Enterprise Solutions to Poverty

Launched in 2006, Enterprise Solutions to Poverty mobilizes and supports leading companies and entrepreneurs in building profitable and inclusive businesses that incorporate millions of low income people as suppliers, distributors and consumers of asset-building products. Our goal is to double the income and assets of over 50 million low income people by 2012.

Full Description

NameEnterprise Solutions to Poverty
LocationKenya
Student(s)Beverly Chung, Kesha Cash, Luke Davenport, Michael Krafft, Samantha Dwyer
Mentor(s)
Description

Launched in 2006, Enterprise Solutions to Poverty mobilizes and supports leading companies and entrepreneurs in building profitable and inclusive businesses that incorporate millions of low income people as suppliers, distributors and consumers of asset-building products. Our goal is to double the income and assets of over 50 million low income people by 2012.

ESP will initiate activities in Kenya at end 2008 and build up its program and network of key actors throughout 2009 and beyond. ESP worked with our team of Columbia MBAs to identify leading large local companies, MNCs and emerging entrepreneurs who can be champions for change, and develop a viable strategy for ESP to successfully promote inclusive businesses in Kenya, making a major impact on low income people.

 

Deliverables

 

1. Identification of 20 to 30 large local companies and MNCs capable of being champions for change in Kenya and completion of a 2-page profile on each. Each profile should include:

a) Profile of CEO – background, strategic vision

b) Information demonstrating how each company meets the criteria supplied by ESP

c) Description of the part of the business model which engages low income people

d) Analysis of how many low income people engaged, how much they are earning, how this

segment has grown over the last five years

e) Students‘ assessment of potential areas for action

2. Identification of 15 to 20 emerging entrepreneurs in Kenya capable of being champions for change and completion of a 2-page profile on each, based on same requirements outlined in (1) above.

3. Recommendations – presented in Powerpoint format – for ESP‘s strategy for Kenya, including:

a) Recommended members of ESP Innovation Groups in the four target sectors, with

potential leaders identified for each.

b) Recommended members of ESP Entrepreneurs Network with potential leaders identified.

c) Of the potential ESP activities in country, which ones do companies feel would be most

useful in building inclusive business strategies in Kenya? (Note: ESP has already

identified a list of potential activities to be carried out in each focus country. We will

share and discuss these activities with the MBA team.)