Monthly Archives: September 2011

Could impact investing help India’s poor?

Sorting out plastic bags collected from rubbish tips is a serious business for Virender Kumar. Sitting on a pile of plastic bags, he is busy giving directions to the labourers he employs to help him with the recycling. Once the … Continue reading

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MaRS to launch Centre for Impact Investing

Proponents of social-impact investing have scored a victory, with Toronto’s MaRS Discovery District set to announce the creation of a centre that will promote the concept in Canada. The Centre for Impact Investing will be designed as a national hub … Continue reading

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Rapid take up of HSBC’s SME fund in UAE

HSBC announced that its second $100m SME fund, a dedicated fund for UAE Small and Medium Enterprises, has been fully allocated in only three months. The SME fund is part of an HSBC’s ongoing commitment to the growth and success … Continue reading

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Banks will now screen Microfinance institutions’ salary package

MUMBAI: The astronomical pay packages of promoters of microfinance institutions (MFIs) will come under intense scrutiny of banks that have extended funds to bail out the sector once touted as the torchbearer of financial inclusion. Lenders involved in debt restructuring … Continue reading

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World Bank Boosts Assistance in Horn of Africa

The World Bank increased to $1.88 billion from more than $500 million its support to countries in the Horn of Africa to battle one of the worst droughts causing mounting malnutrition, food insecurity, and displacement of people. On July 20, … Continue reading

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Can social investing replace government?

Last year the Conservative Party in the United Kingdom promoted the idea of Big Society — a policy whose design was to enjoin local communities, including businesses, charities and investors. The idea, effectively, was to replace government with entrepreneurism and … Continue reading

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Google’s bid to put small and medium firms in Kenya online

Small and medium enterprises now have an opportunity to create their own websites for free following the launch of Getting Kenya Businesses Online (GKBO) by Google. The initiative is a partnership between Google and a number of Kenyan institutions. It … Continue reading

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What Every Social Entrepreneur Should Know

This morning I attended the SOCAP11 “The Long View: What Institutional Investors Want Every Social Entrepreneur to Know”. It was a very popular session with roughly two hundred and fifty participants. The moderator and panelists represented institutional investors: Laura Callanan … Continue reading

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Bank advances N$155 million to SMEs

Standard Bank Namibia continues to contribute to small and medium enterprise development through providing finance and other banking services to the sector. The SME sector is widely seen as crucial to economic development and poverty alleviation, and during July this … Continue reading

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Greed Has Gone Good: Social Capital Markets 2011

Gordon Gekko could very well be intrigued. Given the battering Wall Street has had recently with downgrades, debt ceiling crises and drops in the Dow, even the crude capitalist might consider the benefits of social capital markets. He might even … Continue reading

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