Feb 05, 2008

Corporations: Responsible as they Have to Be

Absence of clear mandates for behavior creates the risk that a few initiatives launched in the interest of social responsibility will be revealed to have done more harm than good, as is possible with carbon neutralizing campaigns, for example. The result could be a backlash to the status quo of corporate indifference, a circumstance not preferable to the current state of over-exuberance.

Feb 04, 2008

Taking the Measure on the Environment

The New York Times reports that “Australia, Britain, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Switzerland, as well as parts of Canada — have removed or are revising incentives for farmers, biofuel refiners and distributors,” as experts begin to question whether biofuel production isn’t creating more environmental damage than previously anticipated.

Feb 01, 2008

A Jump-Start Round-Up

After an extended holiday hiatus we are back with a round up of some worthwhile reads from the past month.

Dec 17, 2007

Where Philanthropy and Government Meet

Wealthy people from the developing world are dedicating large portions of their personal fortunes to addressing social gaps in their countries, a trend which is growing commensurate with the explosion of wealth in parts of the developing world. In some cases they are doing it in partnership with government.

Dec 12, 2007

When Is a Cow Not a Cow?

Alternative gift programs have been criticized for the fact that the items in their catalog are not literal. When a giver buys a cow from Oxfam it does not necessarily mean that a poor person will receive a cow. To use the language of Oxfam’s disclaimer, the items in the gift catalog are “symbolic.“

Dec 10, 2007

Recent Themes Roundup

There has been a spate of stories recently covering a few recurring themes at Beyond Philanthropy: business development in sub-Saharan Africa, food policy, and effective giving.

Dec 04, 2007

Cheetahs, Free Trade, Growth and Subsidies: Is this African Boom Different?

There is plenty of good news coming from Africa these days—not least of which is that average economic growth on the continent exceeds the world average growth. Much of the growth in sub-Saharan Africa is being driven by a new generation of African entrepreneurs, powered by business reforms, access to credit and such programs as the U.S.‘ African Growth and Opportunity Act (which allows for free trade with U.S. for African manufactured goods). George Ayittey, a Ghanain economist, refers to these entrepreneurial leaders as “cheetahs”—fast, flexible, and aggressive in exploiting newfound opportunities.

Nov 29, 2007

‘Tis the Season

Yet donors should sincerely consider where their money is going: is it being used to perpetuate the existence of an institution, or is it being used to fulfill a need—perhaps in such a way that the institution itself will eventually no longer be necessary?

Nov 13, 2007

The Pervasive Role of Markets in Malaria Treatment

Even when things such as bed nets or hydration salts or medications are given away for free, there are still market dynamics at work. This can be seen in how they are packaged, how they are priced, and even in how incentives are built in to ensure they are used properly.

Nov 12, 2007

Darfur Now