Scribblings

From 2010 until 2013, I lived in Mumbai, India, where I launched my formal writing career, and wrote extensively about social entrepreneurship, development innovation, and urban issues and poverty.

Below is a complete listing, with respective links, of all the articles and blogs I have written (and, in a few cases, co-written) for Dowser, Searchlight South Asia, Beyond Profit, the ‘In Our Hands’ initiative, NextBillion, GOOD and the Global Urbanist websites. 

MEDIUM (2014 – PRESENT):

The Talking Cure (June 6, 2014)

The End of Your Brand Story (February 17, 2014)

Art Against Human Destructiveness (February 9, 2014)

DOWSER (2013):

NextDrop: The ‘Big Data’ Influence (September 8, 2013)

Managing Out-of-Pocket Healthcare Costs: Naya Jeevan (July 2, 2013)

India’s Other Rural Dwellers (June 11, 2013)

Does Bangladesh’s Garment Industry Respect Its Workers?  (May 9, 2013)

SEARCHLIGHT SOUTH ASIA NEWSLETTER (2010 – 2013):

Revisiting Roles in Education (Searchlight, March 2013)

Worker Migration from South Asia (Searchlight, March 2013)

Nationalization of Education (Searchlight, February 2013)

Revisiting Property Rights for Slum-Dwellers (Searchlight, February 2013)

No City for Women (Searchlight, January 2013)

Customer Loyalty for Social Impact (Searchlight, January 2013) – This article also appears on the NextBillion website.

Governance for Urban Empowerment (Searchlight, December 2012)

A Gendered Perspective on Urbanization (Searchlight, November 2012)

Uncorking Bottled Light (Searchlight, October 2012) – This article also appears on the NextBillion website.

Redefining CSR (Searchlight, October 2012)

The Sociology of Urban Migration (Searchlight, September 2012)

Financial Inclusion for Child Laborers (Searchlight, September 2012)

Food Insecurity in Pakistan (Searchlight, August 2012)

Potable Water Solutions for Slum-Dwellers (Searchlight, July 2012)

Healthcare Delivery for the Urban Poor (Searchlight, July 2012) – This article also appears on the NextBillion website.

Demolishing the Korail Slum (Searchlight, June 2012)

Nepal’s Urban Housing Challenge (Searchlight, June 2012)

Reviving Delhi’s Nullah Network (Searchlight, May 2012)

Urban Relevance of the New Budget (Searchlight, April 2012)

Building Child-Friendly Cities (Searchlight, April 2012)

The Politics of Infrastructure (Searchlight, March 2012)

Nepal’s Hunger for Energy (Searchlight, February 2012)

The State of Education in Pakistan (Searchlight, February 2012)

Food Security for Urban Children (Searchlight, January 2012)

The Real Story Behind Urban Growth (Searchlight, December 2011)

Disaster Risk in South Asia (Searchlight, November 2011)

Being Elderly in South Asia (Searchlight, November 2011)

Vaaradhi: An Urban Ultra Poor Intervention (Searchlight, October 2011)

Regional Trends in Urbanization (Searchlight, September 2011) – A version of this article also appears on the Global Urbanist website.

Population Control in Bangladesh (Searchlight, August 2011)

Urban Food Management in India (Searchlight, August 2011)

Chronic Poverty in India (Searchlight, July 2011)

Inclusive Housing in Mumbai (Searchlight, June 2011)

Promoting Feminine Hygiene in India (Searchlight, June 2011)

Urban Transport Innovations and Solutions (Searchlight, May 2011)

India’s Water Woes (Searchlight, April 2011)

Solar Energy in Bangladesh (Searchlight, April 2011)

The Implications of India’s 2011 Budget on its Social Sector (Searchlight, March 2011)

Urban Housing as a Social Enterprise (Searchlight, March 2011)

The Intersection between Trade and Transport in Pakistan (Searchlight, March 2011)

Rainwater Harvesting in Bangladesh (Searchlight, February 2011)

Public-Private Partnerships to Improve Public Education in Mumbai (Searchlight, February 2011)

Universal Healthcare in India (Searchlight, February 2011)

Homelessness in India (Searchlight, January 2011)

The India-Japan Partnership (Searchlight, January 2011)

IDFC’S ‘IN OUR HANDS’ BLOG SERIES: UNIVERSAL EDUCATION IN INDIA (2012 – 2013):

The Year Ahead (January 4, 2013)

The Importance of Being Educated (December 26, 2012)

Measuring Up (December 19, 2012)

Model Student to Model Employee (December 13, 2012)

Quality Control (December 6, 2012)

New Classrooms (November 30, 2012)

Go West? (November 20, 2012)

Working Together (November 13, 2012)

The Toilet Connection (November 6, 2012)

The Malala Effect (October 30, 2012)

To Teach or Not to Teach (October 23, 2012)

The Mobile Classroom (October 16, 2012)

How to Produce a Nobel Laureate (October 9, 2012)

The Language Barrier (October 3, 2012)

BEYOND PROFIT E-MAGAZINE (2010 – 2011):

The People Problem (BP e-Magazine, July 14, 2011): Among the many challenges that social enterprises face, a key one is finding and keeping the right people to run the business. What does it mean to be a manager in the social enterprise workspace, and who are the right people, from the bottom to the top of the ladder?

