NextBillion.net - Development Through Enterprise - Eradicating Poverty through Profit

Manager, Portfolio Performance

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 18:01:19 +0000

Organization: Acumen Fund

Location: Nairobi, Karachi, Hyderabad, or Dubai, AE

Acumen Fund is a global non-profit venture capital fund, focused on supporting the delivery of critical services - water, health, housing, energy, agriculture - at affordable prices to the four billion people who lack access in India, Pakistan, and East Africa. Acumen Fund exists to help end poverty by changing how the world addresses it.

It does this in two ways: (1) by investing patient capital to identify, strengthen and scale business models that effectively serve the poor and (2) by championing this approach as an effective complement to traditional aid,
which can create dependence, or pure market approaches, which can bypass the actual needs of the poor. With more than $35 million invested in South Asia and Africa, and offices in India, Pakistan, Kenya and New York, Acumen Fund addresses problems of poverty using market based approaches. Acumen Fund's vision is that one day every human being will have access to the critical goods and services they need so that they can make decisions and choices for themselves and pursue lives of greater purpose. This is where dignity starts - not just for the poor but for everyone on earth.

Over the years, Acumen Fund has demonstrated an ability to deploy capital, and as an active investor of patient capital, an ability to work closely to grow portfolio companies. We are now in the process of systematizing our capability to deliver world-class post-investment management support to our portfolio companies. The opportunity described below is a high-impact, high-profile role to develop a new function within Acumen Fund.

Position Description
The Manager will directly oversee Acumen Fund's post-investment management processes, from assessing theneeds of our portfolio companies to designing the most appropriate strategy considering available best-practices
and our unique market in addition to developing the capability within the organization to provide management assistance. Finally s/he will manage our ongoing implementation, including building the necessary team of internal and external resources for direct engagement with critical portfolio company challenges. The Manager will be expected to build a successful capability in a fast-changing and entrepreneurial environment, and will be expected to bring exceptional judgment, deep operational expertise and an excellent track record of similar accomplishment. Given the high-profile nature of the role, the Manager, while sit globally and will report directly to the Chief Investment Officer.

Specifically, the Manager will be expected to:

Coordinate the assessment of portfolio company needs and recommend an appropriate solution

Assess the nature of portfolio company issues
Work closely with coverage teams and metrics manager to understand requirements for and history of Acumen Fund involvement in portfolio company management
Assess best practice post-investment management strategies, capabilities and outcomes
Develop an understanding of Acumen Fund and portfolio company team skills and gaps
Design and recommend an appropriate strategy to build and implement a world-class post-investment management capability at Acumen Fund

Develop Acumen Fund's Performance Management capability into a world-class function

Design appropriate implementation schedule based on existing Acumen Fund investment process, and new post-investment management strategy, including First 100-day plans, ongoing monitoring and data collection and feedback mechanisms to the companies
Build Portfolio team skills for managing day-to-day portfolio performance issues and serving as Board members
Build external resources capable of providing on-going assistance and support to portfolio companies as necessary (strategic and specialized tactical resources - accounting, finance, IT and human resources)

Manage ongoing Performance Management to achieve portfolio company and Acumen Fund objectives

Work with the metrics team to identify, capture, analyze and present relevant performance metrics on a timely basis
Ensure portfolio team and internal resources are allocated optimally:
-Creates and delivers First 100 day plans to understand near-term value creation opportunities
- Delivers appropriate strategic and tactical advice and support to help portfolio companies achieve business plan objectives.

Ensure external resources are allocated optimally:
- Manage the deployment of Acumen Fund Fellow resources to portfolio companies to ensure optimal allocation (review Terms of Reference and placements; solicit Fellows' input and feedback)
- Coordinate inbound pro bono support and match with the needs of portfolio companies
Manage annual review exercises and knowledge sharing:
- Conduct the Annual Portfolio Review and Forced Ranking exercises
- Using internal and external resources, coordinate a series of country-specific and global portfolio trainings or gatherings, on relevant topics such as: supply chain management, governance, attracting and retaining talent, growth management, and other topics of relevance to portfolio companies in this space
- Manage portfolio learnings and communications from the CIO

Work with the CIO, coverage teams and the portfolio company on select high priority engagements

Qualifications
Candidates for the role should have a passionate commitment to Acumen Fund's mission and business model, and respect for the organization's core values: generosity, accountability, humility, audacity, listening, leadership,
and respect. Candidates will have a strong entrepreneurial spirit, a blend of private sector and non-profit experience and particular strengths in diagnosing and resolving complex organizational and financial problems.

Additionally, they will have the following attributes:

8-10 years of work experience in management consulting, private equity, venture capital, start up businesses, or a related area, including evidence of successful accomplishment in challenging turnaround situations of early stage companies
Professional experience working in and commitment to serving underserved populations in emerging markets strongly preferred (experience in one of Acumen Fund's six markets and/or local language abilities are a significant plus)
Very strong business analysis and financial skills, as demonstrated by prior experience;
Excellent written and oral communication skills including the ability to present arguments and analysis in a clear and succinct manner to Acumen Fund management, partners and investees;
Excellent interpersonal skills including the ability to manage relationships with investees, partners and advisors
A combination of a serious work ethic and a sense of humor
An advanced degree in business administration or a related field is preferred.

Compensation
Acumen Fund offers a competitive compensation package, commensurate with experience.

Location
The position will be recruited from New York but will likely be based in one of Acumen Fund's country offices in Nairobi, Hyderabad or Karachi. There is also potential for a placement in Dubai. Frequent travel to India, Pakistan
and East Africa will be required.

To Apply
Please send a cover letter and resume to portfolio_jobs@acumenfund.org with "Portfolio Performance Management" in the subject line.

Agriculture Portfolio Manager

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 17:48:53 +0000

Organization: Acumen Fund

Location: Nairobi, Hyderabad, or Karachi, PK

Acumen Fund is a global non-profit venture capital fund, focused on supporting the delivery of critical services – water, health, housing, energy, agriculture – at affordable prices to the four billion people who lack access in India, Pakistan, and East Africa. Acumen Fund exists to help end poverty by changing how the world addresses it. It does this in two ways: (1) by investing patient capital to identify, strengthen and scale business models that effectively serve the poor and (2) by championing this approach as an effective complement to traditional aid, which can create dependence, or pure market approaches, which can bypass the actual needs of the poor. With more than $35 million invested in South Asia and Africa, and offices in India, Pakistan, Kenya and New York, Acumen Fund addresses problems of poverty using market based approaches. Acumen Fund’s vision is that one day every human being will have access to the critical goods and services they need so that they can make decisions and choices for themselves and pursue lives of greater purpose. This is where dignity starts – not just for the poor but for everyone on Earth.

Position Description
The hire will directly be responsible for managing the global agriculture portfolio, including current investments, and the developing future investments in the sector. S/he will also be expected to play a significant role globally, helping to build on the existing agricultural expertise in the organization.
Specifically, the Manager will be expected to:

Identify organizations with proven or promising approaches to delivering agriculture products and services to the poor and conducting due diligence on their capacity to achieve sustainability and scale.
Identify new investments, carry out due diligence and investment activities on potential investments.
Prepare, present and maintain detailed investment documentation for Acumen Fund Senior Management, Acumen’s Investment Committee, and the Acumen Fund Board of Directors.
Managing relationships with other Acumen stakeholders in the sector including prospective investees, advisors, thought leaders and technical experts.
Provide post-investment management to investees in agriculture performance.
Ensure regular contact with Acumen Fund investors on the performance of the organizations and portfolio.

Qualifications
The Agriculture Portfolio Manager will report to the portfolio lead in the global office where s/he is placed. Candidates for the role should have a strong knowledge in the agricultural sector, deep business/finance experience, experience in our investment regions and a passionate commitment to Acumen Fund’s mission of tackling the issue of poverty. A master’s degree in business administration or a relevant field is highly desirable. International work experience and knowledge of foreign languages are also assets to the position.

