7 tips for funders when investing in a social enterprise
Social enterprises can be an attractive proposition for foundations and investors looking to make their charitable donation stretch further. But for donors used to supporting more traditional nonprofits, funding a social venture can look different and will require a change in approach. Devex spoke to a successful social enterprise and an investor to get their tips on what to expect.
Big budget for meeting the SDGs? No thanks, says Walgreens Boots Alliance
How the small team and budget at the Walgreens Boots Alliance — winner of the United Nations global leadership award — is dedicated to embedding the Sustainable Development Goals across its whole business.
Facebook introduces disaster maps, announces early partners
With the help of UNICEF, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, and the World Food Programme, Facebook has developed a way to share aggregated location information for Facebook users who have their location settings enabled, in order to help disaster response organizations address critical gaps in information.
DevExplains: Development impact bonds
Development impact bonds are often tossed around as a potential innovative financing mechanism, including in several cases to address global health challenges. This video explores what they are, how they work and when they should be used.
How strong gender strategies can benefit companies — IFC report
The International Finance Corporation looks at nine case studies drawn from client firms that have introduced gender strategies across their value chains, including designing banking products for women, combating gender-based violence, taking lessons from female entrepreneurs and hiring women into nontraditional roles.
How artificial intelligence might help achieve the SDGs
Global development professionals are working on complex problems that might appeal to machine learning experts looking to use their artificial intelligence skills for good. A growing number of efforts are bringing these communities together.
'When do we stop talking and create something?' Q&A with World Bank's van Trotsenburg
Axel van Trotsenburg, vice president of development finance at the World Bank, talks to Devex about the transformation of the International Development Association, the Trump administration's proposed cuts, and the World Bank's private sector push.
Plan International UK CEO on what makes private partnerships work
Plan International has partnered with Barclays on savings products, Credit Suisse on financial education programs, and Unilever on WASH initiatives. Plan International U.K.'s chief executive officer, Tanya Barron, sat down with Devex at the Asian Development Bank's 50th annual meeting to explain what they look for in a corporate partner, and why this may well be the key to sustainable change.
India turns to private sector to boost health coverage
India's new National Health Policy lets the government strategically purchase care from the private sector when government facilities can't provide. The plan is aimed at reaching universal health coverage of the country's 1.2 billion people, but advocates fear gaps will persist in rural and underserved areas.
Venture philanthropy — The Shell Foundation's funding approach and what you need to know
Devex spoke to Sam Parker, director of the Shell Foundation, about their unique approach to finding and backing social ventures in the energy, transport and small and medium-sized enterprises financing space, and why the world will not meet the sustainable development goals unless other investors and foundations follow suit.
Q&A: A private sector 'productivity tool' to eliminate poverty is catching on around the world
Poverty Stoplight, a visual survey that uses a series of photographs for families to self-assess their level of poverty, is Fundación Paraguaya founder Martin Burt's idea of eliminating multidimensional poverty. Now, the private sector is finding its own use for the tool.
Australian businesses readying for action to combat modern slavery
For Australian businesses, addressing modern slavery within supply chains is no longer a question of why it should be done, but how. The message, however, is not filtering through to the top level of governments. A new Australian government inquiry into establishing a Modern Slavery Act in Australia is seeking business comment — and it is an opportunity business groups are urging their members to be vocal on.
Q&A: The managing director of Divine Chocolate on personalizing supply chains
Based in London, Divine Chocolate was the first-ever fair trade chocolate bar aimed at the mass market. Managing Director Sophi Tranchell tells Devex about the lessons its farmer-owned model holds for the global development community.
Ford Foundation hopes to spur impact investment with $1 billion commitment
The Ford Foundation announced last week that it would commit $1 billion of its $12 billion to impact investments. Devex spoke to Xavier de Souza Briggs, the vice president of the Ford Foundation's Economic Opportunity and Markets program, about how that decision came about and how he hopes it will inspire others to follow.
Q&A: IKEA Foundation CEO on the role of the private sector in humanitarian response
The IKEA Foundation is increasingly becoming a strong voice urging for greater private sector involvement in humanitarian response and smarter ways of providing support to refugees and those displaced by conflict and disaster. Ahead of a visit to Australia in April for the Asia Pacific Humanitarian Leadership Conference, the foundation's CEO Per Heggenes spoke with Devex on IKEA's role in leading change and support for humanitarian responses.
Communication as aid: Key takeaways from the Humanitarian ICT Forum
The annual Humanitarian ICT Forum at Google HQ in California looked at how to empower nonprofits and communities with technology during emergency response.
Q&A with the head of Google.org: Taking big bets on bold ideas
Jacquelline Fuller, president of Google.org, speaks the languages of both Silicon Valley and global development. She talks to Devex about making the most of your expertise to have greater impact.
Power with Purpose: How to foster female leadership in the development sector
Devex President Raj Kumar and McKinsey associate partner Tracy Nowski discuss how to foster female leadership in the nonprofit sector.
Webinar: Building a career in smart cities
Developing smart cities is critical to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals and creating safe, inclusive, resilient and sustainable spaces for urban communities. In this Devex webinar, we hear from Illac Diaz, the social entreprenuer behind the MyShelter Foundation and Liter of Light project, who is working to bring smart and sustainble solutions to urban communities.
Opinion: How digital financial services can boost government accountability
Digital financial services offer a powerful and transparent way to track government benefits and tax payments. Dan Radcliffe, deputy director for the Gates Foundation's Financial Services for the Poor initiative, explains.
What can the sharing economy bring to emerging markets?
Sharing economy adviser April Rinne says that the concept emphasizes access to resources over ownership of them and talks to Devex about the benefits of the "sharing city."