Top 5: Affordable Tech Solutions (BP e-Magazine, July 14, 2011): Affordable, convenient tech solutions are available to social enterprises to make operations more efficient. Below are five web-based apps for any IT budget.

Building Hub Spaces (BP e-Magazine, June 30, 2011): Pablo Handl, Co-Founder of the HUB São Paulo (Brazil) and Julieta Villacaña, Coordinator at the HUB Oaxaca (Mexico), share their experiences and views on the social enterprise landscape and its future in both countries.

Wheeling in Health (BP e-Magazine, June 30, 2011): A mobile hospital business model in Brazil shows it is possible to provide high quality, specialized healthcare to the bottom of the pyramid.

Top 5: Inclusive Employment Policies (BP e-Magazine, June 16, 2011): In 2006, the United Nations General Assembly drafted the Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities. Beyond Profit looks at five examples of inclusive legislation from around the world.

Designing the Inclusive Workplace (BP e-Magazine, June 16, 2011): Beyond Profit spoke to Akhilesh Malani, Head of Accessibility at Prakat Solutions, about the lack and challenges of inclusive technologies for the disabled.

The Disability Definition (BP e-Magazine, June 16, 2011): South Africa has legislated disability rights, but there is no consensus on what “disability” means. How can the country promote a more inclusive society?

Microfinance Misunderstandings (BP e-Magazine, June 2, 2011): There are many claims for and against microfinance. Beyond Profit looks at five key misunderstandings and puts them into perspective.

Redefining Financial Inclusion (BP e-Magazine, June 2, 2011): In a new report, the World Economic Forum looks at what defines financial inclusion and how mobile financial services can make all the difference.

The Future of Food (BP e-Magazine, May 19, 2011): With bursting populations and high food prices, the food security of urban dwellers is approaching a crossroads. Beyond Profit looks at two different solutions addressing the future of food.

Igniting the Spark (BP e-Magazine, May 5, 2011): Entrepreneurs face common challenges to growing an idea into a profitable enterprise. Three successful social entrepreneurs offer their insights to Beyond Profit.

The Museum School (BP e-Magazine, May 5, 2011): An innovative education model in Bhopal shows one way to give poor urban children access to a quality education.

Why We Measure Impact (BP blog, May 5, 2011): Beyond Profit spoke to Sameer Kalwani, Chief Technology Officer of Sankalp 2010 winner Sarvajal, about its technological advancements and measuring social impact.

Harnessing Village Value (BP e-Magazine, April 21, 2011): Ajay Chaturvedi, Founder and Chairman of the Gurgaon-based HarVa, spoke to Beyond Profit about harnessing value in rural India to promote self-sustainable livelihoods.

Data: The Other Tech Revolution (BP e-Magazine, April 21, 2011)

Rainwater Harvesting in Dhaka (BP blog, April 13, 2011) – A version of this article also appears on the GOOD Magazine website.

Cooperative for Sustainable Development (BP e-Magazine, April 7, 2011): L.P. Semwal, CEO of the Uttarakhand-based Syuri, discusses empowering apple farmers by building a cooperative.

Data: Lessons from the Last Mile (BP e-Magazine, April 7, 2011)

Rural Distribution Models (BP e-Magazine, April 7, 2011): Rural distribution at the Bottom of Pyramid (BoP) level is challenging, but a new IFMR report analyzes different distribution channels and their potential.

At the Grassroots Level (BP e-Magazine, March 24, 2011): Grassroots Business Fund participated in the GIIRS beta tour. Beyond Profit spoke to Soha Ehsani about GBF’s work, impact investing and the future.

Data: The GIIRS Potential (BP e-Magazine, March 24, 2011)

Healthcare as a Social Business (BP e-Magazine, March 10, 2011): Novartis has employed a social business model to tackle the behemoth that is rural healthcare in India.

Data: Toward a Healthy World (BP e-Magazine, March 10, 2011)

Egypt Inspiration (BP blog, February 25, 2011)- A version of this article also appears on the GOOD Magazine website.

A Book for Every Child (BP e-Magazine, February 24, 2011): In India, one in three children cannot read fluently. Suzanne Singh from Pratham Books talks about the vision to give every child in India a book.

