Minka-Dev arrives in Mexico

Mexico is a country with great potential to develop businesses of shared value and social-environmental impact, in which innovation, effort, and companies’ commitment make it possible to generate social and environmental benefits for their inhabitants.

Several companies from the agro-industry, food, housing and other sectors are advancing initiatives that involve impoverished communities and contribute to improving their living conditions.

These businesses have different approaches. Many companies have developed lines of business that have low-income populations as clients, satisfying basic needs through innovative and affordable products and services. In some other cases, inclusion is established by linking low-income people within value chains, for example, providing raw materials. The common factor in these businesses is the creation of social value, coupled with an entrepreneurial component that generates mutual benefits. To this growing trend, the interest of companies to reduce their total environmental impact, without neglecting economic profitability, is added.

In this context, Minka-Dev opens its doors in Mexico, boosting business with a focus on Triple Bottom Line results (economic, social, and environmental). Companies and Mexican social organizations may participate in Minka-Dev’s on-line market of inclusive business opportunities. The platform allows them to attract business development aligned to their needs and participate in this business model, generating cross-sectoral partnerships to increase sustainability and potential scaling of their initiatives.

Additionally, Minka-Dev makes available to public, private, and third sector organizations the experience and talent of its workforce, which has boosted this type of businesses in Africa, Asia, Latin America and, in some cases, alliances with European countries. From design thinking methodologies, spaces of co-creation, and open innovation processes, Minka-Dev catalyzes, evaluates, and accompanies projects and businesses that have the potential to create social, economic, and environmental value sustainably.

Minka-Dev has been working in Colombia, Spain and launched an initiative in Peru. These countries have developed business models, expansion, and sustainability to connect objectives of poverty reduction and environmental protection with business models through opportunities related to agro-biodiversity, food security, tourism, logistics innovations, and responsible management of waste and resources. Currently, we are developing opportunities related to drinking water, irrigation systems, eco-efficient stoves, ecotourism, and primary health care.

The presence of Minka-Dev in Mexico begins with accompanying initiatives led by Bonafont and Pronatura Sur to develop business opportunities for the conservation of mangrove forests of Chiapas and Oaxaca; and with Cooperation of the German Agency (GIZ) and Bonafont to perform a systematic analysis of the recycling project with waste pickers in Mexicali for structuring a methodological guide with steps, learning, and useful recommendations for other companies looking to replicate this type of business.

Minka-Dev in Mexico is directed by Iliana Molina, sociologist and social economist, passionate about economic inclusion and base development. Iliana has over ten years of experience in public and private academic sectors. As Programs Manager at Fundemex, Iliana designed and implemented the Alliance for Inclusive Economic Development, an innovative strategy to contribute to the consolidation of sustainable production chains, greater social value, and profitability. Now, from Minka-Dev, Iliana makes her knowledge and experience available to Mexican organizations, in the interest of promoting initiatives that value the potential her country has to innovate and grow in a sustainable and fair manner through economic inclusion.

We invite all public, private, and third sector organizations interested in promoting an economy with greater social and environmental value to contact us at info@minka-dev.com,imolina@minka-dev.com and to visit our website www.minka-dev.com to know more about the projects that we have supported and ways in which together we can build a more prosperous Mexico.