Prof. Yunus: Financing of 4 Social Businesses in Haiti!

Prof. Yunus: Financing of 4 Social Businesses in Haiti!

April 25, 2013

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP) — Nobel peace laureate Muhammad Yunus announced Saturday that his pro-business development group is financing several endeavors through a mix of loans and equity.

The projects that incorporate Yunus' development philosophy of "social business" include two poultry farms, a bakery and a plantation of jatropha plants that can be used for biodiesel, offering an alternative energy source while creating jobs for 200 farmers.

The amount invested in each will range from $80,000 to $500,000, and feature loans with interest rates ranging from 6-10 percent.

Such "social businesses" must each have a social mission like a non-governmental organization, but also generate revenues to cover costs like a profit-making business.

Yunus, an international development expert, made the announcement on the first of a three-day trip to Haiti that includes field visits and a conference examining ways to use his development philosophy to ease poverty in Haiti.

It was the second time Yunus had come to Haiti since visiting a year ago to introduce his "social business" philosophy to the impoverished Caribbean nation. The country is still recovering from a January 2010 earthquake that toppled thousands of buildings and displaced more than 1 million people.

The Germany-based Yunus Social Business Fund, formerly the Grameen Creative Lab, opened an office in Haiti after the temblor.

Yunus is a Bangladeshi banker known for developing a microcredit program for entrepreneurs who were too poor to qualify for traditional bank loans.

He sits on a board of more than 30 philanthropists, former government leaders and executives that advise Haitian President Michel Martelly on economic matters. Former President Clinton, also the United Nations special envoy to Haiti, is a co-chairman.

Yunus also plans to launch a nationwide social business competition for university students before leaving Haiti on Monday.

5 Things to Know about Reckitt's Fight for Access Accelerator

Reckitt and YSB are working together to deliver the Accelerator in South Africa and Brazil, focusing on scaling innovative solutions that enable access to Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH).‍ Get to know the accelerator's approach, design, and targeted impact by reading this article.

Read this 5-minute article for an easy English overview that covers the basics of what you need to know about the Lieferkettensorgfaltspflichtengesetz

Taking effect on January 1, 2023, the Lieferkettensorgfaltspflichtengesetz or LkSG is a likely anchor for corporate new year’s resolutions. The introduction of the LkSG marks the first time that the responsibility of respecting human rights in global supply chains has been put on the legal shoulders of German enterprises and has the potential to influence similar legislation in other jurisdictions around the globe.

Yunus Social Business Turns 10 Years Old!

This year, we turn 10 years old!‍ We are taking this opportunity to highlight and celebrate the inspiring partners in our community, reflect on the valuable lessons we've learned along the way and look forward to designing the next decade.

Cookie Consent

We use cookies to provide necessary website functionality, improve your experience and analyze our traffic. By using our website, you agree to our Privacy Policy and our cookies usage.