launched in late January, the World Bank Group’s competitive grant-based program ‘India Development Marketplace’ for 2013 has generated a very enthusiastic response from the social enterprise communities. By the end of February, the endeavour had received about 200 proposals from the three states - Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand.
These proposals include proven business models and solutions to address the most pressing social and economic problems impacting these low income states. The 2013 India Development Marketplace aims at identifying and supporting organisations whose development solutions are scalable, replicable and financially self-sustainable.
The underlying objective of supporting these projects is to increase their existing impact over a larger area thus helping create access to essential public goods and vital services for the poor and underserved communities.
Commenting on the overall quality of the proposals and ideas received, Drew von Glahn, Team leader of the Development Marketplace program hosted by the World Bank Institute said, “The proposals bear testimony to the fact that the states are brimming with innovative development ideas and talent.”
Nearly 40 per cent of the proposals address livelihood and employment issues, 13 per cent address solutions that focus on education and the balance between agriculture, energy, healthcare and financial services.