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Millennium Alliance Calls Indian Social Enterprises for Global Scale-Up
Dec 08, 2017
MUMBAI, 8 December 2017: The Millennium Alliance called for
applications to its' Global Grant for Indian social enterprises at the 9th Global
Sankalp Summit. An exclusive session titled �Millennium Alliance global grant:
Indian Innovations for Global Impact' was organized at the summit with close to
50 social enterprises interested in taking their innovations other developing
countries.
The Millennium Alliance grant program is currently seeking
applications under its' global grant, the deadline for which is 31st December
2017. The call is open for social enterprises interested in replicating &
scaling their innovations to other low-income developing countries in the focus
sectors of Health, Agriculture and WASH. Since 2012, the global grant has
enabled enterprises to extend their reach to other geographies in Africa
(Rwanda, Kenya, Uganda and Ethiopia) & South Asia (Bangladesh, Afghanistan,
Nepal), impacting over 187,000 beneficiaries on the ground through 12 projects.
The session also included a panel discussion focused on the
'Risks, Challenges and Opportunities of taking Indian Innovation to Other
Developing Nations'; moderated by Mr. Anil Sinha, Former Regional Head at IFC -
International Finance Corporation-World Bank group; Advisor - Global Impact
Investors Network; Chairman - Millennium Alliance Strategic Advisory Board who
remarked, "the Alliance has expanded its growth and impact to affect other
geographies creating sustainable socio-economic impact". The panel saw
representation from Millennium Alliance partners - FICCI and USAID India.
Ms. Moni Sinha Sagar, Development Assistant Specialist
(Innovation), Center for Innovation and Partnerships (CIP), USAID/India
highlighted "We are really happy to be founding partners to the Millennium
Alliance program. Along the way we have seen the program grow exponentially in
its reach and impact".
Also on the panel were past Millennium Alliance global grant
awardees who engaged in an enlightening and encouraging interaction on their
respective experiences in scaling to other low-income developing countries.
These included Mr. Jaydeep Mandal, Aakar Innovations who has taken his
affordable menstrual hygiene solution 'Anandi' to Uganda, Tanzania, Kenya and
Rwanda; Mr. Sudesh Menon, CEO Waterlife India which is currently scaling its'
Community Water Systems in Rwanda; and Mr. Vaibhav Tidke, CEO S4S Technologies
which has scaled its Solar Conduction Dryer in Nepal and Cassava Tech in Kenya.
An India-led initiative, the Millennium Alliance is an
innovation-driven, impact-focused platform which has received and evaluated
over 7,000 applications since its' inception in 2012 of which 86 innovations have
already been awarded. A multi-stakeholder partnership, Millennium Alliance
brings together the Technology Development Board, Government of India, USAID,
UKAID, FICCI and other partners. The program has contributed to the
socio-economic development agenda in over 20 Indian states and 7 developing
countries; thereby directly benefitting more than 6.8 million people at the BoP
level. Additionally, innovators have also been able to leverage their
association with Millennium Alliance to raise external funds worth Rs. 451
million as well as develop over 90 partnerships for extensive and sustainable
project implementation.
Concluding the session, Mr. Nirankar Saxena, Assistant Secretary
General, FICCI assured the enterprises of continued engagement and support
through FICCI Center for Innovation, Science and Technology Commercialization
(C-Tech) through its' current set of programs as well as future programs in the
pipeline.