Additionally, s/he will have the following attributes:

Deep principal investing experience in the agriculture sector making agriculture investments and managing an in investment portfolio, with 7 – 10 years of work experience in the same.
A strong entrepreneurial spirit
A proven ability to manage projects and execute
Excellent written and oral communication skills; ability to present arguments and analysis in a clear and succinct manner to Acumen Fund management, partners and investees
Excellent interpersonal skills; ability to work well in a team and successfully interact with corporate and non-profit partners as well as low-income clients in the field
Commitment to accuracy, attention to detail and follow-through
Commitment to and enthusiasm for Acumen Fund’s mission and business model, and respect for the organization’s core values: generosity, accountability, humility, audacity, listening, leadership,

Compensation
Acumen Fund offers a competitive compensation package, commensurate with experience.

Location
The position will be based in one of Acumen Fund’s country offices in Nairobi, Hyderabad or Karachi. Frequent travel to our investment regions will be required.

To Apply
Send a cover letter and resume to portfolio_jobs@acumenfund.org. Please include the job title "Ag Portfolio Manager" in the subject line.

NYU: Measuring Impact, Valuing Investment

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 00:10:39 +0000

Authored by: Rob Katz

Last week, I had the pleasure of attending the Sixth Annual NYU Conference of Social Entrepreneurs here in New York. The day-long conference brought practitioners together with academics for a day-long discourse on measuring impact and valuing (social) investment.

(Before I get much further, some needed disclosure: I sit on the conference's Practitioner Advisory Board.)

The day kicked off with Jed Emerson, arguably the most well-known expert in the field of strategic philanthropy and impact investing. Of course, Jed began his talk by demurring - he claims he's not an expert in metrics nor impact investing; rather, the expertise is in the room and the larger community. I beg to differ, Jed - after all, your introduction of social return on investment (SROI) is one of the founding blocks on which impact investing has been built.

But I digress. To Jed, the question is simple: "Are we maximizing total performance while generating real impact for our multiple investments?"

Easier said than done, and from Jed's quick (and clear) overview of the history of impact investing, it is clear that while much has been done, we still have a long way to go. Specifically, Jed focused on two challenges:

First, the need for social management information systems to track outcomes - or else, as he put it, "you generate crap data".
Second, Jed pushed us to embed metrics into knowledge management, in order to actively improve practice.

Both of these are ongoing. The social MIS is on track - with the Impact Reporting and Investment Standards (IRIS) and the Global Impact Investing Network (GIIN) kicking off this year and Acumen Fund's PULSE performance management tracking tool being released to the public by the end of 2009. Having incubated these from the idea stage to the pilot stage to the test stage and now launching them, the entire sector is holding its breath, waiting to see if they will stick as standards and enable us to get closer to not generating Jed's dreaded (bad) data.

Following Jed's talk was a great panel on impact investing, but as it focused primarily on domestic work, I won't go into it here on NextBillion.

The afternoon, however, brought Laura Callanan from McKinsey to the stage. Laura, of McKinsey's Social Sector Office, offered an excellent 10-point guide to good program evaluations. If you are involved with aid or social investing, LISTEN UP. This may seem obvious but taken together has real potential to help us all (myself included!) raise our game when it comes to program evaluations. Without further ado, the 10-point plan:

Hear the constituent voice
1. Context matters!
2. Give feedback on what works and not
Exercise rigor within reason
1. Use the right tool for the job to maintain credibility and understand feasibility
2. For example, randomized control trials are not the right tool for every intervention
3. We're in a bubble around the "gold standard" for measurement - careful not to get caught up in the bubble
Drive assessment with learning
1. Start with a question: "What are we trying to learn that will help us do our work better?"
2. What are the unintended consequences? What is the external environment in which you're working?
3. Look at "expectation failures" - not necessarily a program failure, but something that simply did not live up to the expectations
Don't measure everything
1. "Funders are asking for reams of information that they never really look at"
2. Don't shift the burden of information gathering to the grantees
3. Hewlett Foundation, for example, is cutting down their grant application form and reporting forms based on asking themselves, "Do we use this information or not?"
Design assessment and strategy together
1. Assessment begins with the start of the program and continues throughout - not for a few months at the end
Don't let assessment sit on a shelf
1. "How many people have read an audit and done something differently?"
2. How can audits be more actionable?
Collaborate, don't dictate
1. Make sure your grantees have the resources to provide you what you're asking them for
Build off and build up
1. What has already been tried (and worked) and tried (and failed)
2. Use existing knowledge and contribute more knowledge back into the sector
Borrow, don't reinvent
1. Re-purpose existing assessment tools, don't create your own until you've done a thorough search
Foster a learning culture

When it comes to doing a thorough search (point 9), the new Tools and Resources for Assessing Social Impact (TRASI) will be a great tool. Be sure to check it out - currently in a beta version - and sign up for more updates.

All told, it was a lot of metrics for one day but I left NYU last week feeling that we were closer than ever to counting what counts. After all, Albert Einstein said it best:

“Not everything that counts can be counted, and not everything that can be counted counts.”

New Social Venture Creation Course at the University of Michigan

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 14:42:00 +0000

Authored by: Moses Lee

I'm a true believer that the best incubator for social ventures is the university. Why? Think about it. While you're in school, you have the time to innovate, imagine, take risks, and try again. This kind of time isn't necessarily available to you once you start working. You also have unbelievable access to new ideas, knowledge, departments, professors, and networks. That's why here at the University of Michigan, we've started a new course to support students in social venture creation.

The Social Venture Creation Course, in partnership with the Center for Entrepreneurship at the College of Engineering, the School of Art & Design, and William Davidson Institute, seeks to be an innovative, action-based learning laboratory that brings students (both undergrads and grads) across disciplines at the University to work on solving society’s challenges – together.

In this course, students will form multidisciplinary teams and take steps to launch a social venture. By the end of this course, student teams will submit an implementation plan and make a presentation on a social venture idea to a panel of industry experts and potential funders. The hope is that some of these multidisciplinary student teams will be able to launch a social venture upon completing the course – and make real, long-lasting impact.

After taking this course, student teams will be able to assess the opportunity for a particular device, product or service in a community and the feasibility of starting a social venture around it. The course will use cases, readings, videos, lectures, group projects, and group discussions to help students understand the social entrepreneurship movement, the building blocks for starting a social venture, assessing and enhancing social venture’s impact, raising capital, and scaling-up a social venture.

To learn more about the course, please visit our blog or follower the course twitter @UofMSocialVC

Operations/Metrics Assistant

Sun, 08 Nov 2009 03:30:00 +0000

Organization: Grassroots Business Fund

Location: Washington, DC, US

The Grassroots Business Fund (GBF) is a not-for-profit organization with a mission to build and support high-impact intermediary business organizations that provide sustainable economic opportunities to thousands of people at the base of the economic pyramid. GBF provides these organizations with appropriate financing and targeted technical assistance to enable them to become catalysts for economic growth and social enhancement among the poor in the developing world.

SCOPE OF WORK

The general objective of the assignment is to aid the management and other staff in handling a wide variety of tasks, including the operational function of the office and implementation of GBF's social impact framework called, Impact Planning, Assessment & Learning (iPAL). The Assistant's tasks include but are not limited to:

Operations (45%)

Coordinating invoice payment with external accountants;
Managing international and national wire transfers (both incoming and outgoing);
Maintaining files (program related and operational);
Coordinating special events such as staff training, workshops, etc...;
Coordinating suite maintenance with necessary parties (building management, service providers, etc...)
Ordering necessary supplies (including office, IT, travel, furniture, etc.);

Metrics/iPAL (45%)

Coordinating the collection of all projects social metrics into an aggregated management information system;
Managing and updating GBF's Organization Scorecard for internal and external use;
Assisting in organizing/ implementing student teams to execute a progress out of poverty survey;
Overseeing the development of customized excel data aggregators for GBF's clients to use for progress out of poverty surveys;
Preparing iPAL documents for management meetings;

Ad Hoc Activities (10%)

ESTIMATED TIMETABLE AND TERMS

The position is full‐time and will be based in Washington, D.C. Interested applicants should apply only if they will be able to start as soon as possible. Compensation will be commensurate with experience and full benefits will also be provided, including medical and dental insurance as well as a pension plan.

