The right match

In the September 2008 issue of Alliance, Matthew Bishop and Michael Edwards offer contrasting views on the subject of ‘philanthrocapitalism’. In my estimation, philanthrocapitalism as described by Bishop and Edwards is neither inherently good nor inherently evil. What is critical when considering global giving strategies is to ensure the right match between donor and project.

Some undertakings lend themselves well to a businesslike approach, including scaling up and quantifiably measured results. The growth of microfinance is a positive example. For these types of laudable programmes, there is certainly nothing wrong with using business models that can enhance their effectiveness.