June 2010 Blog Posts (33)

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Can cash transfer schemes end poverty?

In rich countries a handful of dollars does not go very far, indeed most people in the UK wouldn't think twice about spending this on a cup of coffee. But one in five people in the world today has no choice but to survive on less than US$2 a day, and 1.5 billion people struggle to live on less than US$1. The vast majority of those affected are children, each an individual story of unfulfilled hope and potential.



Few would dispute that "a world free from poverty" is the overwhelming… Continue

Added by Eliza Anyangwe on June 30, 2010 at 18:20 — No Comments

Reporting on how technology is transforming Africa

According to a report published by the UN's conference on trade and development in 2009, mobile phone use in Africa has soared 550%, with subscriptions up from 54 million to almost 350 million between 2003 and 2008.



The spread of the internet has also been significant and offers many in Africa unprecedented access to information and finance and provides a channel through which to air their grievances and demand accountability from their leaders. The growth in telecommunications begs… Continue

Added by Eliza Anyangwe on June 30, 2010 at 18:17 — No Comments

Dropout Persists in Ethiopian Elementary Schools

Dropout Persists in Ethiopian Elementary Schools

Added by Andualem Sisay on June 30, 2010 at 15:42 — No Comments

Is ColaLife the only option?

Mark III AidPod in Crate with white background

Image credit: Tim Dench, TOAD



ColaLife is trying to make simple medicines, and other social products, reach the same places that Coca-Cola reaches, that is, most places. This has proved to be a very popular idea. But can it be made to work? We intend to find out.



It is worth all the effort, because… Continue

Added by Simon Berry on June 29, 2010 at 17:28 — No Comments

Egypt, Sudan Call for Extra-ordinary Meeting on Nile Issue

Egypt, Sudan Call for Extra-ordinary Meeting on Nile Issue reported www.newbusinessethiopia.com from Addis Ababa.

Added by Andualem Sisay on June 29, 2010 at 14:13 — No Comments

Your culture must be a community within communities

Primarily there are three kinds of organisations:



Those for people and/or planet.

Those for profit.

Those for people, planet, and profit.



This third kind of organisation is pursuing the so-called triple bottom line (environmental sustainability, social responsibility, and economic prosperity);



Organisations purely for profit are in my view headed for dinosaur status. Why?



Profit is not a reason for being in business rather it is a result of… Continue

Added by Ian Berry on June 29, 2010 at 9:11 — No Comments

Job Opportunity: Major gift fundraiser with Medair UK

Medair UK (Intelligent Giving's no. 1 ranked international charity) is looking for a talented fundraiser:



Development Officer – Major Gifts

Circa £30k, London-based



Medair UK is seeking a talented fundraiser to find and build relationship with supporters able to contribute at major gift levels. The role offers the opportunity to drive growth in this award-winning charity and make a huge difference to the world’s most vulnerable people.



You’ll have a proven… Continue

Added by Ben Paine on June 25, 2010 at 16:24 — No Comments

Job Opportunity: Country Director, North Sudan with Merlin

Country Director N Sudan – Based in Khartoum - 12 - 24 months

Salary: £36,350 - £37,100 per annum



As Country Director, you will have the overall responsibility for all aspects of Merlin's Programme in N Sudan. You will ensure that the programme objectives are met, that the programme continues to improve and play a key role in contributing to Merlin’s development within Sudan and provide the overall strategic direction of the North Sudan programme. You will build and strengthen… Continue

Added by Oxford HR on June 25, 2010 at 14:58 — 1 Comment

Decisions must be made where and when it matters

Everyday decisions:



I believe in an old adage - the devolution of responsibility to those who do the work.



How many times does it happen that you are dealing with someone and need a decision and they have to refer the decision to somebody else? For me this happens far too often and simply illustrates a lack of training, a lack of trust in people, and people being over-managed and under-led.



For all key transaction and interaction points (what Jan… Continue

Added by Ian Berry on June 25, 2010 at 0:27 — No Comments

Green Awakening Fair Trade, Organic Coffee Launches with Socially Responsible Focus: Improving Lives With Your Morning Coffee

Green Awakening Coffee (www.green-awakening.com ), an inclusive and socially responsible, fair trade, organic coffee company has recently debuted with a core focus on helping to raise money for American non-profits while improving the lives for Peruvian coffee farmers.



Selling Green Awakening’s products exclusively online allows for much lower distribution costs and results in $2.50 for each 12 oz. bag of coffee sold to go to non-profit… Continue

Added by David Martel on June 23, 2010 at 19:10 — No Comments

When was the last time you gave memorable service?

Recently I needed to find out something quickly and I made several phone calls and received very ordinary service from the strangers I was calling. It wasn’t until the 11th call that I received what I would call memorable service.



