Making Markets Work for Under-served Communities: Micro and Small Enterprise Development

Making Markets Work for Under-served Communities: Micro and Small Enterprise Development

Tuesday, March 20th, 2018 
Uris Hall, Room 333
6-8 p.m.
Refreshments provided with RSVP

How can we make markets more accessible and competitive to enable individuals to find their own way out of poverty? How do we effectively promote entrepreneurship through government policy, private sector business practices, and social sector advocacy? What are the risks and challenges for micro and small enterprises in rural settings?

Join us for a film screening of Zaza Rising and a panel discussion on making markets work for under-served communities through micro and small enterprise development, featuring:

• Urujeni Bakuramutsa, Minister-Counselor and Deputy Permanent Representative to Rwanda's UN Mission
• Karen Yelick, CEO of Indego Africa
• Leslie Labruto, Global Energy Lead at Acumen
• Lora Romano, Corporate Social Responsibility Manager at Blue Marble Organic Ice Cream
• George Franklin ’18BUS, Founder of Baobab Circle
• Brigit Helms, Senior Advisor at DAI

About Zaza Rising
This short, ten-minute documentary tells the timely story of one Rwandan woman's courage, strength, and hope for a better tomorrow. Christine Nyirahabimana started a small bakery in rural Rwanda hiring 10 HIV positive, single mothers as her employees. Despite incredible odds stacked against her, she is a beacon of light for her community and an inspiring example of how one individual can effect change and break generational cycles of poverty through social entrepreneurship.

This event is jointly hosted by the Tamer Center for Social Enterprise and the Social Enterprise Club at Columbia Business School, and the Social Enterprise Administration Caucus at the School of Social Work.