There can be no shortcuts at the BoP
This is not meant to be a complaint about any one organization so much as an observation made by happenstance while in the field. As written about earlier, my hostess in provincial Philippines is a micro entreprenuer running a small village shop which she started with the support of a loan meant to empower women […]
Original abstract for research project
Whether its schemes like microfinance, loans to small business owners or even the opportunity to purchase a large consumer durable for the home using micropayments over time, organizations wishing to serve those at the bottom of the pyramid must design effective business models and payment programs that can meet the needs of their customers. The […]
Stories from Malawi: how to barter your phone for 4 goats
Photo credit: John Lumbe, Malawi, March 2009 John Lumbe reports on how the barter system works in his home region in Malawi: It has never been simple to determine the trade. It mostly goes with agreement of the parties entering the contract. Like the one I talked about in my blog post, happened in the […]
Inspired by pay as you go fresh water
Gines Patag, The Philippines, February 21st, 2009 Right after my recent post where I wondered if business models and payment plans for those who live on irregular and unpredictable incomes could be designed to be as adaptable and flexible as the informal economy, I came across this snippet today that gives much food for […]
Village shops: Malawi and The Phillippines
John Lumbe has begun sending in reports from Malawi after speaking with various small business owners. While I'll start getting them organized and published soon, here is something that caught my eye, even as I was going through my own photographs from my fieldwork in the Filipino barangay. Just look at both shops. photo credit: […]
Primal patterns
Handmade furniture designer's workshop, February 24th 2009 I'm sitting here in my room at the Eugenio Lopez Conference center in the outskirts of MetroManila, on a hilltop to be exact, looking down at the poolside and the whole city, respectively from the french windows (pix later). The disparity of difference between this former mansion and […]
Airtime airlines – literally paying as you go
From Wired comes news of this innovative business model and pricing strategy just announced by a new South African airline, here's a longish snippet describing how it will all work, if they manage to get things off the ground, so to speak: Taking a cue from the cellphone industry, an upstart South African airline is […]
Barter economy: rural farming community, India
Raawal Village, Rajasthan, India, January 4th 2009 This tiny shop (with a little more stuff inside) is one of a dozen or so little shops in this village of 3000 people, mostly farmers. Narsi Meena, the shopkeeper is the only one for whom this is his sole source of income. You see, my local guide […]
