What does it take to disrupt traditional ways of fighting poverty, delivering aid, and providing healthcare in Africa? Veteran digital health / healthtech entrepreneur Rowena Luk interviews social entrepreneurs, impact investors, and activists on how they went from an idea to demonstrating impact, raising funds, and creating sustainable social enterprises. For anyone looking for a better way to do good, explore the strategies and tools successful innovators are applying to make change that lasts. AidEvolved.com
Episodes
Tuesday Sep 05, 2023
Tuesday Sep 05, 2023
Chuck Slaughter is the founder of Living Goods, which supports over 10,000 digitally-empowered community health workers who are reducing child deaths by over 25% at an annual cost of under $4 per person. As a Senior Advisor to TPG Rise (a $10 billion impact investing platform), Director of the Horace W. Goldsmith Foundation, and a successful entrepreneur, Chuck has a rich perspective on how digital is reshaping aid and development work. Tune in today to hear Chuck’s guidance on whether to ‘build or buy’ tech, why nonprofits struggle to deliver the best technology products, and how governments and the private sector need to work together to scale high-impact innovations.
Chuck serves on the boards of Yale’s School of Management, Tidepool, Reach Health, and the Horace W Goldsmith Foundation. He received a Skoll Award for Social Entrepreneurship, an Ernst and Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award, a Draper Richards Kaplan Fellowship, and is a World Economic Forum Social Entrepreneur of the Year.
A Few Highlights
- (6m27s) - How Chuck and Living Goods became digital first
- (13m45s) - The DESC metaphor of Living Goods: Digital, Equipped, Supervised and Compensated
- (22m01s) - Working with new technologies: the 'build or buy' debate
- (28m24s) - Why nonprofits struggle to build great tech
- (32m09s) - The digital transformation of aid: grantmaking through the Horace W. Goldsmith Foundation
- (37m08s) - Financing scale: how governments and the private sector need to work together
- (40m19s) - Rapid fire questions, shoutouts, and recommendations
You can learn more about Living Goods on their website at livinggoods.org.
Let us know what you thought of this episode on LinkedIn or Twitter (@AidEvolved). You can also access show notes at AidEvolved.com.
Thursday Jun 01, 2023
Thursday Jun 01, 2023
Dr. Agnes Binagwaho is a pediatrician, former Minister of Health of Rwanda, Senior Lecturer at Harvard University, Advisor to the Director-General of the WHO, and co-founder of the University of Global Health Equity.
She joins us today to talk about the role of technology in the remarkable transformation of Rwanda’s health system post-genocide.
What are the failed promises of health technology? How has data been a North Star to her work? And what does it take to show the world that Rwanda today stands for truth?
Highlights
- (02m59s) - When health data is held hostage
- (04m21s) - HIV is a curse that ushered in the era of electronic medical records
- (10m06s) - How epidemiological data supports effective health systems governance
- (16m10s) - Using Twitter to take a stand
- (20m54s) - Whose data do you trust?
Submit a question or comment to our mailbag, and we’ll discuss it on a future show. Emails or voice recordings can be sent to podcast@aidevolved.com
Connect with us on LinkedIn or Twitter (@AidEvolved) and access show notes at https://AidEvolved.com
Tuesday May 23, 2023
Tuesday May 23, 2023
Dr. Biju Mohandas has led investments at not just one but three different household names in impact investing: LeapFrog Investments, the International Finance Corporation (IFC), and Acumen. Tune in today to hear about his take on the upcoming global healthcare crisis, the competitive edge of entrepreneurs in Africa and India, and the catalytic role of impact investors. Hear the investment priorities of a man who's been leading impact investments in healthcare in Africa as long as the term "impact investing" has existed.
Dr. Biju Mohandas is a Partner at LeapFrog and the firm’s Global Co-Leader for Health Investments. Prior to LeapFrog, Dr Mohandas led the IFC’s Healthcare and Education investment team in Sub-Saharan Africa and was the Global Sector Lead for Medical Devices after also serving as head of Acumen in East Africa and as part of their founding team in India.
We’ll cover:
- (2m35s) – The coming global healthcare crisis
- (8m45s) – How Africa and India are poised to leapfrog ahead
- (12m11s) – Investing in asset-light healthcare
- (15m09s) – Goodlife Pharmacy’s re-emergence after the Westgate Attack in Nairobi
- (18m08s) – How Redcliffe Diagnostics is bringing the lab closer to people in India
- (21m38s) – Pervasive technology, IoT, and wellness
- (23m04s) – HealthifyMe, the largest digital wellness app in India
- (26m13s) – How investors exit from ventures in emerging markets
- (30m10s) – Rapid fire questions
Submit a question to our mailbag and we’ll discuss it on a future show. Emails or voice recordings can be sent to podcast@aidevolved.com
Connect with us on LinkedIn or Twitter (@AidEvolved) and access Biju’s latest synthesis on the state of healthcare in Africa at https://AidEvolved.com.
Tuesday May 09, 2023
Tuesday May 09, 2023
John Fairhurst is the head of Private Sector Engagement at the Global Fund. As such, he is the link between this global institution and innovators ranging from Microsoft to Zenysis. Tune in today to understand how the largest financier of HIV, TB, and malaria programs works with Big Tech, emerging startups, and other innovators to achieve its global goals.
In its 20 years of existence, the Global Fund has channeled $55 billion to support the fight against HIV, TB, and malaria.
