuses on inclusive business models in Latin America in this article. It was published by the Latin Business Chronicle.

In: Resources

Launch of the Regional GIM Report, Business Solutions to Poverty – How inclusive business models create opportunities for all in Emerging Europe and Central Asia

The Regional GIM Report, Business Solutions to Poverty – How inclusive business models create opportunities for all in Emerging Europe and Central Asia, has been officially launched on 11 March 2011 by Helen Clark, the UNDP Administrator, and Kori Udovicki, Regional Director for UNDP Regional...

In: Resources

Inclusive Business - a Seminar for Innovations Against Poverty

The term 'inclusive business' refers to profitable core business activity that also tangibly expands opportunities for the poor and disadvantaged in developing countries.

In: Stories

Tojiksodirotbonk, Tajikistan's third-largest bank lends a hand to cotton farmers

The agricultural sector in Tajikistan – the cotton sector in particular – is the largest employer and a critical part of the country’s economy. However, its development has been hindered by outdated agribusiness management skills, poor sector organization, and limited access to financial services.

In: Stories

Tinex Supermarket has successful project employing foster Children

Tinex was founded by Vladimir Todorovich in 1994 in the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM). It has grown from a single location supermarket with 15 employees and 700m2 to being the country’s second largest chain of supermarkets in terms of revenue.

In: Stories

Opportunities to improve productivity provided for small farmers within Colombian pepper supply chain

Hugo Restrepo y Cia has over 30 years of experience in the food industry, especially in chili paste, with exports to the US, Europe and the Middle East. In 2000, in partnership with the Carvajal Foundation, the company initiated a project with the objective to continuously improve the productivity...

In: Stories

Carulla Foundations promotes early childhood education in Colombia through initiative AeioTu

Carulla Foundation was founded by José Carulla Soler, then owner of the Carulla chain of department stores, in 1962. For 47 years the foundation provided scholarships to thousands of low-income employees of the company.

In: Stories

Partnership helps to improve training and production facilities for those with sight and hearing impairments in Turkmenistan

One of the most noticeable absences in policies with regards to disabilities in Turkmenistan is its lack of incentives to help integrate people with physical disabilities into society and the economy. One of the main NGOs in Turkmenistan working with disabled is the Deaf and Blind Society (DBS).

In: Stories

Coffee company benefits small scale Indonesian farmers and increases employment

P.T. Toarco Jaya, subsidiary of Key Coffee Ltd., a large Japanese company, established a brand of specialty coffee called “Toarco Toraja” by procuring Arabica coffee from Indonesian farmers, and by running its own coffee plantation in the country.

In: Stories

TEMASOL: Providing Energy Access to Remote Rural Households in Morocco

In Morocco, despite the government’s efforts to expand its grid-based coverage, about 9% of the rural population could not be cost-effectively connected. Given that Morocco enjoys 3,000 hours of sun per year, solar energy was therefore thought to be a cost-effective alternative. TEMASOL is a...

In: Stories

Saraman partners to provide affordable and green earthquake-Safe Schools and Housing

Housing is a major challenge for the rising young population of developing countries. For households who have their dwelling as their main asset and shelter, the robustness of the construction is crucial, especially in earthquake-prone areas. Yet, in low-income markets, conventional construction...

In: Stories

Parternships in Belarus providing affordable Health Care to the Poor

Cardiovascular diseases are common among the population of Belarus. Belarus lacks quick cardiac diagnostic and treatment services in many remote areas outside of major cities. Telemedicine offers a solution to this problem by connecting a doctor in a local hospital with a cardiac specialist in a...

In: Stories

Partnerships allow Maison Energy to provide energy to rural communities in Morocco

About two million people live without access to electricity in Morocco, mostly in remote rural areas where scattered and unevenly distributed homes make their connection to the national power grid difficult. As a solution, the National Office of Electricity (ONE) opted for a decentralized system of...

In: Stories

Creating Value For All: Community-Based Tourism in Kyrgyzstan

Community-based tourism (CBT)-a type of a tourism that is owned and managed by the local community and its members- has emerged as a mechanism to facilitate locally based tourism activities in many developing countries, including the Kyrgyz Republic. The first CBT group was established in May 2000...

In: Stories

Beijing Shengchang Bioenergy S&T Co.: A Leading Bio-Energy Benefits Both Business Itself and Local Farmers in Beijing

Agricultural waste was previously just waste, burned outside in winter. It needs a lot of labour to handle and also produces severe environmental problems. This successful business converts agricultural waste into a valuable product. Beijing Shengchang Bioenergy S&T Co., Ltd. (SBST) is a...

In: Stories

Begeli and Elkana: BIOtiful Life Through Organic Products and Biodiversity

“Begeli” Ltd is a Georgian commercial company, whose objective is to sell and promote local organic products. Begeli was founded in 2005 by the Georgian Fruit and Vegetable Ltd and Biological Farming Association "Elkana", a Georgian NGO. Elkana currently unites about 344 individual farmers, 12...

In: Stories

ADAPT provides good quality green homes in Egypt

As a result of neglecting construction codes in informal areas more than half of Egypt’s housing stock has been built without monitoring or assistance. Un-planned housing and public spaces have left a mark on the country’s architecture, infrastructure and environmental sustainability, creating a...

In: Stories

Oro Verde program partners to promote responsible mining of precious metals in Colombia

The Oro Verde program, located in Colombia’s poorest and conflict-affected region (Chocó), promotes responsible mining of precious metals through traditional extraction methods and technology transfer, with a view to commercialize the metals in specialized fair trade markets.