Data: Empower Through Education (BP e-Magazine, February 24, 2011)

Partners in Public Education (BP e-Magazine, February 24, 2011): In Mumbai, public-private partnerships may be one of the best solutions to addressing the city’s public education needs.

Urban Transport with a View (BP blog, February 18, 2011)

The Green Partnership (BP blog, February 17, 2011) – A version of this article also appears on the GOOD Magazine website.

Data—Renewable Energy in India (BP e-Magazine, February 10, 2011)

Defining Poverty (BP blog, February 3, 2011)

World Cup o’ Shame (BP blog, February 1, 2011)

The New World Order (BP blog, January 31, 2011)

The IKEA of Healthcare (BP blog, January 28, 2011)

Lazarus in Africa (BP e-Magazine, Jaunary 28, 2011): The 2010 documentary The Lazarus Effect shows how two pills costing just US$0.40 per day can transform the lives of people living with AIDS. It also highlights the need for enterprises operating in the medical delivery space in Africa.

Ignoring the Youth (BP e-Magazine, Jaunary 28, 2011): Thirty percent of the population in 92 countries are young people between the ages 10 and 24. Policy-makers need to take notice.

Learning in Action (BP e-Magazine, Jaunary 14, 2011): Can social entrepreneurship be taught in the classroom? Yale thinks yes with its interactive course that teaches business students about real world issues faced by social enterprises.

Teaching the Entrepreneurial Way (BP e-Magazine, Jaunary 14, 2011): Beyond Profit spoke to three professors about the blossoming field of social entrepreneurship in B-schools around the world.

Data – In the SocEnt Classroom (BP e-Magazine, Jaunary 14, 2011)

Designing a Social Entrepreneurship Course (BP e-Magazine, Jaunary 14, 2011): Business schools should adopt an interactive classroom approach to social entrepreneurship.

Talk About Homes (BP e-Magazine, December 31, 2010): Aden Van Noppen, on behalf of micro Home Solutions, spoke to Beyond Profit about an innovative home improvement product in India.

Data – Raise the Roof (BP e-Magazine, December 31, 2010)

The Social Venture Challenge Mumbai (BP blog, December 20, 2010)

Round Table: The Business Behind Livelihoods (BP e-Magazine, December 17, 2010): Agriculture contributes 17% to India’s income. Three entrepreneurs speak about working in India to support livelihoods using a for-profit model.

Data: Living Off the Land (BP e-Magazine, December 17, 2010)

Climate Changing Livelihoods (BP e-Magazine, December 17, 2010): As part of a new report, ACCESS examines how climate change will affect India’s agricultural sector.

Interview with Simone Ahuja, Founder of Blood Orange Media (BP blog, December 8, 2010)

Interview: Morgan Simon, Founder of Toniic (BP e-Magazine, December 3, 2010): Morgan Simon, Founder of Toniic, a new company that will aggregate angel investments in the social enterprise sector, spoke to Nisha Kumar Kulkarni about the need for such an organization and current challenges that investors face.

In Profile: 5 Investors Making Social Impact in India (BP e-Magazine, December 3, 2010)

By the Numbers: Today’s Impact Investing Industry (BP e-Magazine, December 3, 2010)

Talking about INDOvations (BP blog, December 2, 2010) – A version of this article also appears on the GOOD Magazine website.

By the Numbers: Beyond Profit’s Social Enterprise Landscape Study (BP e-Magazine, November 19, 2010)

Book Review: A Fistful of Rice, Vikram Akula (BP e-Magazine, November 19, 2010): In his new book, SKS Microfinance founder Vikram Akula narrates how he began one of the largest and most controversial for-profit microfinance institutions in the world.

Reading List: Water Works (BP e-Magazine, November 5, 2010)

By the Numbers: The Polarized Issue of Water Privatization (BP e-Magazine, November 5, 2010)

5 Organizations Tackling Sanitation Issues in India (BP e-Magazine, November 5, 2010)

Report Review: Sharing Experiences: Effective Hygiene Promotion in South-East Asia and the Pacific (BP e-Magazine, November 5, 2010): Every year, diarrhea and upper respiratory infections claim the lives of 3.5 million children under the age of five. Perhaps the single most important and cost-effective prevention is hygiene promotion.

BPO Opportunities as part of the Poverty Alleviation Toolkit? (BP blog, October 29, 2010)

By the Numbers: The Power of the Missing Middle (BP e-Magazine, October 22, 2010)

Report Review: Catalyzing Support for SMEs (BP e-Magazine, October 22, 2010): The challenges regarding SME financing are well-documented, as are the reasons why formal financial institutions are weary of meeting demand for this sector.