Archive for June, 2011

This story originally appeared in our June 30th, 2011 e-magazine. Click here to download the pdf e-magazine.

When someone says Latin America, the first thing that comes to mind likely to be Carnivale in Rio, cocoa, coffee, Machu  Pichu, may be even the infamous late Pablo Escobar.

Which is why we decided to devote this issue to things that Latin America is not exactly famous for, but is in great need of – social enterprise. Indeed, while most of the world is looking to Africa and Asia for the latest developments in that industry, Latin America is taking small but significant steps towards building institutions to buttress that industry.

In the cover story, Abby Callard looks at what is going on in the socent space, and how a few companies are making a difference, including one that has developed a mobile phone application that allows small shopkeepers to track their inventory, one that uses bamboo to build resilient structures for schools and living quarters, particularly in areas affected by natural disasters.  Additionally, there are institutions – including a state-run one – that are helping social enterprises acquire the skills and funding to run their businesses.

But social enterprises can’t grow until they have an environment that is conducive, and our Top 5 section lists the easiest countries in Latin America to start and run a business, while noting the challenges as well.

» Continue reading “Focus on Latin America”

This story originally appeared in our June 30th, 2011 e-magazine. Click here to download the pdf e-magazine.

While most of the social enterprise and impact investing spotlight remains on Africa and South Asia, Latin America is making its own strides to develop a solid foundation in the industry.

While the term social enterprise seems to be picking up steam worldwide, much of the focus remains on Africa and South Asia.

There are many reasons for that, says Mark Hand, an investment analyst with First Light at Grey Ghost Ventures. The language barrier, cultural and political differences all play a part in why Latin America has been slower to attract attention than others. “What we’ve seen in the impact investing space, especially the kind of venture funding circles that we swirl around in, is that people overlook Latin America,” he said.

William Portilla, a senior loan officer with Root Capital – which has operations in Latin America and Africa – says that developed countries have a “stronger strategic political interest” in Africa and South Asia than they do in Latin America.

“The money that is most commercially minded is most drawn to India. The money that is most charity minded is most drawn to Africa,” he said. “In that spectrum, that leaves few people that are operating in Latin America.” » Continue reading “Latin America’s socents: poised for flight”

Boy outside home, Ourika Valley, Morocco by Imran Oomer
Send your submissions to ideas@beyondprofit.com

This story originally appeared in our June 30th, 2011 e-magazine. Click here to download the pdf e-magazine.

The Doing Business 2011: Making a Difference for Entrepreneurs report ranks 183 countries on nine parameters: Starting a business, dealing with construction permits, registering property, getting credit, protecting investors, paying taxes, trading across borders, enforcing contracts and closing a business. Beyond Profit looks at the top five Latin American countries for doing business.

» Continue reading “Latin American countries for business ease”

This story originally appeared in our June 30th, 2011 e-magazine. Click here to download the pdf e-magazine.

Ecotourism is a booming industry in Latin America, especially in the Tambopata region of southeastern Peru. But is it the best use for limited land?

In 2008, the Tambopata region of southeastern Peru – located in the southwest Amazon eco-region and the Tropical Andes biodiversity hotspot – boasted 37 ecotourism operations based around the Tambopata National Reserve.

Industry in the area traditionally revolves around slash-and-burn agriculture, cattle ranching, Brazil nut extraction, timber extraction, alluvial gold mining and private reserves, but the area is increasingly taking advantage of the ecotourism market – estimated by a 2010 report at $28.8 billion a year in developing countries alone. » Continue reading “Is ecotourism good for the amazon?”

This story originally appeared in our June 30th, 2011 e-magazine. Click here to download the pdf e-magazine.

For the first time in 2011, the Latin America region topped the Grant Thornton International Business Report on business optimism.

Latin America topped the business optimism chart on the 2011 Grant Thornton International Business Report (IBR) with +70%, a statistic that is significant when compared to the score of other regions – +50% in Asia Pacific, +26% in North America and a mere +22% in Europe.

The annual IBR report, which surveys 11,000 businesses in 39 economies, measures the percentage balance of businesses that indicated optimism against those that indicated pessimism in a survey. The highest score a country can receive is +100%; the lowest, -100%. » Continue reading “Latin American business outlook”

This story originally appeared in our June 30th, 2011 e-magazine. Click here to download the pdf e-magazine.

Pablo Handl, Co-Founder of the HUB São Paulo (Brazil), and Julieta Villacaña, Coordinator at the HUB Oaxaca (Mexico), share their experiences and views on the social enterprise landscape and its future in both countries.

What is the state of social entrepreneurship in your countries?
JV: The scene of social entrepreneurs in Mexico is gaining momentum, but in Oaxaca, the term itself is not well known. The people who work for social transformation [do] not yet see clear value in social entrepreneurship, as [the] idea of being able to live [off] social transformation is still under discussion and [a] conflict within organizations and among traditional activists, [who] have [spent] more time working [towards] change, at least in our state.

PH: The ecosystem around social entrepreneurship in Brazil is rich and reaching a new level of sophistication. However, there is a weak legal framework and public policy support for entrepreneurs. The investment landscape is not ready to invest in ideas yet. Most investments are made in up-and-running social enterprises. » Continue reading “Building hub spaces”

This story originally appeared in our June 30th, 2011 e-magazine. Click here to download the pdf e-magazine.

A mobile hospital business model in Brazil shows it is possible to provide high quality, specialized healthcare to the bottom of the pyramid.

According to the Government of Brazil, the country’s most serious health threats are childhood mortality, maternal mortality and non-communicable diseases. Under Brazil’s 1988 Federal Constitution, all citizens are entitled to free medical assistance at the point of need from both private and public healthcare providers. However, the country’s healthcare system is such that private sector players manage the majority of medical services, including government-subsidized in-patient care. » Continue reading “Wheeling in health”

At launch of first State of Asian Cities 2010-2011 report, Dr. Toshi Noda, Director, Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific of UN-HABITAT, calls for more regional models to engineer paradign shift in urban planning.

By Carlin Carr

The UN-HABITAT and the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) on June 23 launched the first-ever State of Asian Cities 2010-2011 report, prepared in partnership with the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) and the United Cities Local Governments (UCLG-ASPC), at the Fifth Asia-Pacific Urban Forum in Bangkok, Thailand.

The report highlights trends in sustainable and inclusive development for cities, as well as the challenges that confront the region. It covers a broad range of urban issues, including the economic role of Asian cities, poverty and inequality, environment and climate change, and governance, management and finance. » Continue reading “Look to Asia, not West, for model city: UN-Habitat Asia official”

Nandu Madhava, CEO of mDhil, doesn’t make a lot of guarantees in his business plan, but he does make one: 10 out of 10 teenagers have questions about sex.

It’s for that reason that much of the content on mDhil, a mobile health information platform, is geared toward young people. In addition, young people are early adopters of technology such as mobile phones and 3G.

“A cell phone is the only way many can get privacy,” Madhava said.

Teenagers aren’t going to use the family computer to look up potentially embarrassing information about contraception and sexually transmitted diseases. » Continue reading “Plugging the Health Information Gap with Mobile”