[kictanet] Newest Name for AID ? Impact Sourcing ...

Thu Jun 23 16:44:10 EAT 2011

I was planning to call txteagle to check up on the details of their
'business'. I can do the same with Samasource - might be some fun column
material in there.

I might end up looking like a right witch again, just as I did when I told
some very well-meaning Americans that 'Underwear  for Africa' a) makes no
sense, and b) is incredibly patronising, but hey, that's the adventure of
sitting at a laptop all day long :)

On 23 June 2011 16:31, <godera at skyweb.co.ke> wrote:

>
> Andrea,
>
> My sentiments exactly. I just did not want to get too deep into all this.
> I am still not sure how much the impact has been to be honest, the story
> sounds
> good but what is real?
>
> Gilda
> Quoting Andrea Bohnstedt <andrea.bohnstedt at ratio-magazine.com>:
>
> > Gilda,
> > I'm a writer/analyst/professional nosy person, so I'm always interested
> in
> > facts. But there are way more interesting stories out there than I could
> > conceivably tackle, so I'm going to concentrate on the proper business
> and
> > country risk stories, and ignore the fluffy heart-warming ones.
> >
> > I really think that all this well-intentioned 'social business' is
> > incredibly bad PR for Kenya and Africa: because it's a cute, heartwarming
> > story, it gets more popular (i.e. non-specialist) attention than a
> > completely standard boardroom story, but it actually misrepresents what
> > business in Kenya is.
> >
> >
> > Edwin,
> > Capacity is one thing, and I'm sure there are several dimensions to it
> > (technical, number of seats, education levels etc). Perception also
> matters:
> > I remember Nik mentioning that in the beginning, it was just really
> > difficult to get on the radar screen of bigger outsourcing clients. But
> my
> > more general point is as above: There are so many plain-vanilla business
> > issues to this that I've got enough to research and write about if I
> want.
> >
> > Chris,
> > I've emailed txteagle and will call Mr Eagle in the next few days to get
> > some details - will let you know. That outsourcing reaches the middle
> class
> > doesn't surprise me: If you look at the kind of qualifications and
> > background you need to work in it, that's probably natural.
> >
> > And I think there's nothing wrong with employing middle class - or
> nascent
> > middle class: There were some interesting stats on what middle class
> > actually means in Africa (interesting column material as well:
> >
>
> http://the-star.co.ke/business/andrea-bohnstedt/24381-who-exactly-forms-the-middle-class
> ).
> >
> >
> > Employing middle class doesn't take anything away from anyone - it's
> > employment, people pay taxes, and at least in Kenya, anyone middle class
> in
> > employment has probably a number of family members that s/he helps
> looking
> > after.
> >
> > I see the point that more employment everywhere is desperately needed. I
> do
> > wonder, however, whether it makes sense to use a subsidised business
> model
> > (which then isn't really a business, and its growth will depend on
> donations
> > or 'sponsorship') is the best way of reaching these people. Maybe
> > outsourcing just isn't the answer to marginalised youth unemployment?
> >
> > Eugene,
> > YES to chocolate :)
> >
> > Happy day everyone,
> > Andrea
> >
> > On 22 June 2011 09:10, <godera at skyweb.co.ke> wrote:
> >
> > > Andrea,
> > >
> > > Maybe it would help if Samasource provided some actual facts on this,
> > > rather
> > > than the story....
> > >
> > > Gilda
> > > Quoting Andrea Bohnstedt <andrea.bohnstedt at ratio-magazine.com>:
> > >
> > > > How did Samasource help BPOs get started? I don't remember Nik
> Nesbitt
> > > from
> > > > KenCall, for example, talking about Samasource (but maybe I wasn't
> > paying
> > > > enough attention).
> > > >
> > > > I do remember Nik Nesbitt and a number of others talking about
> > perception
> > > > issues: that Kenya is not seen as a BPO market internationally, it's
> not
> > > on
> > > > anyone's radar screen, the operations are still too small to carry
> > weight
> > > > etc. I very much doubt that an NGO-type outfit like Samasource, with
> > > people
> > > > in refugee camps, does much to create a perception of Kenya as a
> punchy,
> > > > professional, grown-up BPO player.
> > > >
