After Rockefeller Foundation’s InnoCentive Partnership challenge for finding solutions to poverty, we have now got another unique “Second Annual Open Enterprise Solutions to Poverty” competition from the S.E.VEN Fund which aims to look deeper into ideas and ways for alleviation of poverty. S.E.VEN Fund is nonprofit organization in the US and this program is being organized with initial grant from the John Templeton Foundation. Any person or organization from any part of the world can apply for this grant competition.
The competition is basically a research to find out if wealthy private businesses and enterprises in developing countries can contribute towards alleviating poverty. The Fund acknowledges the fact that decades of aid and external funding have not helped developing countries tackle poverty completely though the source of such support has been both from government and the private sector from developed economies. However, despite the presence of a wealthy class in developing countries, there has been suspicion of its participation in alleviation of poverty within its own borders. It is felt that wealthy people in poor countries are too self-interested to provide resources for reducing poverty. But it can also be the other way round since no proof of such facts has been established. This Fund specifically tries to find out if wealth-creation and presence of private sector players in developing countries can lead to reduction of poverty through the implementation of corporate social responsibility in a sustainable manner. The Fund will sponsor two research studies with a funding of US $100,000 each for understanding this kind of solutions for poverty alleviation. The research can deal with questions such as: “(1) What are the most significant qualities of a successful entrepreneur, especially in the uncertain environment of a developing economy? (2) Can entrepreneurship be taught, inspired, and diffused through a society? (3) Could support for the entrepreneurial spirit serve as role models of sustainable solutions to poverty? (4) What is the relationship between prosperity and progressive human values? (5) How can enterprises contribute to making stronger societies?”
The Fund will not only increase the understanding of the role of entrepreneurship for poverty reduction and sustainable economic development, but it will also build collaborations with private entrepreneurs seeking to participate in reducing poverty and also build upon inspirational stories of role-models who have balanced their entrepreneurial success with poverty alleviate efforts.
To apply for the fund, an initial proposal of no more than 3 pages along with the CV of the relevant person has to be submitted. The proposal should include the project summary, a draft budget and references. After the review of the initial proposal, a full proposal will be requested from the applicants. The deadline to submit the initial proposal is 15 October 2009. For more information, visit this link.
