SNV makes a three year, $9 million commitment to launch its Impact Investing Advisory Services (IIAS) to help small and medium enterprises (SME) reach investment readiness and source investment deals. Plans to contribute to raising an additional $50 million by 2013.
NEW YORK, Sept. 22 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- At the 2010 Annual Meeting of the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI), Dirk Elsen, Chief Executive of SNV Netherlands Development Organisation (SNV), unveiled SNV's new, three year, $9 million commitment to launch its Impact Investing Advisory Services (IIAS).
Through the initiative, SNV will help small and medium enterprises reach investment readiness and will source investment deals in Africa, Asia and Latin America to benefit low-income citizens via employment creation and income generation. SNV aims to provide services and mobilize investments across various sectors, including agriculture, renewable energy, sustainable tourism and rural development. Impact investing plays an important role in SNV's broader mission to ensure that all people have the freedom to pursue their own sustainable development, and is made possible through generous funding from the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
IIAS is a key component of SNV's strategy of addressing poverty alleviation and promoting sustainable development through market-based approaches. SNV seeks to address the challenges that SMEs face in attracting financing to fuel their growth and increase employment. This reality is highlighted in the Gray Ghost Ventures Survey, which revealed that of 31 well-known impact investment funds, only three provide investments at the start-up stage. With the increasing focus on accountability and impact in international development, a paradigm shift is evident where investors are interested in financing enterprises that provide social, environmental and financial returns.
As explained by Dirk Elsen, SNV's Chief Executive Officer, "SNV believes that poverty and inequity cannot be abated without developing local capacities and strengthening small to medium enterprises that empower the poor, leverage private sector engagement and strengthen the business climate. By participating in CGI, we hope to form new relationships with like minded organizations and take advantage of CGI's strong track record in facilitating highly effective partnerships."
Neil Ghosh, Director of SNV-USA, stated, "The economy is the key to poverty eradication and business is the key to economic growth, as we attempt to catalyze sustainable and scalable solutions by developing a strong global alliance that will be of significant benefit for development worldwide."
Due to its local knowledge and in-country presence of over 40 years, SNV is in a unique position to act as a broker between fund managers and SMEs to help these actors connect. By leveraging its presence, expertise and experience, SNV will identify and prepare investment opportunities, conduct due diligence and source deals. To address operational challenges faced by SMEs, such as lack of business training and adequate management systems, SNV will provide technical assistance on gathering market intelligence, streamlining production processes and understanding capital market dynamics to reach investment readiness. From lessons learned over 30 years in value chain development, inclusive business initiatives and other programs that engage the private sector, SNV understands that economic development and employment generation require both investment and investment ready enterprises.
To further this effort, SNV aims to raise $50 million for SME investments by the end of 2013, and is seeking to form partnerships with investment fund managers interested in investing in the deals SNV generates and with the foundations, multi- and bi-lateral organizations, corporations, and NGOs looking to finance technical assistance.
About SNV:
SNV is a non-profit international development organisation with headquarters in the Netherlands and staff in 35 countries. For over 40 years, we have worked with national, regional and local governments, entrepreneurs and citizen associations to alleviate poverty. Our advisory services are funded by public and private sources. With over 900 technical advisors and 100 local teams, we provide expertise in agriculture, renewable energy, education, health, water and sanitation, forestry, tourism, governance and private sector development.
About Clinton Global Initiative:
Established in 2005 by President Bill Clinton, the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) convenes global leaders to devise and implement innovative solutions to some of the world's most pressing challenges. Since 2005, CGI Annual Meetings have brought together more than 125 current and former heads of state, 15 Nobel Peace Prize laureates, hundreds of leading CEOs, heads of foundations, major philanthropists, directors of the most effective nongovernmental organizations, and prominent members of the media. These CGI members have made more than 1,700 commitments valued at $57 billion, which have already improved the lives of 220 million people in more than 170 countries. The CGI community also includes CGI University (CGI U), a forum to engage college students in global citizenship, MyCommitment.org, an online portal where anybody can make a Commitment to Action, and CGI Lead, which engages a select group of young leaders from business, government, and civil society. For more information, visit www.clintonglobalinitiative.org.
For further information, contact: Neil Ghosh, Director, SNV USA, Tel.: 1 202 572 9273 or email: dc@snvworld.org
As we have been doing since the 2006 edition, we took this opportunity to present the results of some of the latest projects currently being carried out: cognition, handedness, animal well-being and primate resocialization.
One of our prime objectives at this conference was to highlight the importance of ethology for us in two key areas: to help improve the well being of abused primates, and on the other hand provide ethoprimatological models to help explain the hominization process of the human being
SNV joins the Global Alliance for Clean Cookstoves as a Founding Partner, and pledges $250,000 over the next two years to combat climate change and improve livelihoods and health of women by promoting the adoption of clean cooking solutions
NEW YORK, Sept. 21 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Improved cookstoves are a brilliant and simple way to improve people's lives. As a Founding Partner of the Global Alliance for Clean Cookstoves, SNV Netherlands Development Organisation, represented by Chief Executive, Dirk Elsen, participated in the official launch of the Alliance at the 2010 Annual Meeting of the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI).