> > > > On 21 June 2011 16:57, Muchiri Nyaggah <muchiri at semacraft.com>
> wrote:
> > > >
> > > > > Not quite aid, leans more towards trade (or traid). Players like
> > > > Samasource
> > > > > have helped BPOs here get started.
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > > Kind regards,
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > > *Muchiri* Nyaggah
> > > > >
> > > > > Principal Partner
> > > > >
> > > > > @muchiri
> > > > >
> > > > > +254 722 506400
> > > > >
> > > > > Semacraft.com
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > > On Tue, Jun 21, 2011 at 4:34 PM, Agosta Liko <agostal at gmail.com>
> > > wrote:
> > > > >
> > > > >> First, they called is Social Entrepreneurship, Then impact
> Investing
> > > > >> ....now its Impact Sourcing .......
> > > > >>
> > > > >>
> > > > >>
> > > > >>
> > > >
> > >
> > >
> >
>
> http://www.rockefellerfoundation.org/news/press-releases/rockefeller-foundation-foster-impact
> > > > >>
> > > > >> Press Releases
> > > > >>  ShareThis
> > > > >> Rockefeller Foundation to Foster Impact Sourcing in Africa:
> Poverty
> > > > >> Reduction through ICT Jobs
> > > > >> June 17, 2011 / Press Releases
> > > > >>
> > > > >> *New York, NY*—A new report funded by the Rockefeller Foundation
> > > > >> estimates that the field of Impact Sourcing, employing
> > > socioeconomically
> > > > >> disadvantaged people in Business Process Outsourcing (BPO)
> centers,
> > is
> > > > >> currently $4.5 billion and has the potential to reach $20 billion
> and
> > > > employ
> > > > >> 780,000 by 2015. The report, conducted by Monitor Group, suggests
> a
> > > > strong
> > > > >> business case for Impact Sourcing, which can provide high-quality,
> > > > reliable
> > > > >> services at prices that are at least competitive with traditional
> BPO
> > > > >> centers and, in some cases, almost 40 percent lower than what
> > > traditional
> > > > >> providers can offer.
> > > > >>
> > > > >> The findings, contained in the new working paper, *Job Creation
> > > through
> > > > >> Building the Field of Impact
> > > >
> > > Sourcing<
> > >
> >
>
> http://www.monitor.com/Portals/0/MonitorContent/imported/MonitorUnitedStates/Articles/PDFs/Monitor_Job_Creation_Through_Building_the_Field_of_Impact_Sourcing_6_16_11.pdf
> > > >,
> > > > >> *also finds significant potential for poverty alleviation because
> > > Impact
> > > > >> Sourcing workers can earn incomes up to 100 percent over
> alternative
> > > > >> employment options.
> > > > >>
> > > > >> The working paper is part of the Rockefeller Foundation’s Poverty
> > > > >> Reduction through Information and Digital Employment (PRIDE) work.
> > > > Through
> > > > >> PRIDE, the Rockefeller Foundation plans to support the development
> > and
> > > > >> testing of Impact Sourcing business models, support research on
> > > > >> interventions and continue to build the network of key Impact
> > Sourcing
> > > > >> stakeholders to advance the field.
> > > > >>
> > > > >> Impact Sourcing employs individuals with limited opportunity for
> > > > >> sustainable employment as principal workers in Business Process
> > > > Outsourcing
> > > > >> (BPO) centers to provide high-quality, information-based services
> to
> > > > >> domestic and international public and private-sector clients.
> > > > >>
> > > > >> “Harnessing the global BPO trend, PRIDE exemplifies the
> Rockefeller
> > > > >> Foundation’s commitment to promoting growth with equity, in which
> the
> > > > poor
> > > > >> and vulnerable have more access to opportunities, such as ICT
> > > > employment,”
> > > > >> said Dr. James Nyoro, Managing Director, Africa.  “The Foundation
> is
> > > > proud
> > > > >> to partner with Monitor on this important research, which drives
> the
> > > idea
> > > > >> that employing low-income workers will provide them with
> sustainable
> > > > income
> > > > >> which can lead to positive social outcomes, ultimately helping to
> > > improve
> > > > >> livelihoods and build relevant skills for employment in the fast
> > > growing
> > > > ICT
> > > > >> sector.”
> > > > >>
> > > > >> *Job Creation through Building the Field of Impact
> > > >
> > > Sourcing<
> > >
> >
>
> http://www.monitor.com/Portals/0/MonitorContent/imported/MonitorUnitedStates/Articles/PDFs/Monitor_Job_Creation_Through_Building_the_Field_of_Impact_Sourcing_6_16_11.pdf
> > > >
