APPROACH AND METHODOLOGY
Following the earthquake, Nobel Peace Laureate Professor Muhammad Yunus, the Grameen Creative Lab (GCL), and SAP AG decided to promote social business by fostering the development of small and medium enterprises, with the ultimate goal of strengthening the private sector in Haiti. Historically, Haiti has experienced many traditional charity projects that are often implemented without a sustainable impact. In contrast, social businesses can offer a new approach to generating sustainable income. According to Professor Yunus, "Social business unites the dynamism of traditional business with the social conscience of charity." GCL's goal is to demonstrate that Haiti can create an environment of successful social business.
The commitment - launching Yunus and You (YY) Haiti - clusters its social business activities into three areas including education, environment and agriculture, and nutrition.
The initiative has four main objectives: 1) establish the YY Haiti Social Business Fund to provide investments for social businesses 2) provide support to set up social businesses especially to the poorest in Haiti 3) establish long-term and self-sustainable businesses for Haiti's development; 4) address relevant social needs and strengthen private sector and entrepreneurship rather than relying on donations.
All potential social business entrepreneurs go through a four-step due diligence process prior to GCL taking an investment decision. The GCL investment criteria do not only include financial sustainability and the ability to repay the investment but also - and especially - social and environmental impact. Only the entrepreneurs who are really committed to the principles of social business and who present a well thought-out business plan will receive an investment. Unrealistic or unattractive projects are weeded out while promising social business models are further checked in process. After the investment decision has been made by the Investment Committee, the fund manager provides the entrepreneurs with business development services to support their long-lasting success and ability to pay the investment back after a certain period of time.
In order to raise awareness about the YY Haiti Fund, the GCL Haiti team markets to social business throughout Haiti via intense networking, workshops, on-site visits, and various marketing and communication measures, such as a GCL homepage, brochures, and informative sessions in the GCL Haiti office. As a result, many potential Haitian entrepreneurs approach GCL to learn more about the social business approach. Instead of making one-time payments like donations, GCL supports these Haitian businesses with long-term investments, approximately eight to ten years.
GCL Haiti offers investments, coaching, and business development services via the Fund Manager's expertise as well as taking advantage of the great network of social business experts and functional experts within the Grameen family of organizations.
The YY Haiti initiative supports any kind of social business that addresses a social need. The entrepreneur needs to be committed to Professor Yunus's definition of social business and needs a convincing business plan - independent from the entrepreneur's financial situation. Furthermore, GCL's approach particularly targets the poor, who are unable to access collateral, as well as young people. As Haiti's future and biggest asset, GCL will put a special focus on social businesses addressing young people's needs. One example of an investment decision GCL has already made is in the establishment of an entrepreneurship training center for local high-school graduates, entrepreneurs, and managers. The center provides practical training in entrepreneurship, business development, and social business and creates a thriving small-business environment that will have a significant positive impact on the local Haitian community.
IMPLEMENTATION, TIMELINE, AND DELIVERABLES
In 2010, an in-depth needs analysis was completed in Haiti, including the initial set-up of the YY Haiti team and GCL Haiti office. YY Haiti developed a business plan according to the social business methodology as defined by Professor Yunus, as took the first steps to acquire funding. In addition, leadership defined a project management team, as well as the team's roles, responsibilities, deliverables, and milestones. The team aligns with the Accenture Management Consulting methodology: the company has supported the YY Haiti initiative on a pro bono basis by covering the project lead's role with an Accenture consultant from mid-2010 until the end of 2011.
During the final months of 2010 and in 2011, the implementation phase started. Two employees were hired, the office officially opened, and two Social Business Labs took place in Port-au-Prince. Potential social business entrepreneurs, NGO's, students, as well as interested individuals, were given an opportunity to learn about social business, the Grameen family of organizations, the Grameen Creative Lab and the YY Haiti team's work in Haiti. Professor Yunus will visit Haiti for the first time in October 2011.
Through the end of 2012, GCL Haiti aims to invest in 12 social businesses in Haiti. Beyond 2012, GCL hopes to continue to assist social businesses, as well as create joint ventures with international partners.
May 2013
Yunus Social Business invites individuals and organizations to get involved as investors in our incubator funds and partners in our joint venture projects in Haiti.
YSB also welcomes new investors as well as new partners with technical or community expertise for our Haiti Forest initiative.
Previously:
CGI could organize an investor / donor conference for Haiti. More than two years after the earthquake we are noticing that the attention of important donors and investors for Haiti is somewhat weakening - we would like to revive the interest in investing in Haiti since we see Haiti as a continuing global challenge. A successful Haiti could be a showcase for many other struggling corrupt countries in the world. We would like to ask CGI for their support in organizing such a donor / investor conference with the focus on Social Business as a sustainable approach to solving global challenges.
SEEKING: Financial Resources, Media/Marketing Opportunities
GCL Haiti is doing pioneering work by setting up the first social business Fund in Haiti. To reach its financial targets funding from national and international investors are urgently and constantly needed.
GCL Haiti Country Director Claudine Francois is spreading the word about GCL intensively as the concept of Social Business isn't known very well in Haiti yet. To improve GCL Haiti's marketing and communication, contacts in the media as well as marketing world would be extremly helpful.
OFFERING: Implementing Partners, Best Practice Information
GCL Haiti's role is to connect investors and Haitian social business entrepreneurs. GCL Haiti's pipeline currently includes about 25 social businesses that need funding after receiving the final investment decision of GCL's Investment Committee. Therefore GCL Haiti offers promising partnerships with social business entrepreneurs for people and organizations willing to make a philanthropic investment. Implementing a social business fund and incubating the social business movement in Haiti is pioneering work. The lessons learned and best practices deriving from the team's work can be shared with organizations targeting at similar objectives.