The Global Alliance for Clean Cookstoves is a public-private initiative that aims to create a sustainable global market for clean and efficient household cooking solutions. SNV pledges to contribute $250,000, as well as provide its extensive expertise in renewable energy, to help the Alliance meet its goal of deploying 100 million cookstoves by 2020. The Alliance will work in cooperation with leading non-profit organizations, foundations, academic institutions, governments and UN agencies to overcome market barriers that currently impede the production, deployment and use of clean cookstoves in the developing world.
Exposure to smoke from traditional cooking methods causes approximately 1.9 million premature deaths annually, with women and young children being the most affected. Smoke from poorly ventilated cooking contributes to various chronic illnesses and acute health impacts such as pneumonia, lung cancer and bronchitis. This reality is highlighted by the World Health Organization's estimate that smoke from cookstoves is the fourth worst overall health risk factor in developing countries. Reliance on biomass for cooking increases pressure on local natural resources, thereby contributing to climate change. It also obliges women and children to spend many hours each week collecting fuel while often facing personal security risks.
To address these problems, the Alliance aims to develop a global clean cookstove industry that constantly innovates to improve design and performance, while lowering the cost of stoves, thereby reaching thousands of the world's poor with cleaner and more efficient household cooking solutions. More efficient cookstoves help reduce the amount of time spent collecting fuel, emissions of greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide, and create revenues from carbon credits. Additionally, creating an efficient and sustainable clean cookstove supply chain – design, manufacture, and distribution — can help create jobs at the local level.
Dirk Elsen, SNV Chief Executive, stated, "The environment, renewable energy, and improved welfare of women and children are clearly defined SNV strategic concerns and each of our projects around the world is undertaken with them in consideration. Therefore, we are very excited about joining the Global Alliance for Clean Cookstoves whose mission and goals fit in perfectly with these SNV strategic priorities. As a Founding Partner in the Alliance, we intend to take an active role in helping define standards, encourage research, and set the vision for the global deployment of improved cookstoves."
Neil Ghosh, Director of SNV-USA added, "Participating in the Alliance's launch at the 2010 Clinton Global Initiative is a terrific opportunity for SNV to help promote the Alliance's vision and begin sharing our expertise in bio-energy implementation with our co- Founding Partners and other CGI attendees."
SNV has successfully promoted the implementation of biogas, biofuels and clean cookstove programmes in Africa, Asia and Latin America. It is committed to using its expertise in developing market-based solutions and working with the private, public and non-profit sectors to ensure the worldwide dissemination of bio-energy technologies, thereby improving the health of women and children as well as mitigating the impact of climate change. As a part of the Alliance, SNV can leverage this experience to scale up efforts in the clean cookstove sector, which is reaching a "tipping point" thanks to advances in cookstove design and testing, new research on harmful effects of inefficient cookstoves, an increased awareness of the need to address climate change challenges and ability to reach scale via carbon finance.
SNV is one of the Founding Partners of the Alliance; other major Founding Partners include the United Nations Foundation, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Department of State, World Health Organization, U.S. Department of Energy and United Nations Environmental Programme amongst others. The Alliance is currently seeking additional partners and is looking to secure major funding support for its clean cookstove mission.
About SNV:
SNV is a non-profit international development organisation with headquarters in the Netherlands and staff in 35 countries. For over 40 years, we have worked with national, regional and local governments, entrepreneurs and citizen associations to alleviate poverty. Our advisory services are funded by public and private sources. With over 900 technical advisors and 100 local teams, we provide expertise in agriculture, renewable energy, education, health, water and sanitation, forestry, tourism, governance and private sector development.
About the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI):
Established in 2005 by President Bill Clinton, the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) convenes global leaders to devise and implement innovative solutions to some of the world's most pressing challenges. Since 2005, CGI Annual Meetings have brought together more than 125 current and former heads of state, 15 Nobel Peace Prize laureates, hundreds of leading CEOs, heads of foundations, major philanthropists, directors of the most effective nongovernmental organizations, and prominent members of the media. These CGI members have made more than 1,700 commitments valued at $57 billion, which have already improved the lives of 220 million people in more than 170 countries. The CGI community also includes CGI University (CGI U), a forum to engage college students in global citizenship, MyCommitment.org, an online portal where anybody can make a Commitment to Action, and CGI Lead, which engages a select group of young leaders from business, government, and civil society. For more information, visit www.clintonglobalinitiative.org.
