"Great example of how a growing social enterprise can be helped by access to a consultant with commercial nous and excellent contacts. A very good blog too!"
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Tom Harrison's Groups
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Zambia Network
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Malawi Network
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Tom Harrison's Page
Latest Activity
Tom Harrison commented on Folasade Ovie-Afabor's blog post MitiMeth: TURNING AN ENVIRONMENTAL MENACE INTO A COMMERCIAL GOODTom Harrison replied to Parveen Sultana Huda's discussion News article about our workshop with CARE Bangladesh in the group Bangladesh Network"Thanks Parveen - a very good article in an excellent magazine. It's very good that inclusive business challenges and opportunities are being discussed and shared in this way. It can only contribute to more thoughtful and effective…"
Adaobi Nkeokelonye commented on Tom Harrison's blog post What BIF projects tell me about contract farming"Dear Tom,
Thank you very much for this. It comes in Handy. I will get back to you if I need more help. Your page is very resourceful."
Thuta Aung commented on Tom Harrison's blog post Creating a successful company from an NGO programme: some lessons"This is a superb article Tom.
I have come across several NGOs in Myanmar trying out on income generation schemes and to adopt some of the social enterprise ethos.
There are two profound fears these want-to-be-entrepreneurial…"
Profile Information
- Organisation
- Business Innovation Facility
- Title
- Projects Manager
- About My Work
- I manage operations and projects for the Business Innovation Facility
- Sector
- Consultant
- Country Interest
- Malawi, Nigeria, Zambia, India, Bangladesh
- Issues of Interest
- Impact assessment, Value chains, Donor coordination
- Main Reason for Joining this Site
- Networking with fellow practitioners
Mr professional background
I am a sustainable development professional with 20-years experience in the NGO and development finance sectors. An accredited broker of cross-sector partnerships, a major interest of mine is the contribution that the private sector can make to addressing poverty and disadvantage.
In recent years I have performed assignments for UNDP's private sector division, IBLF, World Vision, VSO, and the Netherlnds Government among others. The range of activities that I support include advising on organisational partnering strategy, facilitating meetings and workshops, brokering new or existing cross sector partnerships, and reviewing partnerships in order to learn how to increase their impact.
In earlier parts of my career I worked for CDC and for NGOs such as VSO. I have lived and worked in Tanzania, Malaysia, Malawi, Zambia and Uganda and made frequent work-related visits to Ghana, Ethiopia, South-Africa and India among many others.
In recent years I have performed assignments for UNDP's private sector division, IBLF, World Vision, VSO, and the Netherlnds Government among others. The range of activities that I support include advising on organisational partnering strategy, facilitating meetings and workshops, brokering new or existing cross sector partnerships, and reviewing partnerships in order to learn how to increase their impact.
In earlier parts of my career I worked for CDC and for NGOs such as VSO. I have lived and worked in Tanzania, Malaysia, Malawi, Zambia and Uganda and made frequent work-related visits to Ghana, Ethiopia, South-Africa and India among many others.
Tom Harrison's Blog
Creating a successful company from an NGO programme: some lessons
While it is still quite an unusual approach, there are emerging examples of NGOs that spin-off a free-standing, for-profit enterprise from a successful development programme. This can be a good option when an NGO has a development programme that has at its heart a commercial model in which goods or services are produced and sold. The term ‘spin-off’ means that the commercial elements of the programme is re-located from being part of the NGO’s larger operations, to becoming a separate legal…
ContinuePosted on March 1, 2013 at 17:00 — 2 Comments
Farmers making smart decisions in Bangladesh
Farmers are smart. I have always thought so, and that was the only conclusion that could be reached from a meeting I had with farmers in Bangladesh last month. As we sat on a mat with a group of farmers who are part of the…
ContinuePosted on February 7, 2013 at 18:30 — 1 Comment
Understanding nutrition terms: definitions, doses and diets
Recently I had the very good fortune to travel with a public health expert. She has the gift of being able to explain complex issues clearly to a non-expert. I took the opportunity to ask about some of the technical aspects of nutrition, an area that is becoming increasingly important within the BIF portfolio, and inclusive business more generally (see my previous blog on…
ContinuePosted on December 28, 2012 at 11:30 — 1 Comment
Creativity and innovation: should we try cucumber with our ice lolly?
