COURSE NUMBER: MBA294.4

COURSE TITLE: Market-Based Approaches to Poverty Alleviation

UNITS OF CREDIT: 1 unit

INSTRUCTOR OF RECORD: John Danner

STUDENT ORGANIZER: Purabi Thakre

E-MAIL ADDRESS: purabi_thakre@mba.berkeley.edu

MEETING DAY(S)/TIME: Mondays, 4:00 – 6:00 PM during Fall A

The class will meet on the following dates: August 31, September 14, September 21, September 28, October 5, October 12, and October 19

PREREQUISITE(S): None

CLASS FORMAT: Speaker Series

REQUIRED READINGS: Will be included in syllabus

BASIS FOR FINAL GRADE: Class Attendance and final case discussion.

ABSTRACT OF COURSE'S CONTENT AND OBJECTIVES:

This course will identify and examine approaches to impacting poverty through the use of market-based mechanisms. Empowering people to make economic choice can yield large standard of living benefits, and markets not only empower people, but also allow them to make choices that are best for themselves. Several examples will be looked at from the non-profit, corporate and social enterprise sectors with a strong emphasis on non-US markets with the goal of developing an overall framework for market-based approaches and how to develop them. Wherever possible current practitioners will be brought in to share their experiences regarding what works and what doesn't.

The class will begin with an overview of the international development landscape and why there is a rapidly growing interest in market-based interventions among the development and business communities. Each class will focus on a new theme ranging from innovations in product and service design, business models for social enterprises, social financing mechanisms, and creative and effective partnerships. Throughout we will look at practical examples of these approaches. The course will conclude with student presentations that examine specific organizations and the approaches they have taken.

The course brings together advice and best practices from successful practitioners and institutions as well as from those providing the capital and business approaches for their success. It will also serve as an excellent venue for challenging traditional approaches to development, while exploring the limits of the market as a poverty reduction tool.

This class will be led by David Lehr, Senior Advisor, Social Innovations, Mercy Corps and Jocelyn Wyatt, Social Impact Lead, IDEO. Additional confirmed speakers include Luke Filose, Anne Marie Burgoyne, Portfolio Director, Draper Richards Foundation, and Maya Chorangel, Managing Director of Elevar Equity.