For several investors today investing responsibly has become a de facto mantra. Further some investors are interested in investing in ways that are socially responsible – i.e, the creation of some social and environmental impact. Investing to reduce poverty in the developing world has also gained considerable traction in recent years. But how do these conscious investors track their investment dollars to ensure that they fulfill their intensions? Socially Responsible Investing (SRI) provides the answer, say authors Jon Daigle, Carrie Hall, Rania Jamal, et al., in their article “Poverty Alleviation through Socially Responsible Investment: Case Studies of Community Investing and Social Venture Capital,” In their article the authors point to four methods of engaging in SRI – screening, shareholder advocacy, community investing and social venture capital.
The paper theorizes that two methods in particular – community investing and social venture capital – have the greatest potential for poverty alleviation. This is carried out by taking a closer look at the working of three socially-oriented funds and one fund recipient, the paper evaluates the scale of poverty reduction.
While the study demonstrates the effectiveness of both models, it also points to two factors instrumental in their success. The first factor highlighted is the extension of technical assistance along with financial assistance as a way to target individuals belonging to disadvantaged groups. The second factor brought out through the study is existence of strong ethical commitment towards the social cause within the management.
Read the entire article here.
In 1976, Dr. G. Venkataswamy, a retired Professor of Ophthalmology at the Government Medical College in Madurai, India, founded the Aravind Eye Care System, which today has grown into the largest and most productive eye care facility in the world.
The 11 bed hospital has now grown beyond being just a chain of hospitals, and has evolved as a centre for manufacturing synthetic lenses, sutures, and also to train optometrists and other allied health care professionals.
As an institution that believes in being part of the country’s health care solution, Aravind Eye Care Systems has fine-tuned a low-cost model which has allowed it lower costs for the poor, as well as offer free eye care.
Over the years the hospital has gained global recognition. It is now a World Health Organization collaborating centre for prevention of blindness, and the only examination centre of the Royal College of Ophthalmology.
Read more about the Aravind Eye Care model here.
In the non-profit world, the talk of funding is ever present. Since their methods of operation are different from the for-profit world, raising money to fund programs necessitates a dedicated method to bring in money. This often leads to several creative operating and funding models. However often the models developed do not adequately answer questions of long-term stability, or financial viability. What works for one non-profit does not necessarily work for another.
In their article for the Standford Social Innovation Review, “Ten Non-Profit Funding Models,” authors William Landes Foster, Peter Kim and Barbera Christiansen identify 10 non-profit funding models commonly used in the U.S. Through the article they highlight how non-profits can identify different sources of funding, and build partnerships. They also discuss the associated limitations and benefits of each model.
Read the entire article here.
http://www.ssireview.org/articles/entry/social_entrepreneurship_revisited/
http://www.aspeninstitute.org/sites/default/files/content/docs/aspen%20network%20of%20development%20entrepreneurs/ANDE_SGB_BACKGROUND_ANALYSIS_JULY_2008%5B1%5D.PDF
ST civil society EPW article
The role of civil society in influencing public opinion towards more democratic and developmental approaches is now well-recognized in diverse fields such as health, education, livelihoods, issues relating to disadvantaged social groups and the environment. Yet, science and technology in India is predominantly seen as the preserve of the state, and more recently the market. In the linear model of innovation, civil society is seen at best as having a role in extension or the delivery of technology produced elsewhere. This paper, a study of science in civil society, questions this assumption through the case study of the work of a civil society-led initiative in spirulina algal technology. It highlights the need for an institutional transformation of the scientific establishment into learning organizations if they are to focus on development with a pro-poor or human face.
http://web.mit.edu/evhippel/www/democ1.htm
http://www.mckinseyquarterly.com/Strategy/Innovation/Market_rebels_and_radical_innovation_2292
http://ifmr.ac.in/cmf/publications/wp/2009/29_Cole_Barriers_to_Household_Risk_Management.pdf
Sustainable biomass power for rural India: Case study of biomass gasifier for village electrification
The performance and impact of a decentralized biomass gasifier-based power generation system in an unelectrified village are presented. In Hosahalli village, Karnataka, India, lighting, drinking water, irrigation water and flour-milling services are provided using power derived from the biomass gasifier-based power generation system. The system consists of a 20 kW gasifier-engine generator system with all the accessories for fuel processing and electricity distribution. The biomass power system has functioned for over 14 years (1988–2004) in Hosahalli village (population of 218 during 2003), meeting all the electricity needs of the village. Lighting and piped drinking water supply using biomass electricity was provided for over 85% of the days during the past six years. The fuel, operation and maintenance cost ranged from Rs 5.85/kWh at a load of 5 kW to Rs 3.34/kWh at a load of 20 kW. Technical, social, economic and management-related lessons learnt are presented here.
