Nonprofit Sector

Mohammad Anas Wahaj | 29 dec 2013

CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) phenomenon is finding relevance around the world. In a recently held 'CSR Saudi Arabia 2013 Conference' the main focus was to encourage Saudi business leaders to participate in initiatives to provide youths with employment skills and promote their civic engagement. Saudi Arabia's 65% population is below the age of 25 years and holds the potential to lead the country for a better socio-economic future. The main themes of the conference included job creation, community-based initiatives, gender diversity, and growing a knowledge-based economy. According to Huda Hakki, Programs & Projects Department Director of the King Khalid Foundation, although Saudi Arabia is one of the highest in philanthropy but partnerships and collaborations among various stakeholders ensure effective use of resources to build a vibrant civil society and thriving business and entrepreneurial community. Read on...

CSRwire: Corporate Social Responsibility Takes Center Stage in Saudi Arabia
Author: NA

Mohammad Anas Wahaj | 22 dec 2013

Organizations develop and implement CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) policies and programs based on their own specific approaches. It may include philanthropy, community engagement, environmental sustainability, social sector collaborations etc. Deloitte, a global consulting firm, has Humanitarian Innovation Program that collaborates with social organizations to develop better solutions for the problems they face. The program intends to have a more client-centered approach to CSR and engages these organizations, considering them as their important clients, through an application and consultation process. In this process Deloitte utilizes its private expertise to co-create innovative solutions. Read on...

devex: CSR should be more 'client-centered' - Deloitte executive
Author: Paul Stephens

Mohammad Anas Wahaj | 22 dec 2013

According to a study by Margaret Ormiston of London Business School and Elaine Wong of University of California at Riverside, for every five cases of good CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) that Fortune 500 CEOs undertake they commit one act of CSiR (Corporate Social Irresponsibility). For their study they considered the 2002 list of Fortune 500 CEOs, obtained detailed background information available through various media, conducted assessment tests like California Adult Q-sort (a forced distributed methodology) and narrowed the list to 49 CEOs for the study. Then they used KDL (Kinder, Lydenberg, Domini) scale to assess CSiR. KDL rates companies in seven qualitative areas from a scale of -2 to +2 on aspects like environmental behavior, community relations, employee relations, corporate governance, diversity, human rights, and product. Researchers suggest that CEOs should always be aware and vigilant of their organization's activities from all aspects and companies should have CSR board or an oversight committee to check on their CEO more frequently. Read on...

THOMASNET News: Study - How CSR Leads to Corporate Social Irresponsibility
Author: Michael Lewis

Mohammad Anas Wahaj | 21 dec 2013

Tackling water scarcity and carbon emissions are important issues facing the world. There is continuous debate regarding the methods of energy and power generation and their effects that lead to global warming and climate change. According to recent report by US Department of Energy (DoE), some renewable and clean energy sources use more water then fossil fuel-powered plants. About 90% of power in US is generated by fossil fuel and nuclear power plants and they together use half of the total water consumed by US. The report mentions water consumption by each source per megawatt hour of electricity generation - Hydroelectric (15000 to 68000 litres); Concentrating Solar (3000 litres); Nuclear (2650 litres); Coal (1900 litres); Natural Gas (750 litres); Biofuels use water indirectly to irrigate biofuel crops; Wind farms and photovoltaic solar plants almost consume no water. If US has to meet the target of reducing carbon emissions by 80% by 2050, it has to rely heavily on renewable and clean energy sources which on the other hand also create water consumption challenges. John Rogers of Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) says that water scarcity shoud be taken into account along with emissions when planning new power sources. Read on...

New Scientist: Thirsty clean energy may add to water stressed world
Author: Sara Reardon

Mohammad Anas Wahaj | 08 dec 2013

There is growing consensus and concern across all the nations rich or poor, developed or developing, that inequality among populations is growing and it is a major threat to the global economy. The latest World Economic Forum report mentions widening income disparities as one of the top trends facing the world in 2014. According to Helene D. Gayle, CEO of CARE USA, the reasons for growing inequality in the world include - lack of access to quality primary and secondary education in some countries; public health problems, like chronic diseases, that exacerbate income gaps; social inequalities like gender discrimination. Recent Pew Research Center survey of general populations around the globe found that in 31 out of 39 nations, 50% or more of those surveyed said that inequality is a very big problem in their country. Read on...