SNV joins the Global Alliance for Clean Cookstoves as a Founding Partner, and pledges $250,000 over the next two years to combat climate change and improve livelihoods and health of women by promoting the adoption of clean cooking solutions
NEW YORK, Sept. 21 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Improved cookstoves are a brilliant and simple way to improve people's lives. As a Founding Partner of the Global Alliance for Clean Cookstoves, SNV Netherlands Development Organisation, represented by Chief Executive, Dirk Elsen, participated in the official launch of the Alliance at the 2010 Annual Meeting of the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI).
The Global Alliance for Clean Cookstoves is a public-private initiative that aims to create a sustainable global market for clean and efficient household cooking solutions. SNV pledges to contribute $250,000, as well as provide its extensive expertise in renewable energy, to help the Alliance meet its goal of deploying 100 million cookstoves by 2020. The Alliance will work in cooperation with leading non-profit organizations, foundations, academic institutions, governments and UN agencies to overcome market barriers that currently impede the production, deployment and use of clean cookstoves in the developing world.
Exposure to smoke from traditional cooking methods causes approximately 1.9 million premature deaths annually, with women and young children being the most affected. Smoke from poorly ventilated cooking contributes to various chronic illnesses and acute health impacts such as pneumonia, lung cancer and bronchitis. This reality is highlighted by the World Health Organization's estimate that smoke from cookstoves is the fourth worst overall health risk factor in developing countries. Reliance on biomass for cooking increases pressure on local natural resources, thereby contributing to climate change. It also obliges women and children to spend many hours each week collecting fuel while often facing personal security risks.
To address these problems, the Alliance aims to develop a global clean cookstove industry that constantly innovates to improve design and performance, while lowering the cost of stoves, thereby reaching thousands of the world's poor with cleaner and more efficient household cooking solutions. More efficient cookstoves help reduce the amount of time spent collecting fuel, emissions of greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide, and create revenues from carbon credits. Additionally, creating an efficient and sustainable clean cookstove supply chain – design, manufacture, and distribution — can help create jobs at the local level.
Dirk Elsen, SNV Chief Executive, stated, "The environment, renewable energy, and improved welfare of women and children are clearly defined SNV strategic concerns and each of our projects around the world is undertaken with them in consideration. Therefore, we are very excited about joining the Global Alliance for Clean Cookstoves whose mission and goals fit in perfectly with these SNV strategic priorities. As a Founding Partner in the Alliance, we intend to take an active role in helping define standards, encourage research, and set the vision for the global deployment of improved cookstoves."
Neil Ghosh, Director of SNV-USA added, "Participating in the Alliance's launch at the 2010 Clinton Global Initiative is a terrific opportunity for SNV to help promote the Alliance's vision and begin sharing our expertise in bio-energy implementation with our co- Founding Partners and other CGI attendees."
SNV has successfully promoted the implementation of biogas, biofuels and clean cookstove programmes in Africa, Asia and Latin America. It is committed to using its expertise in developing market-based solutions and working with the private, public and non-profit sectors to ensure the worldwide dissemination of bio-energy technologies, thereby improving the health of women and children as well as mitigating the impact of climate change. As a part of the Alliance, SNV can leverage this experience to scale up efforts in the clean cookstove sector, which is reaching a "tipping point" thanks to advances in cookstove design and testing, new research on harmful effects of inefficient cookstoves, an increased awareness of the need to address climate change challenges and ability to reach scale via carbon finance.
SNV is one of the Founding Partners of the Alliance; other major Founding Partners include the United Nations Foundation, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Department of State, World Health Organization, U.S. Department of Energy and United Nations Environmental Programme amongst others. The Alliance is currently seeking additional partners and is looking to secure major funding support for its clean cookstove mission.
About SNV:
SNV is a non-profit international development organisation with headquarters in the Netherlands and staff in 35 countries. For over 40 years, we have worked with national, regional and local governments, entrepreneurs and citizen associations to alleviate poverty. Our advisory services are funded by public and private sources. With over 900 technical advisors and 100 local teams, we provide expertise in agriculture, renewable energy, education, health, water and sanitation, forestry, tourism, governance and private sector development.
About the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI):
Established in 2005 by President Bill Clinton, the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) convenes global leaders to devise and implement innovative solutions to some of the world's most pressing challenges. Since 2005, CGI Annual Meetings have brought together more than 125 current and former heads of state, 15 Nobel Peace Prize laureates, hundreds of leading CEOs, heads of foundations, major philanthropists, directors of the most effective nongovernmental organizations, and prominent members of the media. These CGI members have made more than 1,700 commitments valued at $57 billion, which have already improved the lives of 220 million people in more than 170 countries. The CGI community also includes CGI University (CGI U), a forum to engage college students in global citizenship, MyCommitment.org, an online portal where anybody can make a Commitment to Action, and CGI Lead, which engages a select group of young leaders from business, government, and civil society. For more information, visit www.clintonglobalinitiative.org.
From a host of locations around the globe and from many contrasting perspectives, dozens of participants presented us with their visual interpretations of the digital divide.
