Sustainable Development to Combat Poverty

Are Standards an Effective Tool to Help Improve Production Practices Across Sectors?

Kristin Komives, ISEAL’s Impacts Director, explores how sustainability standards drive the take up of sustainable practices, following the publication of a new research review.

Agriculture, Finance and Investment, Technology, Water and Sanitation

March 23, 2018

5 Ways Local Markets Help Refugees Rebuild Their Lives

In the westernmost corner of Uganda, something interesting is happening. This rural area of Uganda is challenging perceptions of how refugees can contribute to the local economy. West Nile in Uganda is home to hundreds of thousands of South Sudanese refugees, and together with their Ugandan host communities, they are beginning to drive growth.

Agriculture, Innovative Business Models, Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, Refugees and Migration

March 16, 2018

Affordability – Beyond the Buzzword

Affordability is at the core of much of CDC’s work as impact investors – from affordable electricity to housing, food, healthcare, education and many more. Yet ask someone to define what it means, and you may be met with little more than a blank stare.

Energy, Finance and Investment, Innovative Business Models, Water and Sanitation

March 15, 2018

Women Working to Improve Sanitation and Hygiene

In the peri-urban areas of Maputo women are playing a key role in tackling the sanitation challenge. Poorly managed shared facilities have a major impact on women’s lives. As part of the WSUP programme in the city, women are playing a leading role in tackling the sanitation and hygiene challenge in their communities

Gender, Health, Water and Sanitation

March 13, 2018

Women Sea Salt Producers in Indonesia Cooperate to Seize New Economic Opportunities

MCC’s investments in Indonesia are helping to empower women salt producers to increase the quantity and quality of salt production to boost incomes. The women are benefiting from labor-reducing and energy-efficient technologies as well as training programs aimed at improving salt-making skills, financial management, marketing and more.

Agriculture, Finance and Investment, Gender, Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, Technology, Water and Sanitation

March 8, 2018

How Can Business Help Strengthen Provision of High Quality, Low Cost Education for the Poor?

What can be done to help improve the contribution of low-cost private schools to the education of children from low-income families? And what are the conditions needed for low cost private schools to equitably and sustainably deliver better outcomes for poor communities in ways that will further strengthen national education systems as a whole?

Agriculture, Education, Water and Sanitation

February 27, 2018

Virtual Reality Training in Southern Africa

New technology fills a gap that many governments and training institutions in Africa are struggling to bridge: the need for more skilled workers. Virtual reality training can offer opportunities in a number of fields, giving people access to knowledge which can be used to improve their lives.

Education, Technology, Water and Sanitation, Youth

February 16, 2018

A Nigérien Entrepreneur Finds Her Niche in Camel Milk

MCC’s $437 million five-year compact to strengthen agriculture sector entered into force in January. The compact will focus on improving access to water for agriculture and livestock and expanding access to markets. In this blog post, we profile Wouro Habsatou Aboubacar, who runs a camel farm outside of Niamey.

Agriculture, Finance and Investment, Gender, Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, Technology, Water and Sanitation

February 12, 2018

The Counter-intuitive Nature of ‘recovery’ Lending

What happens when disaster strikes a community that is depending on microfinance for its credit requirements? VisionFund believe the greatest benefit is seen when aid and recovery lending working together. Aid supports people at their most vulnerable, whilst the recovery lending stimulates productive economic activity.

Finance and Investment, Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, Water and Sanitation

February 2, 2018

A Collective Approach for Last Mile Distribution

The Global Distributors Collective (GDC), with over 100 last mile distributors and 30 supporting partners from across the distribution sector, have launched a Call to Action publication, which provides guidance and insight on the key challenges faced in last mile distribution and the opportunity to achieve impact through the GDC.

