Feeding 9 Billion?

Science magazine has an article discussing how the ingenious human race might go about feeding itself when there are several billion more of us (around 2050).

The article does a good job of setting out the challenge: as economies grow (as they have been doing in most places for decades now) people demand different kinds of food -- basically, more protein. One challenge is how we meet this growing demand while limiting possible environmental harms. A different challenge is how to produce food more cheaply so that poor consumers are better able to avoid hunger. One strategy for growing more food and keeping food prices low might be to cultivate more land, but this raises social, political, as well as environmental issues. Another strategy would be to increase yields on lands already under cultivation, but this will likely require use of controversial technologies like GM seeds. Trade offs, as ever.

Recognizing that many variables contribute increasing yields (geography, status of land tenure, access to good quality inputs, etc.) the authors offer a couple of ideas. First, they are cautiously optimistic about the use of GM products. Second, they advocate less waste -- waste less in the production process in the developing world and waste less when consuming in the developed world. Third, they think it might be useful if more of us were vegetarians (but for a counter argument see this story from the UK paper Telegraph). And finally, they think we need to raise and consume more fish.

These authors are relatively skeptical about the abilities of entrepreneurs, working in markets, to meet these challenges. I note that the ag sector is among the most heavily controlled in the global economy. I am surprised that in their discussion of challenges of feeding a growing population the authors largely sidestepped the politically difficult question of how to limit home-grown protectionism. This is another important strategy for feeding more of the world's poor.

- Karol

The Triumph of Literacy

In June 2009 Indego Africa launched both Kinyarwanda and English literacy training at its partner cooperatives. In July, responding to requests from the trainers and their trainees, we gave each woman her own student workbook as a resource for the program.

While enthusiastic about this new program, the added challenge for these women is that they raise families, often as single parents of multiple children. Many of them walk miles to the cooperative to attend trainings in addition to weaving or sewing as the sole source of income for their families. Two hours a week is what they can devote to literacy training. Therefore we are always concerned—is two hours a week enough to make a difference? Not too long ago at Covanya we received an anecdotal response to this question.

As we embarked upon an exercise in collecting our recent sales data (as part of our entrepreneurship training), the usual leaders of the cooperative pulled out their notebooks and pens. I was then surprised to see one of our literacy beginner trainees, who could not write her name six months ago, pull a crisply preseved exercise book out of her purse. With utmost concentration she began to copy down the market information as our trainer wrote it on the board. I couldn’t help but sneak a peak, and all the information was being transferred in her shaky but legible hand. Even more heartening, the book was already half full of notes from other trainings and meetings. Usually one of our most reticent trainees, she even raised her voice to question one of the figures after she had copied it down. As we consistently strive to improve our programming, her newfound confidence and skills serve as the ultimate example for success.

- Amity

Indego Africa at the NYIGF

A couple of weeks ago, from Jan. 31 - Feb. 2, Indego Africa had the opportunity to exhibit at the New York International Gift Fair at the Jacob K. Javits Center. The fair draws over 2,500 exhibitors and 31,000 buyers from 50 states and 85 countries. This was Indego Africa's first gift fair, but we still managed to construct a great booth that included interesting product displays plus videos and photos of our artisan partners in Rwanda.

Matt Mitro and his apron tend the Indego Africa booth.

I was impressed with the sheer number of booths represented at the fair (filling four floors of Javits) and the incredible variety of unique and innovative products offered, from telephone wire tableware to Mexican bronze artwork. Our booth was located in the Handmade Division, so many of our neighbors were also proud members of the the Fair Trade Federation, an added bonus. The most popular products: our plateau baskets and wine coasters.

By the end of the week we had not only received a variety of fantastic orders from retailers across the country, but we also made some great new friends. A huge thank you to Nimet of Tokoloshe for allowing us to partner with her for the event and for lending invaluable support. A special mention also to our booth neighbor Bob Bendik from the Spiral Foundation for his wise advice and camaraderie.

We had a great time and definitely look forward to continuing the momentum at the August fair!

- Manica Piputbundit, Sales & Marketing Intern

Herders in Kenya: Innovating with Insurance

If you're a cattle or goat herder the bulk of any wealth you have is, well, bulky. It's tied up in the animals themselves. This can be a problem because raising livestock is a risky business: you face the possibility of disease, raids from thieves, predators, loss of traditional pasturage, bad weather, etc.

Millions of people still live as herders, moving their stock from one area to another, selling animals when necessary, making a living in this traditional way and relying on strategies for bearing risk that haven't changed much, if at all, in centuries.

Here's a story from the BBC about a new option for herders in Kenya. The program was created by the International Livestock Research Institute. Working with a number of partners, the ILRI has developed a program to insure against the risk of death from drought in Northern Kenya (this is the most substantial risk these herders face).

Using satellite technology, ILRI will help identify areas at high and low risk of drought. Based on this information, policies will be offered with varying premiums to match risk levels. Participants in riskier areas will pay approximately 5.5% of the value of their herd to purchase insurance. People living in less risky areas will pay less. The BBC story points out that although this means that herders might pay upwards of $50 to insure a herd of 10 cattle, a single cow is worth approximately $150, so paying for insurance looks like a good deal.

