Publication database

The Energy Access India (EAI) program, funded by USAID from 2015 to 2018, was designed to close the circuit between clean energy enterprises and investors by providing access to knowledge and mentorship able to increase enterprises’ investor readiness so that more capital can flow to these enterprises. Researchers Researchers from the William Davidson Institute and Miller Center studied the challenges and lessons learned from the perspectives of enterprises and investors engaged in the program.

This report analyzes the business models and strategies of the EAI portfolio companies, identifies barriers and opportunities for investment in clean energy enterprises in India and provides actionable recommendations for enterprises and investors to influence the development of the overall clean energy industry.

In order to ascertain the potential of production & processing of spices in the North East Region (specifically in Meghalaya, Mizoram and Nagaland) along with the hill state of Uttarakhand, and to suggest a scalable and market driven way forward, YES BANK in association with IDH conducted an extensive study on establishing a “Business Case for Production and Processing of Spices” in the identified states. The report provides strategic recommendations for spices sector to augment sustainable production practices, value addition, marketability and branding from the identified states. I am confident that the contents of this publication will serve as a useful reference for the industry and prospective investors for planning a range of initiatives in the Spices sector in the identified geography.

The study (i) reviews the definitions and concepts of social enterprises, (ii) outlines the landscape across 10 selected countries in Asia and Latin America, (iii) discusses challenges to scaling as faced by social enterprises, and (iv) presents suggestions for development banks to extend support to social enterprises through public and private sector investments. The study categorizes social enterprises and argues that the comparative advantage of development banks is to support selected social enterprises that are commercially bankable and have the base of the pyramid (BOP) at the core of their business operations. Development banks can support these enterprises—considered as the inclusive businesses of the future—through investing in impact funds and/or public sector loans.

OECD and FAO have developed this Guidance to help enterprises observe standards of responsible business conduct and undertake due diligence along agricultural supply chains in order to ensure that their operations contribute to sustainable development. The Guidance comprises:

• A model enterprise policy outlining the standards that enterprises should observe to build responsible agricultural supply chains;
• A framework for risk-based due diligence describing the five steps that enterprises should follow to identify, assess, mitigate and account for how they address the adverse impacts of their activities;
• A description of the major risks faced by enterprises and the measures to mitigate these risks;
• Guidance for engaging with indigenous peoples.

“Can health microinsurance (HMI) schemes achieve sustainability?” As with many seemingly simple questions, there is no simple answer. The answer to this question is of interest to a variety of parties. Insurance providers seek to understand if there is a viable business case for offering an HMI product. Health-care providers and pharmaceutical companies are interested in whether or not HMI can be a means for broadening coverage. Donors and other funding organizations want to know if HMI is a viable investment as a means to improve health-care access, health outcomes and financial protection for the low-income population. Governments consider how to use HMI schemes as a step towards universal health coverage.

This paper seeks to answer this simple yet crucial question based on the experiences of five schemes in South Asia.

After two decades of experience, VimoSEWA had serious concerns about rising costs and slow growth in its voluntary microinsurance scheme. So it began an ambitious programme of changes to its structure, culture, products, operations, and monitoring and evaluation. Microinsurance paper #25 reflects the tensions faced by an organization trying to be socially focused and financially viable, and demonstrates how a resilient attitude can spur resurgence.

Value-added services are an increasingly important component of health microinsurance. Though evidence on their impact is limited, they demonstrate potential to increase demand and improve health outcomes. Briefing Note #16 provides an overview of current developments, highlights the experiences of those already providing them, and points to the potential they hold.