New on Acumenfund.org: Ambulances, Clinics and Microfranchises

We’re happy to point out some new content available on Acumen Fund’s web site. 2008 Fellows Chris Walker and Catherine Casey, as well as 2007 Fellow David Lehr have captured the human faces, opportunities and challenges of investing at the base of the economic pyramid.

Ambulances that Save Lives and Save Energy: Chris Walker’s video on Mumbai’s “Dial 1298″ 24×7 ambulance service illustrates how the investment is not just saving lives, it’s also piloting an energy-saving system using solar panels. You can check out the video and learn more about 1298’s impact on its investment page.

Quality Healthcare in Kibera: Casey’s video features Dorah Nyanja, a nurse working in Kibera, Nairobi’s largest slum. She owns a clinic that is part of the Sustainable Healthcare Foundation (SHF), a micro-franchise investment with 64 clinics – including Dorah’s – throughout Kenya. Check out the video and learn more on SHF’s investment page.

Microfranchising at the Base of the Pyramid: David Lehr’s paper provides an in-depth analysis of microfranchising as a development tool. The paper highlights three leading microfranchising organizations that partner with Acumen Fund: Drishtee, VisionSpring (formerly Scojo Foundation) and Sustainable Healthcare Foundation. It’s one of a series of written articles that Acumen Fund has produced about the ways market-based approaches are changing the way we think about poverty alleviation.