PROFILE OF SELECTED CANDIDATE

US Citizenship, permanent residence;
BA/BS degree in related field (business and/or international affairs preferred);
Interest in the social enterprise field;
Background in basic accounting and/or operations;
Strong quantitative evaluation skills;
Self starter, motivated, little guidance needed, well organized, eye for detail, open minded, can do attitude, team player;
Ability to work well in stressful environment and can multi‐task;
Advanced/Expert knowledge of Microsoft Excel (Required, knowledge will be tested in second round interview);
Strong communication and written skills;
Proficient understanding of Microsoft Word, Powerpoint, Access, Project;

Preferred but not required criteria:

Java/ Excel VBA / SPSS knowledge;
International travel/work experience;
Experience in monitoring and evaluation programs;

Applicants should submit a 1 page cover letter and resume to careers@gbfund.org no later than November 15, 2009 at 11:59 pm EST. Selected candidates will be contacted for in person interviews during the week of November 16. In addition, the selected candidate should be able to start as early as Monday, November 23, 2009.

Weekly Round-Up: Financial Services Friday

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 23:32:35 +0000

Authored by: Nathan Wyeth

Here are stories that caught my eye this week, an event coming up in San Francisco, and an opportunity for bloggers writing at the intersection of technology and poverty:

The Financial Access Initiative out of NYU has concluded in a new report that 2.5 billion people don't have access to a financial institution, including microfinance. Jonathan Murdoch, FAI's managing director and a professor of economics and policy at NYU, has an illuminating quote: "Until now, the margin of error when considering the world's unbanked was about plus or minus a billion-unacceptable in any other field." (Except in naming blogs.)

The report, Half the World Is Unbanked, notes that 800 million people living on less than $5 a day currently have access to financial services. The survey was compiled from existing cross-country data with assistance from McKinsey's Social Sector shop.

Continue reading this story...

Base of the Pyramid Career Paths: What Would You Ask?

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 15:05:00 +0000

Authored by: Francisco Noguera

Are you interested in getting involved in social enterprise? In finding a job and build a career around it? Perhaps even starting a venture of your own or join one that is in early stage?

If your answer to any of the above was yes, you'd probably be interested in knowing how you can best prepare yourself for it. What skills are critical to build a career that relates to the BoP, and what are the best ways to hone those? What opportunities are out there to get started? Where will future opportunities come from? Is it likely that large corporations will create more space for this kind of work? Or will those opportunities present themselves in early stage ventures in need to manage their growth?

Not easy waters to navigate, for sure... Exciting as it is, this space is evolving very rapidly and the answers to the questions above seem to be changing every day! As a good friend told me recently, tolerance to ambiguity may be the key skill for those of us interested in social enterprise. After all, if you're interested in a first-year associate program in management consulting, lots of hard work awaits you can bet with almost certainty that an MBA is the path to walk. What about social enterprise where there are no first-year associate programs? MBAs are "turning to social enterprise", some argue, but how must MBA programs evolve in order to keep up with an evolving industry?

OK, now let me ask YOU: What would you like to discuss if you had 90 minutes to spend with, not one, but three people who have built successful careers in this space? Next week at the Net Impact Conference I will have an opportunity to moderate such a conversation with Yasmina Zaidman from the Acumen Fund, Justin DeKoszmovszky from SC Johnson and Peter Eliassen, from VisionSpring. It's frankly a remarkable panel that represents a diverse set of perspectives of this space: the start-up/ early stage venture, the intermediary/ investor and the multinational corporation.

If you've read this far I'll assume that you are interested in exploring opportunities in this space and that you do have a bunch of questions you'd like to ask these interesting folks. Please chime in in the comments box below! That will help me as I continue to do my homework and prepare. I've been doing my homework reading some expert advice to make sure I as moderator add my two cents in making the panel useful, engaging and worth talking about after it's done. My role will definitely not be to ask my own questions... rather, it will be asking your questions. So, again... the comments box.

If you'll be at the conference and are planning to attend the panel, rest assured that I will leave enough time for you to ask your questions outloud. Also rest assured that I look forward to meeting you there!

Product Management Internship

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 13:14:15 +0000

Organization: Kickstart International

Location: Nairobi, KE

KickStart International is an award winning non-profit social enterprise with a mission to help millions of people in developing countries escape from poverty and to "kickstart" sustainable economic growth. KickStart develops simple money-making tools and markets them to poor, entrepreneurial persons who use them to start profitable new businesses, increase their family wealth and boost local economic growth. (www.KickStart.org).

The organization is recruiting for a qualified, enthusiastic volunteer to assist us full-time over a 4 to 6 months period with several new product launch initiatives. The volunteer will be based in Nairobi, Kenya with occasional travel within Kenya.

Opportunity

The volunteer will be managing the market test launch of two new two products. Specifically, the deliverables for the volunteer will be:

Creating and updating the detail market test strategy and implementation plan;
Managing the market test, collection and analysis of the results from the market test; and
Leading the creation of the training content, marketing collateral, and product packaging.

Qualifications

Product management or product marketing experience. Experience in new product hardware (versus service offering) introduction preferred.
Technical background - knowledge of mechanical engineering & manufacturing engineering theories useful
Excellent interpersonal and communications skills - a complete team player
Exceptional planning, organizational and analytical skills
Results/Performance Orientation - proven "self-starter"
Ability to work in a dynamic and unstructured environment
Undergraduate degree required. MBA desirable.
Fluency in English required. Fluency in French desirable.

How to apply

If you believe you have what it takes to handle this opportunity, kindly email your one page Application Letter, together with your CV (maximum of 3 pages), stating the position title on the subject line of your email to HR@kickstart.org by November 30th, 2009.

Base of the Pyramid Initiative Intern

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 13:01:56 +0000

Organization: Global Business Coalition on HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis & Malaria

Location: New York City, US

Job Description:

The Global Business Coalition on HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (GBC) is an alliance ofover 200 international companies leading the private sector fight to end these three epidemics.GBC leverages the business sector's unique skills and expertise-including comprehensiveworkplace policies; community programs; core competencies; leadership and advocacy andpublic-private partnerships - in the global drive to eradicate these deadly illnesses.

In 2009, GBC began to explore Base of the Pyramid (BoP) opportunities for our membercompanies, and determined that the BoP space presents enormous potential. We are looking for ahighly-motivated, self-directed intern to drive expansion from this initial investigatory phase intoa broader, organization-wide initiative, with clear direction and deliverables to support GBCcompanies in developing BoP initiatives. These companies include multinational leaders in thefields of consumer products, information and communication technology, pharma and biotech, oiland gas, media, finance, and tourism, among others. This internship has potential to directlyaffect how these companies consider BoP initiatives.

This position is ideal for a graduate student with a demonstrated passion for BoP projects and aninterest in global health. Because this initiative is in its beginning stages at GBC, there issubstantial room for creativity and input on potential opportunities and directions.

Responsibilities may include, but are not limited to:

• Research and synthesize information on existing BoP initiatives and key stakeholders,with particular focus on health-related projects and partners

• Liaise with companies, non-profits, and multilaterals to deepen understanding of stakeholder needs and opportunities and to develop strategic partnerships

• Develop tools and resources such as in-depth best practice case studies, issue briefs,and/or e-learning modules

• Support development of GBC's 2010 BoP agenda, which may include organizing stakeholder teleconferences, workshops and/or collective action projects related to healthand economic opportunitiesDesired

Qualifications:

• Demonstrated interest in and passion for Base of the Pyramid projects

• Ability to work independently and with minimal guidance, in a fast-paced environment• Strong research, writing, and editing skills

• Academic and/or professional background in international relations, economics, finance,and/or health and development

Applicants must be available to work in our New York office for a minimum of 20 hours perweek. Ideally, we would like to hire a full-time intern (40 hours per week in our New York office). GBC is able to offer a modest stipend to cover food and transportation costs, at $200/week for full-time interns and $100/week for part-time interns.

How to apply:

Qualified applicants please send a cover letter and resume with subject line "BoP Intern",directed to Lindsey Shaughnessy at lshaughnessy@gbcimpact.org. No phone calls please! We will only be able to respond to those candidates we feel are most qualified.

CK Prahalad Releases Two New Case Studies

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 12:30:00 +0000

Authored by: Moses Lee

According to Thinkers 50, a biennial ranking of business gurus, C.K. Prahalad is the most influential management thinker in the world. This is the second straight time that Prahalad has topped the list.

