Apparently, What’s App can help to sell soap in Indonesia…
While technology can help firms engage and employ people from low-income households in the developing world – of course, there are watch-outs. Around summer of 2015 in an African country, … Continue reading
Beer and Farmers in Sub-Saharan Africa: What’s next?
“We want subsistence farmers more involved in the value chain,” says Andy Wales, head of Sustainable Development at SABMiller Beer and Farmers While interacting with 20+ smallholder farmers in Kenya, … Continue reading
Private Equity meets Sustainability: And this too shall pass?
Here today, gone tomorrow “Can’t touch this.” As a child of the ’80s, in my mind, I wanted three “parts” (lines), like McHammer on the side of my head. My … Continue reading
‘Growth Hacking’ and Micro-Enterprises
Call me crazy, but I don’t like the phrase “hacking.” At best, I think of a less than sharp axe trying to cut a tree. At worst, numerous bloody screenshots … Continue reading
Non-uniform: Consumer Choices and the BOP
Despite similar low levels of income, low-income households have different product preferences and different shopping styles. Do development practitioners need a reminder of this? Different folks, different strokes While working … Continue reading
The “1099” / “Sharing” economy and Social Impact: When ‘good’ jobs go ‘bad’?
“For many people in emerging markets, a reliable job is the most effective means of escaping poverty. Steady jobs change lives” [EY Growth Services] Sharing is not always caring Deliveroo, … Continue reading
Dollar Shaving Club and Social Enterprises: Can one learn from the other?
A changing dynamic in Consumer-facing businesses has meaningful implications for Social Enterprises Changing times My earliest shaving experience was around the age of 13. After 10 minutes, reeling from … Continue reading
What Mr. Trump has right about (formal) remittances
Recently, Donald Trump explained that in order to help pay for a wall that would separate the United States from Mexico, he would threaten to take all remittances sent to … Continue reading
Expanding the realm of re-imagination: looking beyond South Africa to…Ethiopia
Possibly running the risk of over-use, ‘re-imagining’ has captured the keystrokes and the voices of corporate, public and social organizations. From how I understand it, the phrase seeks to capture … Continue reading
Risky business: the dangerous myth of the ‘risk-averse’ small –holder farmer
Betting the farm. Literally. At least a few men and women have made a bet which in one stroke changed their fortune. George Soros is one example whose bet against … Continue reading
Shane Heywood 