SOCIAL ENTERPRISE NEWS AND DISCUSSION

What do they call that thing where two people meet and hit it off right away?  Perhaps “love at first sight” or “to get on like a house on fire”?  In any case, when a social good organization meets a skilled professional, it’s called Catchafire.  Not a Bob Marley album, but a certified B corporation that matches [...]

Increasingly, investors are demanding that their financial goals align with their personal values.  They want to integrate social and environmental impact in their investment decisions.  Global wealth management firm Morgan Stanley Smith Barney announced that they will be launching a new investment platform – Investing with Impact Platform – to offer their clients a broad range [...]

When the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) started issuing 12-digit unique identification (UID) numbers – branded “Aadhaar”, meaning “foundation” – to 1.2 billion residents of India in fall 2010, the rationale was for those without proper identification to get one and in turn, gain access to essential services: subsidized food rations, a bank account, or [...]

Bangladesh Finance Minister Abul Maal Abdul Muhith said the government will form a commission to investigate the affairs of Grameen’s 54 social businesses run by Nobel peace laureate Muhammad Yunus. The announcement came Sunday during an exchange with the Economic Reporters’ Forum on the upcoming budget for 2012-2013. Muhammad Yunus, founder of Grameen Bank, has been [...]

When Apple announced the name of its tablet – the iPad – it quickly became a widespread menstrual pun of social networks.  Questions arose as to whether women’s opinions were included in naming the product, suggesting it was insensitively-named.  After all, a woman’s period is no small matter.  Poor menstrual health and hygiene is linked to [...]

All around the world, businesses with a mission to improve the lives of the poor and generate a profit are capturing increasing attention.  With respect to India, where 37% of the population live below the national poverty line, these “social enterprises” have become a phenomenon over the last decade.  Still, little is known about them: their [...]

Water supply remains a huge concern in Pakistan.  It is estimated that by 2025, water supply will fall short of demand by 100 billion cubic metres.  A lack of proper water management further adds fuel to the fire as water supplies are either leaked or stolen.  Amongst these concerns, effective provision of quality drinking water is [...]

One in eight people on the planet live in an Indian village.  That is 775 million people, of which half live on less than $1 a day.  These low-income communities lack access to essential products and services because they are secluded and do not have the means to afford such necessities.  There is tendency for [...]

The Rockefeller Foundation announced the launch of a series of new online challenges to source innovative ideas that have the potential to create long-term impact in an increasingly dynamic and complex world.  The Innovation Challenges, which run through May 25, seek to gather ideas from around the globe on three important topics: data collection and usage, [...]

A microfinance institution in Bangladesh has started piloting a micro-health insurance scheme that seeks to help the poor overcome a cycle of poverty and illness. For families that live at the bottom of the pyramid, one ill member can push the entire family over the edge.  While microfinance schemes have allowed families to take out loans conventionally [...]