When I was in Myanmar recently I bought a poster entitled: ‘The food that shouldn’t eat together’. On this I learn that such combinations as star fruit and chocolate, plum and green peas, land crab and mushroom or cucumber and ice lolly should not be used in food combinations.
When looking for innovative…
Posted on November 23, 2012 at 17:00 — 3 Comments
Comment Wall (9 comments)
- At 8:35 on March 5, 2013, Bernard Kelontii said…
Tom, you have fascinating character which I know you have been a blessing to many in African Continent. How about extending your expertise over to Africa's cousins in the South Pacific - Papua New Guinea another former colony of UK.
We need people of your humour and understanding to set up facilities as you have done for the African continent.
I am always dreaming of having to assist rural population to look at ways to alleviate poverty and to involve them to become rural enterprenuers without losing them.
Papua New Guinea (PNG) needs your help and you can assist. The country blessed with mineral resources yet remain poor in terms of income per capita.
Would you consider lending a helping hand to facilitate and set us off?
Bernard Kelontii
- At 4:09 on March 2, 2013,
MD. BELAYET HOSSAIN said… HELLO TOM
Global Agro Resources Incorporation in Bangladesh involves in agri-business since last 10 years, established contract farming for produce high quality exportable potatoes and sesame seed. We have engaged about 10,000 farmers through Syngenta Foundations and some individual contract farmers in north bengal areas in 7 districts all potato growing areas in Bangladesh.
Attached please find some picture for your reference.
Md. Belayet Hossain
CEO
Global Agro Resources Incorporation
DSC06760%281%29%20-%20Copy.jpgDSC06760%281%29%20-%20Copy.jpg
- At 11:05 on March 2, 2012,
Rachel Godfrey said… Thanks for your comments Tom - glad you found the article useful. Today, the poles for the cable line are being erected and off-site we're in the processing of looking more closely at the appropriate tariff for households (a lot of the data gathered in the baseline exercise is helping us with these calculations). Will be updating as things progress - apologies for my delay have been on annual leave in Zambia!
- At 18:53 on January 17, 2012,
Murphy Okpala said… Thank you, Its good to be here
- At 17:48 on April 14, 2011,
A.S.M. Mashi-ur-Rahman said… - Yes it is better for both of us. Looking forward to here from your Bangladesh country office and also waiting to meet you at our MIDAS Office. May be we could find some opportunities to work together for the benefit of our target group.
- At 10:25 on April 14, 2011, A.S.M. Mashi-ur-Rahman said…
- I do not know yet the exact time and date. Please keep my mobnile number # +88-01711-842976. My office address: MIDAS, HOUSE-43, ROAD-16(OLD-27), DHANMONDI, DHAKA-1209, BANGLADESH. website: www.midas-bd.com.bd
What is the Facility Project is doing in Bangladesh?
- At 18:35 on April 13, 2011, A.S.M. Mashi-ur-Rahman said…
- Thanks for your comment and discussion with CEO of PUM. I am working for PUM-Netherlands and Representative, Bangladesh on behalf of MIDAS (www.midas-bd.com.bd). I am also the General Manager of MIDAS. We are taking PUM Assistance for MIDAS ongoing program - Technology Transfer for Private Sector Development. Bangladeshi SMEs are getting benefit of this program with the PUM Senior Expert Setvices. CEO of PUM will visit Bangladesh in the first week of May 2011 to know Bangladesh more to extent more assistance.
- At 13:26 on November 19, 2010,
Adebayo Oyewole said… - Thank you Tom! Looking forward to the collaboration.
- At 16:17 on October 13, 2010,
Soji Apampa said…
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