Comments on: Jeffrey Sachs: why - and how - we should act http://brasstacks.org.uk/africa/blog/2007/11/30/jeffrey-sachs-why-and-how-we-should-act/ Going beyond the white band Thu, 24 Jul 2008 14:25:47 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.1.3 By: Jeff Mowatt http://brasstacks.org.uk/africa/blog/2007/11/30/jeffrey-sachs-why-and-how-we-should-act/#comment-7817 Jeff Mowatt Sat, 01 Dec 2007 07:01:17 +0000 http://brasstacks.org.uk/africa/blog/2007/11/30/jeffrey-sachs-why-and-how-we-should-act/#comment-7817 Generally in agreement but I'd like to make the case for development aid being deployed in something other than the nonprofit donation based model. Page 331 contents are familiar BTW, the link to my website illustrates. Generally in agreement but I’d like to make the case for development aid being deployed in something other than the nonprofit donation based model. Page 331 contents are familiar BTW, the link to my website illustrates.

]]> By: Caught in Sachs-contradiction « the spike http://brasstacks.org.uk/africa/blog/2007/11/30/jeffrey-sachs-why-and-how-we-should-act/#comment-7935 Caught in Sachs-contradiction « the spike Mon, 03 Dec 2007 08:54:20 +0000 http://brasstacks.org.uk/africa/blog/2007/11/30/jeffrey-sachs-why-and-how-we-should-act/#comment-7935 [...] Casley Gera, over at an admirable quest for knowledge he calls African Development for the Completely Bloody Ignorant, is currently working on Jeffrey Sachs and his much-publicised plans to end poverty. By 2025. [...] […] Casley Gera, over at an admirable quest for knowledge he calls African Development for the Completely Bloody Ignorant, is currently working on Jeffrey Sachs and his much-publicised plans to end poverty. By 2025. […]

]]> By: Rav Casley Gera http://brasstacks.org.uk/africa/blog/2007/11/30/jeffrey-sachs-why-and-how-we-should-act/#comment-8062 Rav Casley Gera Wed, 05 Dec 2007 13:09:13 +0000 http://brasstacks.org.uk/africa/blog/2007/11/30/jeffrey-sachs-why-and-how-we-should-act/#comment-8062 Thanks Jeff. Your project looks extremely interesting and yes, I know the poverty/instability link has been emphasised in some quarters for some time. We'll look some more at microfinance and business-focussed development systems in a few weeks. What do you say, though, to Sachs' argument that for a society to benefit from trade - either through conventional businesses or community-focussed ones like you describe - a certain base level of government investment is needed first, and that's what aid should focus on? Also, what do you make of (RED), another alternative business model concerned with development? Thanks! Thanks Jeff. Your project looks extremely interesting and yes, I know the poverty/instability link has been emphasised in some quarters for some time.

We’ll look some more at microfinance and business-focussed development systems in a few weeks. What do you say, though, to Sachs’ argument that for a society to benefit from trade - either through conventional businesses or community-focussed ones like you describe - a certain base level of government investment is needed first, and that’s what aid should focus on?

Also, what do you make of (RED), another alternative business model concerned with development?

Thanks!

]]> By: Jeff Mowatt http://brasstacks.org.uk/africa/blog/2007/11/30/jeffrey-sachs-why-and-how-we-should-act/#comment-8064 Jeff Mowatt Wed, 05 Dec 2007 13:30:28 +0000 http://brasstacks.org.uk/africa/blog/2007/11/30/jeffrey-sachs-why-and-how-we-should-act/#comment-8064 I'm with Sachs on that one Rav, information infrastructure being key in my view. We could do more at enabling financial infrastructure too, as this Facebook group advocates in its small way: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=6381579023 {RED} to me is a conventional business donating to charity model, which I've read has spent more promoting itself that it's earned. It could be a vehicle for collaboration, ie RED providing a marketplace for social purpose products, but that kind of collaboration doesn't happen too much in the world of nonprofits, which to me frankly, are often more competitive than business. I'd like to see a little less emphasis and branding and celebrity and more effort to embrace organisations making a difference in their own way. As I've said recently on the Skoll forum, the way in which some foundations embrace each other leaves the impression of attempting to penetrate a freemasons ring. Jeff I’m with Sachs on that one Rav, information infrastructure being key in my view. We could do more at enabling financial infrastructure too, as this Facebook group advocates in its small way:

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=6381579023

{RED} to me is a conventional business donating to charity model, which I’ve read has spent more promoting itself that it’s earned. It could be a vehicle for collaboration, ie RED providing a marketplace for social purpose products, but that kind of collaboration doesn’t happen too much in the world of nonprofits, which to me frankly, are often more competitive than business.

I’d like to see a little less emphasis and branding and celebrity and more effort to embrace organisations making a difference in their own way. As I’ve said recently on the Skoll forum, the way in which some foundations embrace each other leaves the impression of attempting to penetrate a freemasons ring.

Jeff

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