CSR Asia discusses a guidebook by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific titled “Developing Women’s Entrepreneurship and E-Business in Green Cooperatives in the Asian and Pacific Region.” The guidebook argues that new opportunities for farmers in developing countries are available through entrepreneurship and e-business in niche green or ‘organic’ [...]

India is facing a looming energy crisis. The energy needs of the country’s population cannot be met by conventional energy sources (read: Fossil Fuels). We had mentioned in the space before, the importance of India leapfrogging into renewable sources like solar and wind. As part of the eleventh five year plan, GOI just allocated Rs. [...]

Some headlines to start your evening off right: The government of Himachal Pradesh announced at a three-day international conference this weekend that they are drafting a master plan for the development of backpack tourism in the state through strategic public private partnerships (PPPs).  The government ensured that the plan will “optimise the use of natural [...]

The Equator Initiative has recently opened nominations for the biennial Equator Prize, which “recognizes outstanding local efforts to reduce poverty through the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity.”  According to iGovernment, the prize “showcases some of the most innovative community work of the present generation and is critical in emphasizing the strong connection between local solutions and international [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

The answer, in terms of nutritional value for children, should be obvious.  However, in terms of government policy, the question is much more complicated.  Even policy-makers responsible for implementing the Mid-day Meal Scheme don’t seem to have any definite answers.  Why?  First, let me rewind. In response to dwindling school enrollment rates and rising rates [...]

We briefly mentioned in this space about Google Docs extending its capability to multiple languages, including numerous Indian languages. Google Docs is a cutting-edge collaborative online tool which enables users to create documents, spreadsheets and presentations and share it with others (via Google Docs Blog) On Tuesday, we launched Google Docs in 8 Indic languages: [...]

Weekend headlines for your leisurely perusal: Inflation rates in India rose to a 13 month high of 6.7% for the week ending on March 15th.  Economists predict a sharp rise in prices of food and energy following.  In response, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi told a press conference on Saturday that “it is in the interest of [...]