"C.K. Prahalad's influence on the business world is immense," said Des Dearlove, co-creator of the ranking, in a statement. "He coined the term 'core competencies' in the 1990s, which set the strategy agenda for a generation of managers. More recently, his work on The Fortune at the Bottom of the Pyramid has shown the role business can play in tackling world poverty."

Now C.K. Prahalad has released two new BoP case studies: Jaipur Rugs and Bharti Airtel.

Jaipur Rugs: Beginning with the purchase of two rug looms in 1978, Jaipur Rugs CEO, N.K. Chaudhary has built the largest hand knotted rug export company in India, employing 40,000 people across seven states in north India. The Jaipur Rugs business model has successfully connected rural poor with markets of the rich, through the development of a global supply chain, built around mobilizing human capability and skills at the grassroots level and finding steady jobs for rural men and women in the most depressed parts of India. Mr. Chaudhary has defined his leadership style in this way: "Leadership means losing oneself. The more someone loses himself, the more he can understand about society. The more I lose my ego, the more I can see the talent in my people and the society."

(Note: Jennifer Anderson, Nina Henning, Marion Ntiru and Shara Senior prepared this case under the supervision of C.K. Prahalad)

Bharti Airtel: This case study on India's wireless giant shows how the firm exemplifies many of the tenets set forth in Prahalad's book, The New Age of Innovation. Case A presents the history of India's wireless telecommunications industry and the unique challenges faced by operators in that environment. It also gives the background on Airtel, introduces its leaders, and describes some of the biggest challenges facing the company. Case B presents varied strategies that Airtel has pursued to become one of the most profitable wireless telecommunications companies in the world, despite the fact that it operates in one of the poorest countries on Earth. Airtel changed the industry by moving away from such standard metrics as Average Revenue Per User (ARPU) and has employed alternative measurements for success. It has also relied heavily on outsourcing non-core functions and designed unique Value-Added Services for its varied customer base.

(Note: Sam Bryson, Joshua Katz and Sheel Mohnot prepared this case under the supervision of C.K. Prahalad and M.S. Krishnan.)

To read and purchase the cases, visit The William Davidson Institute's website,GlobaLens or click on the following direct links:

Note: Prahalad has a number of other case studies on the way. Check back on NextBillion or follow Globalens on Twitter @globalens

Innovative Approaches to Access: NGOs Explore Opportunities in Water

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 18:30:00 +0000

Authored by: Emily J. Smith

Almost fifty per cent of the developing world's population - 2.5 billion people - lack improved sanitation facilities, and over 884 million people still lack access to safe drinking water. The Clean Water Roundtable was recently held at the Haas School of Business, at University of California Berkeley to explore sustainable solutions to clean drinking water opportunities in the developing world. By bringing academics, NGOs, foundations, corporations and venture capitalists together, participants explored and identified technologically and culturally viable, scalable solutions to developing clean water systems and what is needed to overcome existing impediments.

One afternoon panel titled "What Water Opportunities are Non-Profits Looking for in the Developing World?" included panelists Keith Stamm, from Water.org, Raul Gauto, from Avina, and Stephanie Maurissen, from CARE. The three organizations are each taking a unique approach to increasing access to clean water in the developing world.

Avina's vision is that thousands of excluded communities self-organize through equalitarian and democratic processes to manage their own distribution and sanitation of water. CARE aims to establish and scale up a trust fund to innovate financial mechanisms and technical assistance to water providers in El Salvador, and Water.org is focusing on combining microfinance with water and sanitation credit in southern India - building capacity at the community level and creating support groups to take loans. In addition, they are funding MFIs to enter the water space and develop financial mechanisms for water specific programs.

Continue reading this story...

Impact Reporting and Investment Standards - Comment Now!

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 23:00:00 +0000

Authored by: Margot Brandenburg and Sarah Gelfand

The idea that for-profit investment can have positive social and environmental impact has been talked about for some time, and is increasingly being put to practice. This phenomenon of Impact Investing has the potential to complement philanthropy and government in addressing to some of the planet's most deeply entrenched challenges, including climate change, agricultural productivity, shelter, and health, among others. By tapping the global capital markets, impact investing can unlock financial resources to address these challenges at a scale that government and philanthropy cannot match.

However, unlike mainstream investors, impact investors are not supported by established institutions-such as regulators, industry networks and service providers-to help them make investment decisions. A first step toward a more efficient impact investing industry is to establish a common vocabulary and framework for defining, reporting, and tracking the social and environmental performance of impact investments. This will bring transparency and credibility to the sector and enable critical industry infrastructure like performance benchmarks, investment databases, and rating systems that serve to further stimulate additional investment into impact enterprises and funds.

Developed by Rockefeller Foundation, Acumen Fund, and B Lab, the Impact Reporting and Investment Standards (IRIS)-which you've read about here before-address this need. Similar to the way that the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) dictate a standard for reporting financial performance, IRIS provides a model for reporting on social and environmental performance.

Use of standardized terminology and metrics can improve the integrity of non-financial performance reporting and give investors a more accurate understanding of the value of their impact investments. These standards also prevent the (false) side-by-side comparison of companies and funds on the basis of metrics that may share the same name but have different underlying meanings; for example, the metric 'jobs created' may include seasonal or part-time jobs for one organization, but apply to only year-round full-time jobs for another.

IRIS is not an exhaustive set of indicators. As such, aligning data with IRIS is not intended to preclude an organization from tracking and reporting on metrics outside of IRIS, it only requires that these metrics be given names that do not risk confusion with the standard ones.

For example, a company that tracks the number of clients with incomes less than, say, $8/day - is only required to define this metric as such, and not refer to it with a name like 'poor clients' for which a different standard definition exists in IRIS.

Common reporting standards streamline and simplify the reporting requirements of organizations that would otherwise face competing and sometimes inconsistent requests for information from investors and donors. Most importantly, IRIS helps impactful enterprises attract more capital from investors committed to using social and environmental performance metrics to inform their investment decisions.

A few months ago, the newly-formed independent nonprofit called the Global Impact Investing Network (where Sarah works) became the institutional home for IRIS. The Global Impact Investing Network and all the IRIS partners believe that IRIS must be developed as a non-proprietary public good if it is to achieve widespread adoption and overall success.

To the same end, we are collecting public feedback on preliminary IRIS performance indicators and their definitions prior to the launch of the next version of IRIS, which is planned for early 2010. A first open comment period last spring generated more than 200 comments from more than 50 organizations. The second open comment period is currently underway through November 13.

We encourage you to visit the IRIS website where you can leave comments about the indicators and their definitions and propose new ones. If you'd like to get more information about IRIS and more detailed instruction about how to leave feedback on the website, you can sign up for webinars running this week-the first is tonight at 9pm EST-by clicking the link here.

BRAC’s TUP Program: When Base of the Pyramid Approaches Might Not Work

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 13:59:54 +0000

Authored by: Rob Whiting

Photograph above: A northern Bangladeshi (Netrokona) tea stall owner who started his business with a $260 loan from ASA, another prominent Bangladesh MFI.

BRAC, a Bangladesh-based NGO, is just giving stuff away to the poor. One of the world's largest and most innovative poverty alleviation organizations has decided that aid, and not profit, is the way forward to help the very poorest.

As an intern this past summer at BRAC, I was told this in our orientation right before the program coordinator happily proclaimed BRAC to be a social business (think sustainable). The coordinator said that 80% of BRAC's funds are self-generated and that its goal is to become fully sustainable.

BRAC is no foreigner to market-based approaches to poverty. It was one of the pioneers in microfinance (banking for the bottom of the economic pyramid); it has established BRAC Dairy to sell milk to the poor; and its successful chain of handicraft stores sells the cultural products of villagers to wealthy urbanites. It seemed odd that with all its experience in business applications, BRAC was turning to a handout. Not only that, but this program was funded entirely by donations. What led them to the conclusion that BoP methods just wouldn't cut it? And could this be sustainable?

Continue reading this story...

Development Officer

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 08:18:30 +0000

Organization: E+Co

Location: Amsterdam, NL

E+Co’s office in Amsterdam is seeking a highly motivated Development Officer to build on E+Co’s success and drive a fundraising strategy that will allow E+Co to reach its full potential.