Pew Research Center: The global consensus: Inequality is a major problem
Author: Richard Wike

Mohammad Anas Wahaj | 08 dec 2013

The latest report released by World Economic Forum, 'Outlook on the Global Agenda 2014', was based on the survey of 1592 leaders from 112 countries that included people from business (43%), academia (21%), civil society (12%), government (9%), other organizations (8%) and international organizations (7%). The study identifies the following top 10 trends facing the world in 2014 - (1) Rising societal tensions in the Middle East and North Africa; (2) Widening income disparities; (3) Persistent structural unemployment; (4) Intensifying cyber threats; (5) Inaction on climate change; (6) Diminishing confidence in economic policies; (7) A lack of values in leadership; (8) The expanding middle class in Asia; (9) The growing importance of megacities; (10) The rapid spread of information online. Read on...

World Economic Forum: Outlook on the Global Aganda for 2014 - Top 10 Trends of 2014
Author: NA

Mohammad Anas Wahaj | 07 dec 2013

Healthy population is the essential component of development. In regions where substantial populations are residing in rural and remote areas, the challenge is to provide them with timely access of healthcare services and medicines. There are lessons that can be derived from retail supply chain management and processes to deliver medicines and health products effectively and efficiently. According to a report by CIHL (Center for Innovation in Healthcare Logistics) at the University of Arkansas, some of the best practices of retail supply chain that can be adopted by healthcare industry are - collaborative planning, forecasting & replenishment; scanning technology; education & training; centralized purchasing & supply; supply chain services reorganization; regular cycle counting and stock rotation; performance management; actual usage inventory management; e-commerce; data standardization. Read on...

the guardian: Getting medicines to the poor - Solving the logistics challenge
Author: Eliza Anyangwe

Mohammad Anas Wahaj | 02 dec 2013

New perspectives and dynamics are being created in the socio-economic environment of the countries due to the rising phenomenon of non-charitable social enterprises. According to a legal expert from UK, charities should consider partnerships and collaborations with social businesses and should view them working on similar agendas. This would create a potent competitive front to counterbalance the powerful business oligopolies that seem to dominate the markets. He mentions that a proper legal definition of a social business with appropriate 'asset locks' in the articles of association are needed for building this partnership with charities. Read on...

Third Sector: Charities 'should see non-charitable social enterprises as comrades-in-arms'
Author: Kate Youde

Mohammad Anas Wahaj | 16 nov 2013

Raspberry Pi, the cheapest computer in the market but without screen or keyboard, is finding success and diverse usage that wasn't anticipated by its creators. It was designed basically as an educational tool for children to learn computer programming. But with its versatility and customization ability, it has found multiple uses - Powering a small humanoid robot that can tell weather, manage diary and make coffee; The Instant Wild system with Pi cameras for recording animal behavior; Powering warehouse doors etc. Moreover Eben Upton, executive director of Raspberry Pi Foundation, and his team is focusing on developing software that will make the computer more accessible to children and for enhanced computer programming learning experience. Read on...

GlobalPost: World's cheapest computer gets millions tinkering
Author: NA

Mohammad Anas Wahaj | 09 nov 2013

Technology is used in education to facilitate and enhance learning and to equip students with 21st century skills. It is also used to expand education to reach remote, disadvantaged and underprivileged areas of the world. The experiment and efforts are underway in Kenyan schools where e-readers and tablets are being used to provide children with engaging digital content. The project named 'eLimu' was initiated by two Kenyan women, Nivi Mukherjee and Marie Githinji, and utilizes local content and curriculum with a focus on Kenyan youth. The education system in Africa is mired with multiple problems and UNESCO estimates 38% illiteracy ratings among adults and only an average 8-9 years spent in school. To overcome these issues a bigger strategy is required to educate and empower the African population and improve regional economies. Other technological efforts and projects in African education are - Worldreader; Read and Prosper; eKitabu. Read on...

Al Jazeera: A technology revolution in Kenya's schools
Author: Philippa H. Stewart

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