At the BIF event in Lagos last week, Professor Ayoola of the Farm & Infrastructure Foundation made a very funny, yet equally astute, critique of some forms of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).  I can’t relate this as amusingly as the Professor, nor can I retain some of the Nigerian specific content that tickled his audience, yet it went something…

It's that time of year: best book of 2011?  Best movie, best photo, best newcomer of the year...?

What were the highlights on inclusive business?

It's not such a hard question to answer, because each month we pick out one highlight, as Editor's Choice.   So we have a short-list of 12 top picks ready to draw on.

All 12 can are listed…

What better way to round off 2011 than by focusing on the heart of inclusive business – the business models?   The supply relationships, distribution networks, products, revenue streams, and margins that somehow make it work: creating value for the company, but delivering social impact too.

These are explored in IFC’s latest report: Accelerating…

This IFC report looks at the important development contributions that International Financial Institutions (IFIs) can make when they engage with the private sector in developing countries. It aims to communicate these potential contributions to stakeholders and the public and increase understanding about both the value of the private sector in…

A new case study from GIIN looks at the effectiveness of impact investing to support sustainable agriculture and improve the livelihoods of smallholder farmers in sub-Saharan Africa.  Improving Livelihoods, Removing Barriers: Investing for impact in Mtanga farm looks…

That is a question that often comes to mind when I encounter applications for the Business Innovation Facility (BIF) or Innovations Against Poverty.   Every one seems a great idea - but is it an idea that will take off?  It's not just a question of whether the technology will work, but will people in their thousands and millions really change how they cook, farm, interact,  or shop?   Or will the project bumble along as just another nice idea, supported by the conviction of its enthusiasts…

Two great events were recently held across two locations in Zambia, jointly organised by BIF and IAP. The events detailed ‘What is Inclusive Business?’ and offered an opportunity for Zambian entrepreneurs and business people to share their own inclusive business ideas.  Click here to review our event document in more detail and explore the various case studies…

The Guardian Sustainable Business Awards have opened for entries for 2012.  Now in their second year,…

Summaries for ten IAP small grants projects are now available on the Hub.  These projects cover a range of areas including renewable energy, mobile technology, health and food production, and will be implemented in countries across Africa and Asia. 

Visit the IAP projects page for a full list and links to each project summary.  You can also download pdfs of the summaries at the…

Published yesterday in the Guardian as part of the 2011 International Development Journalism Competition, 'The "Avon" ladies of Bangladesh" looks at the Rural Sales…

The following article talks about reviewing of the MDGs in 2015 - in a more inclusive manner than before. I want to draw everyone's attention to some people who are missing. Business men and women.

In the past decade a lot of the donors have come to the realization - that without linking development to sustainable businesses - the impact are not sustainable in the long run. I am not aware of any consultation with businesses for giving input to the revision of MDGs - but if anyone here…

Read a free children's book online today and help share books with young people across Asia. For every book you read between now and January, 2012 in support of The Asia Foundation's Books for Asia program, We Give Books will donate one book to help this nonprofit send books to children in 18 countries...

http://www.wegivebooks.org/

        I just thought I would share my experiences from a recent human resource management class I undertook. To my disappointment, it was nothing like I had envisioned it to be. Growing up, I had always leaned towards the marketing and management sides of business. Never liked “accounting” and I’m still opposed to the tedious branch which falls under finance. Funnily enough, it was…

The G20 Challenge on Inclusive Business Innovation is a global search for businesses with innovative, scalable, and commercially viable ways of working with low-income people in developing countries.

The Group of 20 and IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, have launched this online competition to find the best examples worldwide of businesses in developing countries that provide critical goods, services, and livelihood opportunities in financially, environmentally, and socially…

In a press release issued on November 14, Sida has announced that it will be awarding grants of up to 200,000 euros to nine organisations under the Innovations Against Poverty programme.  These companies are active within the fields of agriculture, energy, food, health, sanitation and waste.  The…

Back in August ColaLife was encouraged by supporters to enter the Making More Health competition so we did, along with more than 470 others from 82 countries. On 9 November 2011 the 13 finalists were announced and ColaLife was…

Dr Namanga Ngongi, President, AGRA and Hugh Scott, Director, Africa Enterprise Challenge Fund

The Africa Enterprise Challenge Fund (AECF), which invests in businesses wishing to implement commercially viable and high development impact projects in Africa, is launching…

Three new competitions were opened today by the Africa Enterprise Challenge Fund (AECF). Launched at a breakfast event by UK International Development Secretary Andrew Mitchell, these windows will provide funding to companies around three specific areas: Agribusiness in Africa; South Sudan; and Renewable Energy and Adaptation to Clean Technologies.

Who is eligible?

Companies can apply for a combination of grants and repayable grants between…

The UK Department for International Development (DFID) today announced the scale-up of the Business Innovation Facility with an additional £2.5 million in funding, bringing the total budget of the project to £5.5 million.  The news came at a breakfast event hosted by the Africa Enterprise Challenge Fund (AECF), where Secretary of State for International Development Andrew Mitchell pledged greater DFID support for the private sector in the context of the UK’s development…

Set up in 2010, the International Climate Fund (IFC) is a key element of the UK Government's commitment to helping developing countries tackle climate change and reduce poverty with £2.9bn in climate finance from existing aid commitments between 2011-2015. 

A new publication, Tackling Climate Change, Reducing Poverty provides an…