Energy, Innovative Business Models, Water and Sanitation

January 24, 2018

WASH: Solving the Global Sanitation Crisis

A global crisis that affects over two billion people, water sanitation has turned into a primary concern of many of the world’s leading organisations. Business Connect outline key facts behind the crisis and discuss some actions and strategies currently being taken to tackle global sanitation challenges

Climate & Environment, Health, Water and Sanitation

January 19, 2018

Supporting Entrepreneurs in the Pursuit of Peace

Bpeace is a nonprofit that matches business experts with entrepreneurs in challenged economies, to help them grow their businesses and generate jobs. In this story Bpeace share some successful examples of connecting experts with growing businesses and how they believe that more jobs means more peace.

Agriculture, Conflict and Peace, Engaging Employees, Intrapreneurship, Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, Refugees and Migration

January 18, 2018

NGO Partnerships Give Businesses the Teeth to Be Social Activists

Ben & Jerry’s discuss mixing activism and a social mission and how by working with NGOs they can drive real change. They share insights on their partnerships with the International Rescue Committee on the refugee crisis.

Conflict and Peace, Partnerships, Refugees and Migration, Water and Sanitation

January 15, 2018

SDGs: What Part Do Forests Play?

Not only do forests provide a wide array of ecosystem services, such as absorbing greenhouse gases and regulating water quality, there are also over a billion people who depend on forests for their livelihoods. It is clear our forest ecosystems offer irreplaceable resources we can’t live without.

Agriculture, Climate & Environment, Climate Justice, Global Goals, Water and Sanitation

January 10, 2018

The Agricultural Models We Want Tomorrow

Food loss in the supply chain, the shift to a less-nutritious fast-food diet and wasteful irrigation techniques are among the most important challenges currently facing the food and agriculture system in the MENA region. Read how BCtA companies are serving as positive examples for inclusive businesses in the region.

Agriculture, Innovative Business Models, Technology

January 9, 2018

Access to Energy Through Mobile Is Changing Lives

The mobile industry is playing a crucial role in achieving SDG 7: Universal energy access by 2030. New models to deliver energy to underserved consumers are emerging out of a convergence between mobile payments, the internet and mobile services. GSMA discuss how access to energy through mobile is changing lives

Climate & Environment, Climate Justice, Energy, Global Goals, Innovative Business Models, Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, Technology, Water and Sanitation

January 8, 2018

In Solar Supply Chain, Women Entrepreneurs are Key to Reaching Remote Areas

Lighting Africa, a joint program of the World Bank and IFC, has helped improve the lives of 20 million people in Sub-Saharan Africa by providing access to basic electricity. This blog describes how IFC seeks to ease the power situation by providing off-grid energy solutions to 250 million people

Energy, Gender

December 15, 2017

Meet the Winner: The Olam Prize for Innovation in Food Security

At the International Forum for Food and Nutrition, four scientists were recognised for their work in finding global solutions to food security issues. Meet the winner of the Olam Prize for Innovation in Food Security, Dr Filippo Bassi, whose research could transform the lives of over 1 million smallholder farmers.

Agriculture, Climate & Environment, Climate Justice, Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises

December 15, 2017

Meet the Winners: The Louis Malassis Scientific Prize for Agriculture and Food Security

Scientists hold some of the answers to so many of today’s agricultural challenges at their fingertips. Support for this community is a vital if we are to deliver the SDGs. The Louis Malassis Prize has been established to recognise some of the brightest scientific minds. Meet the 2017 Prize winners.

Agriculture, Climate & Environment, Climate Justice, Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, Technology, Water and Sanitation

December 15, 2017

Delivering on the Promise of Inclusive Business

Inclusive business as an idea has pushed the boundaries of what is possible and it offers the potential for scale in a way that philanthropy never could. So why are there so few examples that have truly scaled? What needs to happen to deliver on the promise of inclusive business?

Climate & Environment, Education, Finance and Investment, Food and Nutrition, Gender, Global Goals, Health, Innovative Business Models, Intrapreneurship, Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, Partnerships, Technology

December 14, 2017

Sustainable Development

Advancing the Sustainable Development Goals