First ever National Conference of Rural BPOs

Byrraju Foundation (a philanthropic foundation founded by Satyam head B. Ramalinga Raju and his family in 2001), is organizing India’s first National Conference of Rural BPOs named ‘Jyotismay’. The conference is to be held on 16th May, 2008 in Hyderabad, and you can register to participate in the conference through this link. It is [...]

ISTE Conference and Student Essay Competition on Rural Technology

From Let Me Know, here is a conference and essay competition on “Technology For Rural India: Challenges and Perspectives.” The conference will focus on the following:
In celebration of the ISTE Day 2008, the Delhi Section of the Indian Society of Technical Education (ISTE) is hosting a conference on “Technology for Rural India: Challenges and Perspectives”. [...]

Summary of Columbia’s India Business Conference

Titled India: Growing at the Speed of Thought, this year’s India Business Conference at Columbia University looked to the unbridled growth and change that India has experienced over the last 15 years since economic liberalization spread throughout much of the country. The conference brought in some major names within their respective fields and also appeared [...]

Harvard Business School - ACCION Program on Strategic Leadership for Microfinance

Are you the senior executive of a “retail microfinance institution, banking institution, or other organization interested in microfinance”?  Are you an “industry-related policy-maker or investor”?  Are you looking for ways to:

succeed in highly competitive financial sectors
balance a social focus in a commercial setting
reach new business segments
evolve products and delivery channels

If you answered yes to these [...]

Two major stories in green technologies

Here are some updates on two stories that have occurred in the last few days within the green space.
1. Emergent Ventures has raised Rs 40 Crore in financing.
IDFC Private Equity appears to be the first private equity firm to invest in a carbon credit advisory firm. Emergent Venture’s assists companies in the origination of carbon [...]

Midday Newsfeed

Saturday afternoon news:

Social welfare: The Government of Himachal Pradesh is planning to issue separate ration cards to single widows in the state to enable them draw benefits under various state social welfare programmes. (Source: iGovernment)
Health research: Using supercomputing simulations and lab experiments, an IBM research team plans to accelerate the design of drugs that inhibit [...]

Various Trainings/Workshops - CSR, Participatory Learning, and Livelihoods Promotion

We thought you might find the following trainings/workshops of particular interest. If you happen to attend any of these events, please let us know how useful you found them to be:
1. Workshop on Understanding Corporate Social Responsibility, 24-25 April, Chennai
The programme will help participants to increase their awareness of the CSR and [...]

Training: “Identifying and Mentoring Micro-Entrepreneurs” - May 6-8th, Delhi

From ProPoor.org:
Parivartan announces a training programme on ‘Identifying and Mentoring Micro Entrepreneurs’ from 6-8 May 2008 at Delhi. The training programme shall introduce the concept of entrepreneurship and highlight strategies for identifying and developing entrepreneurial skills in micro entrepreneurs.

Training Outcomes:

Enhanced knowledge of traits and characteristics associated with entrepreneurs
Enhanced understanding of techniques used in identification [...]

Harvard International Development Conference - April 3rd-6th

Harvard’s annual International Development Conference will be taking place this upcoming week from Thursday, April 3rd to Sunday, April 6th at the Harvard Kennedy School of Government.  Details follow:
The Annual International Development Conference is a student-run event providing a world-class inter-disciplinary forum on global sustainable development for practitioners and academics.  Each year the conference attracts over 600 [...]

Certificate Programme in Resource Mobilization and Communication

Related to the below post regarding process documentation, another critical skill necessary for the sustainability of any non-profit organization is the ability to mobilize local resources - financial, human, intellectual, or otherwise.  Currently, non-profit organizations in India are heavily dependent on international organizations for garnering necessary funds, a trend that must be supplemented with the local infusion of resources in order [...]

Process Documentation Training Organized by the Grassroots Institute

All too often development organizations lack the managerial skills necessary to properly document, report, and publish findings associated with their work.  However, equally as important as commitment and passion are the concrete skills necessary to document and disseminate information to interested parties.
In order to address this issue, the Grassroots Insitute is conducting a process documentation [...]

Training Programme on Basic and Advanced Data Analysis using SPSS

Sambodhi Research and Communications is hosting a SPSS training programme in Delhi, India from April 22nd - 25th.  The training programme will “provide information and skills on the basics of using SPSS for informed decision-making.”  Specifically, the programme focuses on:
* Developing better understanding of basic concepts of statistics
* Providing an overview of the computer assisted [...]

World Bank Executive Development Program - Inclusive and Sustainable Business: Creating Markets with the Poor

What are the “linkages between corporate strategy and development”?  How can public and corporate sector leaders implement strategies that provide opportunities for the world’s 4 billion people to lift themselves out of poverty?  The World Bank Institute has recently launched an “Executive Development Program” to help company managers and public sector leaders develop sustainable, yet [...]

Remote Blogging: Skoll World Forum 2008 — Points of Interest from Opening Plenary

Phil Hope, the Minister of the Third Sector in the UK spoke about the creating of a social stock exchange and its ability to promote transparency in the global social entrepreneurship field.
Karen Tse, of International Bridges to Justice spoke about the cross cultural challenges associated with being a social entrepreneur across borders, but also stressed [...]

Sustainable Brands Conference: June 2-5, Monterey, CA

The Sustainable Brands Conference is slated to come to Monterey, CA this upcoming June 2nd to the 5th.  Some information regarding the conference follows:
The global move toward innovation for sustainability is alive and well, and leading companies big and small are capitalizing on this new opportunity to build sales and brand equity.  How can you [...]