E+Co is an investment company for clean energy enterprises and projects, with investments in over 20 developing countries. Our investee companies provide access to energy to end users who are without clean, affordable and reliable access to energy. Stichting E+Co in the Netherlands is part of E+Co Inc., a non-profit company registered in the USA.

E+Co’s mission is to promote sustainable development and increase the quality of innovative and environmentally sound energy by providing services and financing to modern energy entrepreneurs in Africa, Asia and Latin America. E+Co supports enterprises that are on the frontline of socioeconomic development, job creation and environmental sustainability.

With eight global offices, E+Co is the leading practitioner of the enterprise-based approach for access-to-energy in emerging markets. Our business model combines tools, training, services and capital to create local energy businesses. E+Co is a recognized leader in energy enterprise development – connecting organizations, programs, and human and financial resources worldwide to the private projects and enterprises required for a sustainable energy future in developing countries. E+Co emphasizes the need of impacts reporting by monitoring the social, environmental and financial impact of our investments.

E+Co’s operational income is a combination of portfolio income and fees with grants, donations and contracts. For its investments E+Co attracts funds from banks, foundations, institutions and individuals.

Between 2009 and 2013, E+Co expects to invest over $100 million, via approximately 250 investments, bringing modern energy to 17 million people. Until now E+Co has made more than 250 investments in clean energy enterprises. E+Co’s investments are currently providing access to modern energy to 4.8 million people, avoiding over three million metric tons of greenhouse gases per year. In 2008, E+Co approved 79 new investments totaling $17.8 million.

Development Officer Fundraising

to secure operating and investment capital for E+Co.

Tasks and Deliverables include:

Identify and pursue funding opportunities for investment capital and operating capital from private and public financiers. Potential financiers include development banks; private banks; international, multilateral and government programs; foundations; family offices and the carbon market. Activities may include the following:
1. Identify potential financiers and nurture the relationships;
2. Prepare materials and present information, seeking input from other E+Co staff as needed;
3. Prepare and review funding proposals, in close cooperation with other E+Co staff.

Programs from public institutions, including tenders and requests for proposals will be specifically explored.

Assist the Director Europe in relationship management with various existing European funders. This includes facilitating information exchange for reporting purposes and preparing reports to funders/investors.
General representation and promotion of E+Co in Europe. This includes attending and presenting at specific meetings and seminars.

Requirements:

Experience of minimum 5 years in:

Track record in successfully preparing proposals for financing incl. grants and programs;
Conceptually strong in financial innovation and ‘thinking outside the box’; Experience in program development and relationship management;
Experience in the financial sector (banks and donors);
Network of potential financiers preferably in Europe and Southeast Asia.

Also:

Strong involvement with small and medium enterprises and entrepreneurship, preferably in developing countries;
Thorough understanding of the concepts of “triple bottom line”, “corporate social responsibility” and “sustainable development”;
Demonstrated understanding of tenets of social investing;
Affinity with the energy-theme and with ‘modern energy’;

Profile:

MSc in finance or economics or an MBA or similar.
Self propelling, result-oriented;
Motivated to work in mission driven international organization;
Capable of maintaining long-distance working relationships and of working in a small team;
Excellent working skills in English;
Positive attitude, collaborative philosophy, flexibility and a sense of humor.
Demonstrated experience in public speaking and formal presentation making;
MS Office fluency

LOCATION: Amsterdam, the Netherlands; international travel in Europe and occasionally to Africa, Asia, Latin America and USA

COMPENSATION: E+Co offers a competitive salary and benefit package.
CONTACT: If you feel that your experience base and interests qualify, please submit a cover letter, resume to developmentsearch@eandco.net by November 15th, 2009. Your submission will be acknowledged. If E+Co wishes to learn more, you will be contacted by email no later than December 5^th , 2009. Please do not follow-up with E+Co staff or board members.

E+Co is an Equal Opportunity Employer

Senior Associate - Impact Assessment

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 07:30:35 +0000

Organization: Root Capital

Location: Boston, MA, US

SUMMARY

Root Capital seeks an analytical researcher with strong written and oral communication skills to join our growing social and environmental impact assessment team. Root Capital’s effort to measure impact in these key dimensions is focused on three strategies: Social Value Metrics collected at the borrower enterprise level; Key Performance Indicators to communicate Root Capital’s organizational effectiveness; and household-level Impact Assessments. The Senior Associate will collaborate with the Director of Impact Assessment to launch and coordinate Root Capital’s household-level, multi-year impact assessment studies in Africa. S/he will assist in selecting an appropriate assessment methodology, designing household surveys, overseeing the data collection process with local survey firms, analyzing data, and synthesizing the results in reports and white papers. The Senior Associate will also help to coordinate Root Capital’s efforts to track and report key social and environmental metrics on its portfolio of borrower enterprises, and conduct data analysis to understand the impact and efficiency of our work.

Candidates should possess: experience with social science research; project management skills; strong interpersonal, oral and written communication skills; experience with or knowledge of development finance; and a passion for Root Capital’s mission of conserving vulnerable natural resources and promoting equitable social development in rural areas of the developing world.

RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Advise and assist with the selection of an appropriate quantitative and/or qualitative impact assessment methodology to measure our social and economic impact in Africa. Research and evaluate options and make appropriate recommendations.
2. Collaborate with external advisors to design methodology that strikes the balance between robust and practical impact assessment surveys.
3. Contribute to the design of household surveys. Support efforts to determine survey parameters, select and train in-country survey firms, and coordinate data collection.
4. Ensure the effective implementation of baseline surveys by coordinating with survey firms and methodology advisor.
5. Synthesize the results of the surveys to strengthen assessment and selection processes throughout Root Capital’s program work. Coordinate with all Root Capital departments to integrate these results to help achieve organizational goals, including the maximization of our social, economic, and environmental impact.
6. Disseminate the survey results externally by writing and/or coordinating the preparation of white papers or journal articles that summarize the methodology, results, and lessons learned.
7. Contribute to the overall initiatives of the Impact Assessment department, including the collection of key social and financial metrics, analysis of available data. Recommend changes to current evaluation practices.
8. Respond to inquiries about the department’s work.
9. Support the implementation and administration of the department’s social value metrics database in Salesforce.com.

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

1. Master’s Degree in economics, econometrics, social science, or related field.
2. 2-4 years of experience employing quantitative and qualitative research methods in the social sciences such as randomized control trials.
3. Coursework or work experience in econometrics. Advanced knowledge of SPSS, STATA, or other data analysis software.
4. Experience in conducting primary field research, such as surveys and focus groups.
5. Excellent project management and organizational skills and ability to work independently. Able to coordinate activities of an international team of staff and external consultants.
6. Strong oral and written communication skills, including experience synthesizing research results.
7. Strong interpersonal skills and flexible approach to problem-solving; able to communicate with a wide variety of audiences, including funders, academics, and representatives of grassroots enterprises in developing countries. Experience in developing countries a plus.
8. Experience with or knowledge of development finance.
9. Proficiency in Spanish and/or French preferred.
10. Able to travel internationally up to 10% of the time.
11. Collaborative team player with a good sense of humor.
12. Passion for Root Capital’s mission of environmentally and socially responsible investing.

SALARY: Commensurate with experience.

APPLICATIONS AND NOMINATIONS

More information about Root Capital is available at www.rootcapital.org.

Applications are due by November 20, 2009. Candidates are encouraged to apply as soon as possible. Applications should include a resume and cover letter describing your interest, qualifications, language abilities, salary requirements, and how you learned of the position. Please include a paragraph describing your research skills and experience. There are no restrictions on cover letter length.

Please send applications to jobs@rootcapital.org. The subject line of your email should follow the format: “IA SA” followed by your name (Last, First), e.g. “IA SA – Santos, Elizabeth”.

Finalist candidates will be required to provide at least three work-related references.

Impact Assessment Manager

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 07:25:22 +0000

Organization: Aspen Network of Development Entrepreneurs

Location: Washington, DC, US

The Aspen Network of Development Entrepreneurs (ANDE)

ANDE is a member-driven organization housed within the Aspen Institute. Our members are leading non-profits, foundations, investors and researchers who are creating a movement to unleash the poverty-reducing potential of small and growing businesses (SGBs) in emerging markets.