Hundreds of thousands of animals have died in the recent drought in East Africa and it may be difficult for farmers to find the funds right now to participate, but if they do, this kind of program will help protect them from the hardships of bad weather at the least.

A nice policy innovation, the program currently has financial support from a number of international donors (US AID, World Bank among others). Hopefully it will turn into a sustainable market innovation.

- Karol

(The photo is from ILRI's website).

Spring 2010 Internship Program

Indego Africa’s Spring 2010 Internship Class is off to a rocking start! Their hard work, commitment, and passion for Indego Africa and the women of Rwanda has already had an enormous impact on our operations. We are excited to introduce:

Manica Piputbundit (Sales and Marketing), MBA candidate at NYU Stern School of Business. A former financial services technology professional in New York and Hong Kong, Manica is interested in finding the intersection between international development and business. She is currently a team leader for NYCare’s tax program and a business consultant for Accion USA. She joined the Indego Africa team to apply her business skills while learning more about social entrepreneurship.

Sierra Visher (Fundraising & Development), MPA candidate at Robert F. Wagner School of Public Policy at NYU. A recent Kiva Fellow in Honduras and Bolivia, and a Kiva Spanish translator, Sierra has direct field experience with microfinance in developing countries. Sierra is drawn to Indego Africa’s focus on encouraging sustainable development through projects that empower women.

Katherine Moore (Communications), completing a major in philosophy and a minor in business at Fordham University. Katherine’s commitment to public service includes working with a Supreme Court Judge last summer and assisting an attorney who represents adolescents in the Family Court of Westchester. She is thrilled to part of the Indego Africa team and to expand her dedication to helping others into learning more about the field of international development.

Katherine, Sierra, and Manica.

Finally, joining Indego Africa in Rwanda is Ellie Kates, BA in Political and Social Thought, University of Virginia 2006. After college Ellie worked extensively in Central America helping develop business and art education programming for indigenous women and their children. Upon returning to the U.S., she helped immigrants in the NYC region start and maintain agricultural businesses and market their products in NYC farmers markets. She is drawn to Indego Africa’s approach of combining access to an export market with relevant business and skills training.

Please join us in welcoming this incredible team!!

Interested in our Summer 2010 Internship Program? Keep a look out on our internship page and Facebook Fan page for postings, coming soon!

- Ben

Poverty Disappearing!

Not completely, not in the immediate future, but two development scholars have found that worldwide, poverty rates are tumbling more quickly than previously thought.

Here's the main finding: "World poverty is falling. Between 1970 and 2006, the global poverty rate has been cut by nearly three quarters. The percentage of the world population living on less than $1 a day (in PPP-adjusted 2000 dollars) went from 26.8% in 1970 to 5.4% in 2006 ." That's amazing, especially given that the the population was growing, rapidly in some areas.

Pinkowksy and Sala-i-Martin find that rates have dropped substantially all around the world: 86% in South Asia, 73% in Latin America, 39% in the Middle East, and 20% in Africa.

They also find that world inequality (measured using gini coefficients) is falling. And as inequality falls, they find welfare (social utility) is rising. These findings give anti-globalization proponents a significant challenge.

While much of the news out of the developing world is often depressing or worse; it's wonderful to have this counterweight.

- Karol

From Covanya to Kagame

Earlier this year, I participated in a Harvard Business School Immersion Experience Program that sent a 41 member team to Rwanda to work on short-term consulting projects with a host of local non-profit and for-profit organizations. LaToya Stallworth, Jacqueline Sandberg and myself opted to work with Indego Africa. As part of our project, we visited the Covanya basket-weaving cooperative in Nyamata, Rwanda and worked with the women on marketing and supply chain management. During our second day of teaching at the cooperative, we noticed a lovely blue and green plateau baskets with the name “Paul Kagame” stitched into the design. At that time we knew there was a strong chance our HBS delegation would get to meet the president of Rwanda, so we asked the creator of the basket if we could buy it from her and potentially present it to the President. When she heard the basket may be given to the president, she was ecstatic and insisted we take photographs to document the handover.

President Kagame and Tawanda.

About a week later, our visit with Mr. Paul Kagame was confirmed. Also, the leader of our delegation, Professor Wells, agreed to let the Indego team present the Covanya basket to the president! All 41 of us made our way to his offices in 6 Army-green Landcruisers. After an initial security check, we made our way to an attractive conference center. President Kagame appeared some moments later. For almost 2 hours he entertained questions from our delegation on a variety of topics ranging from his leadership influences, to his views on China-Africa partnerships. I was blown away by his humility, intelligence, and vision for Rwanda. At the end of the discussion, Professor Wells teed up our basket presentation, after delivering a gift from HBS: “Mr. President, the last gift we have for you is perhaps the most important. This is a gift from your people, specifically from a group of Rwandan women who are working to lift themselves out of poverty. I call on Tawanda to present it to you.” Nervously, I grabbed the microphone and explained the origins of the basket and how the women of Covanya would be very happy if I took a picture with him accepting the basket. The president stood up immediately and ushered me towards him for the photo opportunity. And voila! Definitely a surreal moment – a moment that was realized because of Covanya and the great work Indego has been doing with the women there.

- Tawanda Sibanda, HBS 2011