Development Success Stories

Today, 343 million people are facing acute hunger —more than double the number from just a few years ago. This dramatic rise is driven by a combination of conflict, increasingly frequent and severe natural disasters, and a global cost-of-living crisis. In the face of these growing humanitarian challenges, the World Food Program is turning to innovation to maximize its impact and reach those most i...

The nonprofit Northwest Arkansas Council works to identify challenges and champion solutions to enhance the prosperity of the Northwest Arkansas region. Key initiatives include work to advance quality of life, attract talent, improve the region’s workforce, create job opportunities, upgrade infrastructure and keep up with the region’s impressive growth. The Council's "Life Works Here&quot...

This episode refers to a number of visuals that are in the video version which can be seen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6ezxqZIuL6OMFHC7dYLhNK or on YouTube: https://youtu.be/01m4ESMbn6s We believe this story is an important one, even if you do not watch the video, and hope that you will enjoy this and every episode of our series. Sueños started as an afterschool program in Antigua Gu...

In Kaqchikel, a Mayan language spoken in Guatemala, "Natün" means to unite, come together, or align behind a common cause. Natün Guatemala is a majority Maya-led organization passionate about elevating Indigenous leadership, rights and capacity. They equip local change agents and use existing local resources to effectively and sustainably build healthy, vibrant Maya communities. To view a video th...

Some of the world's most difficult problems – like poor reproductive health and violence against women – are now being addressed through the medium of prime-time serialized dramas also known as: Soap operas and Telenovelas. Population Media Center (PMC) uses a special type of serialized melodrama for changing behavior on such issues as family planning, elevation of women's status, girls' education...

Erin Smith, a Paul Harris Fellow, who lives in Kenya and sometimes Florida, is a trailblazer in both the corporate and environmental sectors. Erin is the CEO and owner of Ocean Sole, which is transforming ocean debris into awe-inspiring art, and championing environmental causes coupled with creating opportunities in Kenya's coastal communities. Her career spans continents and industries, from high...

With no experience Chris Temple produced a video that has changed thousands of lives. But first, Chris survived for two months on $1 a day in Guatemala. Here is his story. Chris Temple is now an award-winning filmmaker and activist who demystifies some of the world's most complex situations, leaving audiences more connected and empowered to make a difference. In this conversation, Chris will share...

This week's presentation examines the unseen micro-enterprises of the South African township economy through a socio-spatial lens. Through case studies, Andrew Charman will illustrate the surprising diversity of these small businesses, provide insights into the spatial patterns in which these micro-enterprises are organised, and highlight some of the barriers that hinder the growth and formalisati...

Wings of Knowledge Youth Initiative Vahid Motazedian, serves as the executive director for Olinga Learning and the Foundation for the Application of Science (FAS), two California nonprofits dedicated to empowering youth to contribute to the social and economic development of their small, rural communities. Vahid grew up in Iran, Nigeria, Zimbabwe, and Oregon. His father studied agriculture and ded...

Rainforest Connection (RFCx) is a science- and technology-driven nonprofit detecting and preventing deforestation and supporting biodiversity and ecosystem monitoring in 119 countries. Founded in 2014, RFCx accomplishes this work by combining the power of acoustics, AI, an international team of field workers, scientists, engineers, and data scientists, and on-the-ground collaborators. By utilizing...

Students play an important role in the management of the school which empowers them to bring social and economic development to their communities, as well as learn leadership, empathy and compassion. In 1974, our speaker, Mechai Viravaidya, launched the Population and Community Development Association (PDA) to combat Thailand's soaring population growth rate. Using unconventional methods and h...

Dr. Ernesto Sirolli is a renowned expert in local economic development and sustainable entrepreneurship. He is the founder of the Sirolli Institute and the author of two books: Ripples from the Zambezi and How to Start a Business and Ignite Your Life. He is also a popular public speaker and has given a TEDx talk titled "Shut Up and Listen". In 2016, he received the IOEE International Lif...

GiveDirectly sends cash directly to people living in extreme poverty, no strings attached. GiveDirectly is the first – and largest – nonprofit that lets donors send money directly to the world’s poorest. They believe people living in poverty deserve the dignity to choose for themselves how best to improve their lives, and cash enables that choice. They have successfully delivered over $700M to app...

From Refugee Camps and Storm Shelters to Trailer Parks and Laundromats, Libraries Without Borders (Bibliothèques Sans Frontières or LWB) is an international non-profit that strengthens the capacity of people in vulnerable situations by facilitating access to education, information, and cultural resources. In more than 50 countries, Libraries Without Borders creates innovative cultural and learning...

Jehiel Oliver, the founder and CEO of Hello Tractor, an agricultural technology company that connects tractor owners with smallholder farmers in need of tractor services in Africa. Jehiel has been honored with numerous awards for his work in social entrepreneurship including being recognized by Foreign Policy Magazine as a Top 100 Global Thinker and a World Economic Forum Circulars inaugural cohor...

The Chicago Eco House and Southside Blooms transforms vacant lots into sustainable urban flower farms, turning blight into economic opportunities for majority-Black inner-city communities. Local youth are trained as florists and farmers through our workforce development program. Why flowers? The floral industry generates $35 billion a year. 80% of flowers sold in the USA come from out of the count...

For the rural poor, particularly girls in school and young women, bicycles are literally a lifesaver. Without access to education, healthcare, and economic opportunities, people continue to live in poverty and die from preventable diseases. World Bicycle relief is changing that. More about World Bicycle Relief: Website: ⁠⁠ https://worldbicyclerelief.org Smile (short inspirational video) YouTube Ch...

Brandon Dennison is the founder and CEO of a non-profit social-enterprise incubator in southern West Virginia lays out his organization's blueprint for rebuilding an entire economy in coal country. The presentation will assess the current state of West Virginia's economy, then pivot to a series of solutions being tested by Coalfield Development to overcome the many challenges faced. Succes...

Two billion people globally suffer from malnutrition, aka hidden hunger. Hitting Africa the hardest, many lack access to healthy food, relying on starchy flour for every meal. This poor diet, lacking vital nutrients, tragically leads to 8,000 preventable child deaths each day. While developed nations enjoy fortified foods like cereal, milk, and salt, two billion people worldwide lack this basic hu...

Rushton Hurley introduces this series, which explores the diverse world of economic development around the globe.