On this call the person on the other end of the line, again someone who didn’t know me, treated me with respect, really listened to what my challenge was, and went out of her way to help me solve my challenge. I found it refreshing and thanked her for her… Continue

Added by Ian Berry on June 22, 2010 at 23:37 — No Comments

(Field visit briefs) Impact of Climate change on rural livelihoods in Cameroon Case of Oil Palm in Widikum area NW Region

(Field visit briefs)



Impact of Climate change on rural livelihoods in Cameroon:

Case of Widikum Palm oil Value chain.

NW Region Cameroon



“What is this climate change, is it another form of HIV AIDs or malaria that is affecting our Palm bushes, is there any cure or it will just kill the entire bush like AIDs kill people?”



Comments from a Participant during a workshop on Good forest governance in Widikum Cameroon (translated from Pidgin… Continue

Added by TANGEM ELVIS PAUL NFOR on June 21, 2010 at 15:13 — No Comments


BFP Team What will it take to achieve the Millennium Development Goals? A new UN report offers some ideas

The UN has just published a report assessing what it will take to meet the MDGs.



The report, which makes for an interesting read, argues that: "the resources and know-how necessary to achieve the MDGs exist. Acceleration of progress over the next five years will… Continue

Added by Zahid Torres-Rahman on June 21, 2010 at 12:00 — 2 Comments

The role of innovation and technological diffusion in increasing economic growth: New DFID research programme

The UK’s Department for International Development (DFID) is planning to undertake a research programme on the role of innovation and technological diffusion in increasing economic growth in low-income countries and how policy can be used to encourage it. DFID plans to commission a number of research projects as part of this programme, and a call for proposals will be issued later this year.



In order to assist in establishing the… Continue

Added by Business Fights Poverty on June 21, 2010 at 10:00 — No Comments

Structures and systems that fully support people in bringing their best to their work on a consistent basis

There are three primary reasons why great strategies fail to get executed:



1) people are not in the right roles

2) people charged with execution don’t really now what the strategy is

3) strategy has not been personalised by people charged with execution



To change these sad scenarios:



Match people to roles



Often before I undertake a performance improvement project with clients, I review service and product delivery roles from board to… Continue

Added by Ian Berry on June 20, 2010 at 23:39 — No Comments

Sodexo Foundation Recognizes Eight “Heroes of Everyday Life” for Efforts to Fight Hunger in America

The Sodexo Foundation, the anti-hunger charitable arm of Sodexo, Inc., named eight Sodexo employees as “Heroes of Everyday Life” for their exemplary efforts fighting hunger in America. The employees will be honored at the foundation’s annual dinner on June 10 in Washington, D.C.

“The concept of economic recovery is very theoretical for the one in eight Americans who are facing the very real prospect of going to bed without knowing where their next meal is coming from,” said Stephen J.… Continue

Added by David Martel on June 20, 2010 at 4:47 — No Comments

Can you describe the strategy for your business growth in six words?

The great writer Ernest Hemingway apparently believed the following to be six of his most powerful words: For Sale: Baby Shoes. Never Worn.



My friend and colleague Kwai Yu, Founder of Leaders Cafe 2020 used these words to start a discussion in the Leaders Cafe group on LinkedIn he called Who are you? Could you tell the 'story of you' in six words?



I was fascinated by the replies and then had an ahha moment - could… Continue

Added by Ian Berry on June 18, 2010 at 1:37 — No Comments

PwC's 3-Tiered Strategy for Community Investment (USA)

How to Make a Difference: PwC & the Gangs of Chicago



The corporate world is on a bandwagon. It’s growing and gaining speed and everyone seems to be jumping on board. What do we call this rolling and sometimes rickety phenomenon? It’s known as “Corporate Social Responsibility” and there are a few – an important few - companies on board that have earned a moment to be… Continue

Added by Chris Jarvis on June 16, 2010 at 19:24 — No Comments

Job opportunity: Merlin Response Team Leader

The Merlin Response Team Leader will probably be based in London and will develop Merlin’s ability to mount effective crisis responses and lead Merlin’s responses to significant emergencies. S/he will support country programmes in their disaster preparedness, risk reduction and their response. S/he will manage the Merlin Response Team (MRT) members and effectively position the MRT operationally through engagement with governments, donors, the UN system, peer agencies and a growing set of… Continue

Added by Oxford HR on June 16, 2010 at 11:47 — 1 Comment

Enlightened self-interest is one of the key drivers of a new world that is desperately waiting to be born

Enlightened self-interest for me is simply acting to further the interests of others without attachment, knowing that my own interests will be taken care of as a consequence.



This is very different to unenlightened self-interest which seems to drive many of our politicians and so-called business leaders who act according to their own selfishness.



All over the world I see unenlightened self-interest destroying businesses, families, lives in general, and… Continue

Added by Ian Berry on June 16, 2010 at 5:00 — No Comments

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