Participants in ANDE share a common goal: to dramatically increase the number and impact of small and growing businesses in the developing world. With the right support, we believe SGBs will generate much needed employment and address critical social and environmental challenges in the developing world.

ANDE will identify common strategic challenges and opportunities facing SGBs, and based on these findings, provide services for our members as well as public goods that can benefit everyone in the sector. We seek to become a globally respected network through which members can address system-wide challenges that can only be addressed through collective action.

One of our key areas of focus is the development of transparent and consistent metrics in the impact investing space. Over the past year ANDE has been working with the Impact Reporting and Investment Standards (IRIS) Initiative, a collaborative effort to provide a system that will capture and manage impact investing data effectively, benchmark performance, and assess overall social and environmental impact. As the IRIS taxonomy and information system is rolled out, ANDE is poised to play a significant role in promoting the adoption and utilization of IRIS.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

ANDE is seeking an Impact Assessment Manager to support the further growth and development of the ANDE metrics and evaluation effort. He or she will facilitate the ANDE adoption and incorporation of IRIS with its members. Specifically with regard to IRIS, this person will:

Assist ANDE member organizations in the implementation of IRIS and Pulse for their individual systems by resolving any technological issues and assisting in the identification of requirements that will facilitate the flow of data into the repository
Support ANDE members by mapping their existing indicators to the IRIS taxonomy indicators
Hold trainings for impact managers at member organizations to encourage compliance and understanding
Work with ANDE members on the XBRL (eXtensible Business Reporting Language) data tagging process
Develop a process to conduct a high-level quality check of data being submitted to the aggregator to ensure that the data repository is populated with accurate data for benchmarking
Analyze IRIS data as it relates to entrepreneurship in emerging markets; Support the IRIS team’s efforts around developing reports and outputs from the IRIS database

Additionally, the Impact Assessment Manager will manage all of ANDE’s metrics and evaluation efforts. They will:

Educate ANDE and non-ANDE members about the importance, skills, and tools of metrics and evaluation
Manage and orchestrate a monthly metrics working group call
Manage and update the Metrics from the Ground Up website
Co-Manage the annual ANDE Metrics & Evaluation Conference
Oversee ANDE’s own metrics and evaluation
Oversee the development of ANDE’s annual impact report
Keep abreast of new technologies and advancements in impact reporting

The program manager will report to the ANDE Executive Director.

Knowledge, Education and Experience:

Applicants should have at least a Bachelors Degree and two years of experience in IT consulting or a related area.
Degrees in business, public policy, economics, systems engineering, and/or political science are preferred.
Applicants should have a demonstrated interest and experience in supporting small and growing businesses, ideally in the developing world context.
Applicants should have experience deploying and training users to adopt web solutions, and a basic understanding of XBRL is strongly preferred.
Applicants should be willing and eager to work with colleagues from across the globe and capable of managing multiple projects simultaneously.
Successful applicants will be excellent writers and analysts who thrive in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial environment and have strong interpersonal skills and the ability to teach.

Please refer to the website for more information: www.aspeninstitute.org/ande.

Changemakers Knowledge Director

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 07:22:32 +0000

Organization: Ashoka

Location: Washington, DC, US

Do you love big ideas, solving puzzles & social change? If so, Changemakers is hiring a Knowledge Director to lead our existing efforts in framing the topic statements and mapping social innovation for our competitions. The director will also lead the Changemakers team to design a series of new and innovative knowledge based products and services for social investors and innovators. The role will require working with the entire team to leverage our existing data and efforts while also building a core knowledge team of full time staff and contractors from around the world. We are looking for a candidate who isn't afraid to aggregate a large amount of information into a few powerful insights that will help advance the way the world is solving social problems.

Skills:

Research, analysis and direct management experience
Background in human centered design, anthropology or journalism a plus
A passion for and experience in solving social problems
Ability to conceptualize and identify patterns from raw data
History with user generate data collection and online knowledge distribution
Track record launching new ideas and programs

If this sounds like you then send us your resume with a short letter of introduction to: connect@changemakers.com.

Changemakers is a dynamic, fast-paced organization with offices in Washington DC, USA; Buenos Aires, Argentina; São Paulo, Brazil; and Calcutta, India. Our staff likes to shake things up and we're committed to advancing social change by finding, in every area of the world, the most creative solutions.

We are looking for individuals who see opportunities when faced with barriers, build meaningful partnerships to collaborate on ideas; and harness technology to build a strong, lasting community for change.

Changemakers Operations Associate

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 07:22:29 +0000

Organization: Ashoka

Location: Washington, DC, US

The Operations Manager is responsible for providing financial, administrative and clerical services in order to ensure effective, efficient and accurate financial and administrative operations. We are seeking an individual committed to social change who is very detail oriented and able to be well organized in a fast moving organization. The Operations Manager will report to the Director of Operations and will:

Perform the day to day processing of financial transactions to ensure that finances are maintained in an effective, up to date and accurate manner
Receive and verify invoices and requisitions for goods and services
Verify that transactions comply with financial policies and procedures
Prepare, verify, and process invoices and coding payment documents
Prepare batches of invoices for data entry
Data enter invoices for payment
Maintain the general ledger
This position is based in our Arlington, VA office

Seem like a fit with your skills? Send us your resume with a letter of introduction to: connect@changemakers.com

Changemakers Competitions Coordinator

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 07:22:26 +0000

Organization: Ashoka

Location: Washington, DC, US

Are you passionate about the power of social innovation to change the world? Do you have a talent for engaging with online communities? If so, Changemakers.com is looking for a new team member to manage Changemakers’ community, identifying new strategies to grow our community membership and increase community engagement and collaboration through our website.

The role includes the following responsibilities:

Identify and implement strategies to mobilize our community members to actively participate in and promote the opportunities on the Changemakers website
Identify and implement strategies to drive new markets to competitions
Interact with the Changemakers community to increase understanding of community members
Work with Changemakers Community Team to implement new outreach strategies
Facilitate online community to spur discussion, collaboration and new ideas
Manage and develop key metrics of success

Skills:

2-5 years professional marketing and outreach experience
MS Office Expert, HTML basic
Experience with online community metrics, SEO, AdWords, etc.
Active social media user (and go ahead and show us your profiles and activity)
Team player able to integrate with diverse colleagues full of opinions and ideas
Demonstrated commitment to social change and keen interest in social innovation
Diligent work ethic and attention to detail; insatiable desire to expand skills and innovate to help grow a rapidly expanding team
Highly entrepreneurial personality; flexible and proactive
French speaker preferred.

If you are the colleague we seek send us your resume with a letter of introduction to: connect@changemakers.com

Changemakers Project Manager

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 07:18:34 +0000

Organization: Ashoka

Location: Washington, DC, US

The role of the Project Manager is to plan and run online competitions that have social impact. Working collaboratively with technology, community engagement and regional teams around the globe, the Project Manager ensures that the competition runs smoothly, satisfies the sponsor needs, meets all deadlines and is completed within budget.

The role includes the following responsibilities :

Manage the planning, launch and execution of Changemakers collaborative competitions
Facilitate communication across teams, ensure completion of deliverables and collaborate with staff and partners at various levels
Build relationships with competition sponsors (current sponsors include Nike, National Geographic, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, ExxonMobil, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation)
Interact with competition entrants, judges, participants and other members of the Changemakers community
Quickly learn and demonstrate content knowledge about multiple topics and evaluate social innovations
Innovate on existing processes and help design, prototype and pilot new products

Additional responsibilities include:

Support the Project Management team and overall Changemakers operations—including recruiting, sales and development and website support.

Qualifications:

Is committed to social change
Has a proven entrepreneurial track record
Has technology, project management, social entrepreneurship or start-up experience
5 years work experience
Team player able to integrate with diverse colleagues full of opinions and ideas
Can lead a group to get stuff done (less talk, more action)
Has a sense of humor.
Diligent work ethic and attention to detail; insatiable desire to expand skills and innovate to help grow a rapidly expanding team
Can balance between creativity and implementation of critical tasks – in a dynamic start-up environment
Moves fast under deadlines, always has a to-do list and gets a kick out of solving problems
Cares about being a part of a (digital) community

Please email a resume, cover letter and two references in Word or PDF format to: connect@changemakers.com; subject line “Project Manager.” We intend to hire quickly – please send in your materials as soon as possible.

