2009 Headlines
How can the private sector help alleviate poverty at the Base of the Pyramid?
Be part of the online discussion on June 23-25 hosted by Monica Touesnard at the Center for Sustainable Global Enterprise
June 17, 2009 | Ithaca, NY | On June 23 -25, join an online discussion about the role of the private sector in poverty alleviation at the Base of the Pyramid (BoP). While traditionally multilateral and non-profit organizations are viewed as the best entities to respond to the environmental, social, and economic problems of the increasing number of people living at the bottom of the economic pyramid, companies now are also entering this market and combining new enterprises with solutions to social and humanitarian problems. Those companies are experimenting with new business models and new technologies. Local entrepreneurs are also trying new business ventures. How those different private sector entities can be most successful, however, is yet to be determined and will be the topic of this online discussion.
Hosted by Monica Touesnard of the Johnson School's Center for Sustainable Global Enterprise at Cornell University, with guest-participation of the winners of their recent BoP essay competition, this online discussion invites participants to share and learn from each other's experiences and contribute to each day's conversation:
- Day 1 (June 23) : Roles for Private Sector Entities: Who has the better opportunity in low income communities – multinational companies, large domestic firms, small/medium sized enterprises, or local entrepreneurs – and why?
- Day 2 (June 24) : Technologies for Enterprise Development: What is the role of technology commercialization in enterprise development in low-income communities?
- Day 3 (June 25) : Cultural, Political, and Geographic Limitations: How do the cultural and political context and geography have an impact on business opportunities for the base of the pyramid?
Sign up today: For more information and free registration, visit www.microlinks.org/sc/bop. Send questions to speakerscorner@microlinks.org.
Speaker's Corners are a monthly feature of the U.S. Agency for International Development's microLINKS Website, www.microlinks.org.