> > > > >> *features case studies on current Impact Sourcing models in
> Africa,
> > > India
> > > > >> and other regions, including those of Foundation grantees like
> > Digital
> > > > >> Divide Data, a social enterprise with the objective of creating
> jobs
> > > for
> > > > >> poor and disadvantaged youth in Cambodia, Laos and Kenya; and
> > > Samasource,
> > > > an
> > > > >> intermediary that markets and sells Impact Sourcing services to
> > > clients
> > > > >> based in the United States and United Kingdom.
> > > > >>
> > > > >> “Based on more than 120 interviews across 13 countries with Impact
> > > > >> Sourcing managers, providers of BPO services, outsourcing experts,
> > > > >> employees, outsourcing clients, government officials, and other
> > > > individuals
> > > > >> linked to the Impact Sourcing space, this analysis creates a
> shared
> > > > >> understanding of the current situation, the size of the
> opportunity
> > > and
> > > > >> action agenda necessary to build this field,” said Michael
> Kubzansky,
> > > > Global
> > > > >> Heald of the Monitor Inclusive Markets Initiative.
> > > > >>
> > > > >> * *
> > > > >>
> > > > >> *The Rockefeller Foundation*
> > > > >>
> > > > >> The Rockefeller Foundation’s mission to promote the well-being of
> > > people
> > > > >> throughout the world has remained unchanged since its founding in
> > > 1913.
> > > > >> Today, that mission is applied to an era of rapid globalization.
>  Our
> > > > vision
> > > > >> is that this century will be one in which globalization’s benefits
> > are
> > > > more
> > > > >> widely shared and its challenges are more easily weathered.  To
> > > realize
> > > > this
> > > > >> vision, the Foundation seeks to achieve two fundamental goals in
> our
> > > > work.
> > > > >> First, we seek to build resilience that enhances individual,
> > community
> > > > and
> > > > >> institutional capacity to survive, adapt, and grow in the face of
> > > acute
> > > > >> crises and chronic stresses.  Second, we seek to promote growth
> with
> > > > equity
> > > > >> in which the poor and vulnerable have more access to opportunities
> > > that
> > > > >> improve their lives. In order to achieve these goals, the
> Foundation
> > > > >> constructs its work into time-bound initiatives that have defined
> > > > objectives
> > > > >> and strategies for impact.  These initiatives address challenges
> that
> > > lie
> > > > >> either within or at the intersections of five issue areas: basic
> > > survival
> > > > >> safeguards, global health, environment and climate change,
> > > urbanization,
> > > > and
> > > > >> social and economic security.
> > > > >>
> > > > >> * *
> > > > >>
> > > > >> *About Monitor Group*
> > > > >>
> > > > >> Monitor works with the world's leading corporations, governments
> and
> > > > >> social sector organizations to drive growth in ways that are most
> > > > important
> > > > >> to them. Monitor Group offers a range of services—advisory,
> > > > >> capability-building and capital services—designed to unlock the
> > > > challenges
> > > > >> of achieving sustainable growth. Monitor brings leading-edge
> ideas,
> > > > >> approaches and methods to bear on clients' toughest problems and
> > > biggest
> > > > >> opportunities. Headquartered in Cambridge, Massachusetts, the firm
> > > > employs
> > > > >> more than 1,500 people in 18 countries worldwide. For more
> > > information,
> > > > >> visit www.monitor.com.
> > > > >>
> > > > >> Monitor Inclusive Markets (MIM) catalyzes support for market-based
> > > > >> solutions to social challenges. MIM does this by understanding and
> > > > improving
> > > > >> the business models of enterprises currently engaging people that
> > live
> > > at
> > > > >> the bottom of the economic pyramid, particularly helping these
> > > > enterprises
> > > > >> reach scale and commercial viability. For more information, visit
> > > > >> www.mim.monitor.com.
> > > > >>
> > > > >> ###
> > > > >> For media inquiries, please contact:
> > > > >> Svetlana Vaisman
> > > > >> <svaisman at rockfound.org>            917-975-5318
> > > > >>
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> > > > --
> > > > Andrea Bohnstedt <http://ke.linkedin.com/in/andreabohnstedt>
> > > > Publisher
> > > > +254 720 960 322
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