Ashoka Launches Innovative E Health Points in Rural India

Fri, 30 Oct 2009 22:22:00 +0000

Authored by: Francisco Noguera

I just got an email from our friends at Ashoka announcing the launch, just two days ago, of a venture that promises to disrupt and transform rural healthcare in India. Led by NextBillion co-founder and The Next 4 Billion lead author Al Hammond, the E Health Points are joint venture of Ashoka, the Naandi Foundation, the Government of the State of Punjab and and Healthpoint Services India Pvt. Ltd.

It's very exciting to hear about this launch and see the pictures of it in action. I've had the opportunity to work in and out with Al Hammond over the last 18 months and in several of our conversations this project was a dominant theme. His vision of bringing together technological and business model innovations to produce a disruptive new model for healthcare services in rural areas is now a reality. I'm already looking forward to hearing about the launch and the prospects of this venture in his own words. I'm sure he'll be looking forward to sharing these through NextBillion as well, so stay tuned.

For now, I want to extend my congratulations and best wishes to Al and the team that has led the charge in launching this pilot. If you wish to learn more about this project and its various components, I encourage you to read Al's earlier posts related to eHealth, the future of healthcare and community scale water treatment facilities. I also urge you to read the complete press release and take a look at the Flickr slideshow.

Weekly Roundup: Upcoming Events and Engagement Opportunities

Fri, 30 Oct 2009 15:39:21 +0000

Authored by: Nathan Wyeth

As the week and month wind down and you make plans for the weekend and what´s left of the year, here are some events and opportunities you won't want to miss.

NextBillion readers in the DC area will have the opportunity next week to hear from Stuart Hart, the Cornell professor who co-authored with C.K. Prahalad the white paper titled "The Fortune at the Bottom of the Pyramid" ad then published his own Capitalism at the Crossroads. He'll give a keynote address next week for FIELD Day, November 3 in Arlington, Virginia. The conference will focus overall on "Food Security: New Pathways," and Hart will be discussing the co-creation, with BoP communities, of strategies that address environmental sustainability. The conference organizers say it will be provocative and we look forward to it. FIELD Day is happening at the front end of the SEEP (Small Enterprise Education and Promotion) Network's annual conference, which runs November 4-6 at the Sheraton National Hotel in Arlington. It's still possible to attend with on-site registration.

Continue reading this story...

Social Entrepreneurship/Business Incubation Internship

Thu, 29 Oct 2009 15:48:59 +0000

Organization: AIDG

Location: GT

The Appropriate Infrastructure Development Group (AIDG) works to provide rural villages in developing countries with affordable and environmentally sound technologies that meet their needs for electricity, sanitation and clean water. Through a combination of business incubation, education, training and
outreach, AIDG helps individuals and communities gain access to technology that will improve their lives.

Our model provides a novel approach to sustainable development by empowering people with the physical tools and practical knowledge to solve infrastructure problems in their own communities.

The AIDG Guatemala Intern Program seeks to provide assistance to AIDG's incubated businesses in the form of specialized training and product research and development, bringing in talented young professionals and experts from around the world with a passion to contribute to the developing world and
help make a difference.

Currently, AIDG-Guatemala seeks passionate and dedicated individuals to apply for a position within the business incubation program. The role and responsibilities of this internship are described below. NOTE: THIS IS AN UNPAID INTERNSHIP. INTERNS RECEIVE MONTHLY FOOD AND BOARD
REIMBURSEMENT. For more information on the offerings of the AIDG Guatemala Intern Program (such as work expectations, life in Guatemala, housing, etc.) please refer to AIDG's website (www.aidg.com).

Business Intern Position:
The successful candidate responsibilities will include:
- Investigate the economic and business climate in Guatemala
- Evaluate the market in Guatemala and assess opportunities for the development and sales of appropriate technologies
- Develop valuable materials for the small and medium enterprises AIDG incubates; such as training materials, managing tools, or marketing strategies
- Meet with incubated businesses to execute small enterprise training materials and facilitate business start-up plans that promote business' self-sufficiency
- Assist with the preparation or execution of AIDG's business plan competitions
- Utilize project leadership role not only to guide other workgroup members in achieving project goals and deadlines, but also by instituting a comprehensive and sustainable approach to business incubation that takes into consideration: cultural norms, participatory-planning, marketing strategies, local economic development, and promotion of appropriate technologies

This is a full-time position with a minimum commitment of 6 months, with preference given to candidates available for a longer time period. The position will generally require the applicant to work from 8:30am- 5:00pm Monday-Friday (flexibly).

Preferred Qualifications
Applicants interested in this internship should possess the following skills:
- An MBA degree or equivalent background in business administration or international business management
- Strong understanding of models and strategies for social enterprise / micro-enterprise development
- Prior experience in business start-up plans and development of training materials
- Prior experience in project management and coordination
- A basic understanding of sustainable, appropriate technologies
- Advanced/Fluent level of Spanish, both speaking and writing ability
- Prior international experience, particularly in developing countries
- Research and organizational skills
- All candidates should possess strong communication skills, be self-motivated, and willing to work hands-on.

AIDG seeks versatile, mature, friendly, independent, and dedicated individuals, who also possess a good sense of humor.

Application Instructions
Qualified applicants should send their cover letter and resume or CV to internships@aidg.org. Please include your earliest date of arrival and duration availability.

Computer Sciences Intern

Thu, 29 Oct 2009 15:42:47 +0000

Organization: Akvo Foundation

Location: The Hague, NL

Akvo is a small non-profit foundation with a big mission. We are applying the power of the internet and open source to one of the biggest problem in the world: the lack of safe drinking water and adequate sanitation for nearly half the world's population. We believe the work we are doing is going to have a tremendous impact: ultimately we are going to help millions of people have a better life.

We are a small team, not even a dozen, so anyone joining us will make a difference. We take the job of finding excellent people to work with very seriously. We are more like an internet service startup than your ordinary non-profit. While our investors are looking for a different return on investment than that of a typical software company, they do still expect us to break even in a reasonable time frame.

We are looking for someone with a computer sciences background to work with the Akvo team. You will work on our technical infrastructure, including tasks such as: building our AccessGrid video conferencing system; installing and configuring data visualisation tools based on glTail; configuring our web traffic analysis tools; and participating in testing the Akvo RSR system, which is an online service that we are building.

Requirements include: system administration knowledge of Linux systems, ability to get open source applications up and running (including recompiling and configuring them as necessary). You need good English, both written and spoken. Working experience with Mac OS X is a plus, as we have a Linux server / Mac desktop setup.

This is an intern position in the Hague, The Netherlands. You will be working in our offices at the International Water House.

Stichting Akvo
Bezuidenhoutseweg 2
2594 AV
Den Haag
Netherlands

To apply for this position, send your resume to thomas@akvo.org.

Search and Selection Associate

Thu, 29 Oct 2009 15:20:10 +0000

Organization: Endeavor Colombia

Location: Bogota, CO

Search and Selection Associate Role: To seek out, screen, identify, and participate in the selection process of Colombian Endeavor Entrepreneurs, based on Endeavor´s global selection criteria. The Endeavor Colombia Search and Selection Associate will be based in Bogotá.

Requirements:

BA in any field (preferably in Business or Finance), with 1-3 years of relevant work experience
Strong business and financial knowledge and judgment: ability to identify and evaluate first-class entrepreneurial leaders and role models, companies and projects
Strong criteria for deciding when and how to contact Endeavor Mentors to evaluate entrepreneurs during the search and selection process
Strong interpersonal and team working skills
Excellent English as well as Spanish language written and oral communication skills
Knowledge of Colombia's economic and business climate
Strong computer software proficiency (Word, Excel, Power Point)
Entrepreneurial personality and capacity to achieve significant results with scarce resources
Highly motivated, focused on the client, creative, flexible, organized, able to balance multiple priorities with effective planning
Capable of learning new things constantly and being able to generate impact and influence in the organization

For more information please contact Catalina Spinel at catalina@endeavor.org.co.

