I've been thinking about this for the last few days, and I'd love your contributions to this thought experiment. It seems to me, I've only come across 3 types of business models for serving low-income/impoverished people.
Microfinance
In the past two years, the popular press, for good reason, has railed against the lack of regulation, systemic failures, and rampant conflicts of interest that led to the recent financial crisis. Securitized products, and derivatives of those products, have been featured prominently as analysts, academics, and legislators assign blame for the bank failures and the market turmoil of the past two years.
When our global leaders congregated in Toronto in June 2010 for the G-20 Summit, despite countless reports, damaged storefronts, burning cars and congested police stations, were not the only outcomes.
In her recently released book, Disrupting Philanthropy - co-authored with Edward Skloot and Barry Varela, Dr. Lucy Bernholz explores the immediate and longer-term implications of networked digital technologies for philanthropy. 10 years ago the landscape of philanthropy was relatively simple. "There were foundations - private, community, and corporate - that awarded grants to non-profits. Givers gathered information about non-profits mainly through word-of-mouth. Commercial investment firms were relatively small players on the philanthropic landscape." In 2010 the landscape is very different.
Dear professionals and recent graduates,
Looking for an opportunity to gain experience and develop professional experience overseas? Take advantage of Canadian Crossroad International's (CCI) specialized volunteer opportunities this spring/summer 2010.
CCI is looking for professionals as well as recent graduates to take part in such projects as:
* Business, finance and economic development (Gahna, Togo, Senegal, Mali)
* Youth Entrepreneurship programming (Bolivia)
* Computer and database management (Gahna, Togo, Senegal, Mali)
Deadline is ASAP. See attached postings for position requirements and details.
***Note: most positions require proficiency in Spanish or French
Jeff Mowatt on Three Business Models for the Bottom Billion
Sep 03, 2010