Endeavor (www.endeavor.org) is a non-profit organization pioneering a new approach to global development by stimulating and supporting entrepreneurship in emerging markets. We aim to become the leading supporter of High-Impact Entrepreneurship in emerging markets, including Colombia. Working through an extensive network of local contacts, Endeavor screens hundreds of next-generation entrepreneurs, ultimately selecting those who demonstrate the leadership, creativity, ethical grounding and entrepreneurial qualities to build high-growth, successful companies. Once selected, Endeavor Entrepreneurs benefit from a program custom-tailored to help them develop their businesses, plan for growth, and attract financing. Endeavor also stimulates a local entrepreneurial ecosystem through university partnerships, relationship with media and local authorities involved in entrepreneurship. Headquartered in New York City, Endeavor currently has offices in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Egypt, India, Jordan, Mexico, South Africa, Turkey and Uruguay.

Franchise Partner Manager – Latin America

Mon, 26 Oct 2009 19:50:16 +0000

Organization: VisionSpring

Location: New York, NY, US

VisionSpring (Formerly Scojo Foundation) is a global social enterprise that creates jobs and sustains livelihoods through the sale of affordable eyeglasses to the more than 400 million people who need them to work and live productive lives. A leader in Social Enterprise and Base of the Pyramid markets (BoP), VisionSpring has been recognized by President Clinton as helping "hundreds of thousands of people and in the process, creating a whole new sector of the economy." Praised as "innovative" by The Economist and "life-changing" by NBC Nightly News, VisionSpring is the recipient of awards from the Aspen Institute, the World Bank, and Fast Company Magazine for its role in poverty alleviation and social capitalism.

VisionSpring trains low-income men and women to work as "Vision Entrepreneurs" selling affordable eyeglasses in their communities. Each Vision Entrepreneur receives his or her own "Business in a Bag," a microfranchise kit containing all the products and tools they need to run profitable businesses. Our innovative business model allows entrepreneurs to earn income selling a health product that, in turn, helps others to improve their lives.

VisionSpring seeks well-qualified candidates with Spanish-language fluency to manage Franchise Partner relationships in Latin America. This role provides technical assistance to partners, including Vision Entrepreneur training, sales and marketing strategies, inventory management, and data collection and analysis. The Franchise Partner Manager will also assist VisionSpring's VP of Sales and Operations in the execution of VisionSpring's global expansion projects, including new partner development, supply chain management, and innovations.

See the full job description for more details and information about how to apply. Please note that applications are due by Friday, November 6th.

Marketing Director - Development Fund

Wed, 21 Oct 2009 12:57:24 +0000

Organization: GSM Association

Location: London, GB

The GSMA seeks a talented and energetic Marketing Director to lead, drive and deliver the marketing strategy and communications requirements for the Development Fund.

The Development Fund, established in 2005 is quickly becoming known as a serious and influential player at the highest level within the development community, with existing partnerships and funding support from the World Bank Group, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, and the Rockefeller Foundation. As the Development Fund grows, it will be regularly invited to consult, assist and be funded by such organisations. In addition, the Development Fund will be known throughout the mobile and adjacent industries as a major innovator and value generator within emerging markets. Its successes will be regularly referred to in most major telecommunications and development related fora.

A key element of the role is supporting the team maintain productive and supportive relationships with key external funders, namely the Gates Foundation, the Rockefeller Foundation, and the World Bank.

Full job description

Executive Director

Wed, 21 Oct 2009 12:57:19 +0000

Organization: GSM Association

Location: London, GB

The Development Fund is seeking a talented leader with the vision, passion and abilities to drive a truly influential agenda and organisation to its next stage. The individual will provide strategic, people, financial and services innovation within a developing market setting and will be passionate about the role of mobile in socio-economic development. S/he will be plugged into, and have influence with, the major actors operating in this sector.

Volans Year Secondment to Social Enterprises (Singapore)

Tue, 20 Oct 2009 17:00:16 +0000

Organization: Volans Ventures

Location: SG

Volans Year is a secondment and executive education program that trains business professionals through one-year placements in high-caliber social impact organizations while enhancing their skills.

The program:

- Places professionals with a social impact organization in a full time position in Cambodia or Singapore

- Includes four weeks of executive education and leadership coaching

- Actively promotes peer community development within each cohort

- Typically includes a monthly stipend for Participants

- Supports Participants in their career development at the end of the year

These are the jobs available in Singapore:

Associate (Impact Investment Exchange)
Business Development Executive (City College)
Marketing Executive (City College)

Volans is part think-tank, part consultancy, part broker and part incubator. We are a for-profit company based in London and Singapore and we work globally with entrepreneurs, businesses, investors and governments to develop and scale innovative solutions to financial, social and environmental challenges.

For more information on the jobs, and to enroll in the program, please visit: http://www.volansyear.com

Volans Year Secondment to Social Enterprises (Cambodia)

Tue, 20 Oct 2009 17:00:11 +0000

Organization: Volans Ventures

Location: Phnom Penh, KH

Job Description: Volans Year is a secondment and executive education program that trains business professionals through one-year placements in high-caliber social impact organizations while enhancing their skills.
The program:

- Places professionals with a social impact organization in a full time position in Cambodia or Singapore

- Includes four weeks of executive education and leadership coaching

- Actively promotes peer community development within each cohort

- Typically includes a monthly stipend for Participants

- Supports Participants in their career development at the end of the year

These are the jobs available in Phnom Penh:

Social Enterprise Development Manager (Hagar)

Marketing Officer (Friends)

Product Developer/Industrial Designer (Hagar Hydrologic)

SE Asia Sales Manager (Digital Divide Data)

Digital Marketing Coordinator / Webmaster (Hagar Hydrologic)

Export Manager (Kamworks)

Marketing Coordinator (Hagar Hydrologic)

Public Relations Officer (Hagar Hydrologic)

Volans is part think-tank, part consultancy, part broker and part incubator. We are a for-profit company based in London and Singapore and we work globally with entrepreneurs, businesses, investors and governments to develop and scale innovative solutions to financial, social and environmental challenges.

For more information on the jobs, and to enroll in the program, please visit: http://www.volansyear.com

Business Development Intern

Tue, 20 Oct 2009 16:35:33 +0000

Organization: VisionSpring

Location: New York City, US

VisionSpring is a cutting-edge social enterprise that creates jobs and sustains livelihoods through the sale of affordable eyeglasses to the 400 million people who need them to work and live productive lives. Through its ground-breaking "Business in a Bag" micro-franchise, VisionSpring empowers women throughout the developing world to start their own businesses selling low-cost glasses to those in need while earning income to support their families. A leader in Social Enterprise and Base-of-the-Pyramid markets, VisionSpring has been recognized by President Clinton for helping "hundreds of thousands of people and in the process creating a whole new sector of the economy." Praised as "innovative" by The Economist and "life-changing" by NBC Nightly News, VisionSpring is the recipient of awards from the Skoll Foundation, the Aspen Institute, the Draper Richards Foundation, and the World Bank, among many others.

Position Overview:

VisionSpring seeks a part-time intern (10-12 hours a week) to assist the Business Development team in its fundraising and marketing communications efforts.

In this position, you will...

Research philanthropic opportunities to help build VisionSpring's pipeline of fundraising targets;
Write content for the VisionSpring blog, website, and annual brochure;
Provide ongoing data entry and database management support to the Business Development team;
Compile best practices in fundraising and marketing communications strategies under staff direction;
Create training materials;
Be flexible and take on other duties as assigned.

You are...

Very comfortable working independently. You are excited to join small, fast-paced team of people without much extra time on their hands.
Obsessively attentive to detail. You format your word documents with military precision.
Passionate about writing. Seriously, if you don't feel it, this position is not for you.
Eager to learn more about social enterprise, international development, and/or market-based solutions to poverty. You've studied it, you've read about it, and now you are ready to get your hands dirty in a cutting edge organization.
Enthusiastic about fundraising. You know that fundraising is the engine that powers organizations forward and you are ready to mobilize yourself and others for a powerful cause.

Note: This is an unpaid internship.

Reports to: Vice President of Business Development

Contact: If you are interested in this opportunity, please send a resume and cover letter showcasing your writing skills and relevant experience to Liz Kaplan at ekaplan@visionspring.org