Prior to joining the Global Fund John was an Executive Director at UBS Optimus Foundation and COO at the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN). He helped establish the portfolio of one of the largest private foundations in international development, the Children's Investment Fund (CIFF). He oversaw development and humanitarian programs for Oxfam in various geographies including the Democratic Republic of Congo, Eritrea, and Afghanistan.
A few highlights:
- (2m13s) - Introducing John Fairhurst
- (6m06s) - How the Global Fund works with Big Tech
- (16m19s) - How the Global Fund works with emerging technologies and startups
- (21m38s) - The partnerships that don't work out
- (26m56s) - Guidance for other donors in "the valley of death"
- (31m41s) - Rapid fire questions
Submit a question or comment to our mailbag, and we’ll discuss it on a future show. Emails or voice recordings can be sent to podcast@aidevolved.com
Connect with us on LinkedIn or Twitter (@AidEvolved) and access show notes at https://AidEvolved.com
Tuesday Apr 25, 2023
Tuesday Apr 25, 2023
When you dig into the problem of providing quality healthcare in Africa, sooner or later you hit the foundational question, “who is going to pay for these services?” In tackling this challenge, PharmAccess Foundation has provided health financing to almost 5M people in Kenya alone. A key part of this success is developing a digitally-enabled, financially sustainable approach that generates revenue from middle-income clients to sustainably serve low-income communities. We chat today with Nicole Spieker, CEO of PharmAccess Foundation, about the public-private partnerships necessary to make healthcare affordable to everyone.
Conversation highlights:
- (2m19s) - Introducing PharmAccess Foundation
- (3m01s) - How PharmAccess is innovating in healthcare financing
- (6m43s) - What makes M-TIBA different from other health insurance programs?
- (9m55s) - The digital leapfrog opportunity in health insurance in Africa
- (12m20s) - How public funds catalyze private investment
- (14m45s) - Harnessing the value of data for the people who own it
Submit a question or comment to our mailbag, and we’ll discuss it on a future show. Emails or voice recordings can be sent to podcast@aidevolved.com
Connect with us on LinkedIn or Twitter (@AidEvolved) and access show notes at https://AidEvolved.com
Tuesday Apr 11, 2023
Tuesday Apr 11, 2023
GHIF was a "first-of-its-kind investment product", the fund was created in 2012 through the surprising alliance of the Gates Foundation and JP Morgan Chase. Its supporters include a stellar cast of characters such as Grand Challenges Canada, AXA Investment Managers, the development finance institution of both Germany and the World Bank, GSK, Merck, and Pfizer. Its mission is two-fold: generating attractive financial returns to its investors, and improving lives for millions in low- and middle-income populations. This is accomplished by providing late-stage financing for innovative drugs, vaccines and diagnostics, and working with companies to introduce the products globally. The new AXA IM Global Health Fund is expanding the model with a larger fund and wider mandate that includes both communicable and non-communicable conditions.
In this episode, we'll touch on:
- The kinds of global health innovations Curt financed through GHIF
- Curt's guidance for innovators seeking growth capital
- Lessons learned for emerging fund managers
- Curt's call to action for the global health community to ensure life-saving products are effectively delivered to communities as far as the last mile
This conversation was recorded live at the IFC Global Private Health Conference 2023 in Cape Town, February 2023. IFC is a development finance institution and the private sector arm of the World Bank Group.
Access show notes at https://AidEvolved.com and connect with us on LinkedIn or Twitter (@AidEvolved).
Submit your questions or comments for a future episode to podcast@aidevolved.com.
Tuesday Mar 28, 2023
Tuesday Mar 28, 2023
Margot Cooijmans is an impact investor, philanthropist, entrepreneur, corporate lawyer, and expert on essential Corporate Social Responsibility. For most of their existence, she has led Philips Foundation and Philips Foundation Impact Investments B.V. Tune in today to learn about Margot's career directing the contributions of global corporations to better serve the public good.
Note: this interview is about the personal experiences and perspectives of Margot Cooijmans. Nothing said in this interview should be construed as the position of Philips or any of its subsidiaries, affiliates, or partners.
- (4m32s) – Margot establishes Good Company and dives into the world of corporate social responsibility (CSR)
- (11m28s) - Margot joins forces with the global technology company, Philips, to define the strategy during the startup years of Philips Foundation
- (21m38s) - Margot spearheads the creation of Philips Foundation Impact Investments Ltd, drawing expertise from Philips Ventures, the corporate investment arm, but with the goal of improving access to healthcare beyond where Philip can typically reach
- (30m30s) - Rapid fire questions with Margot Cooijmans
To find out more, access the show notes at https://AidEvolved.com
Subscribe for updates or let us know what you think of this episode on LinkedIn or Twitter (@AidEvolved).
Tuesday Feb 28, 2023
Tuesday Feb 28, 2023
As the Senior Vice President of Impact at the Global Innovation Fund, Joseph Ssentongo works at the challenging nexus of innovation, evidence and impact. He sits down with Aid, Evolved today to share his efforts to generate evidence even from early-stage innovations; how to measure impact even when that impact might not mature until 10 years in the future; and how Big Aid can evolve to be more innovative by adopting the right model of risk.
The Global Innovation Fund (GIF) is a non-profit, impact-first investment fund which has invested over 100M USD in innovations with the potential to improve the lives of those living on less than 5 dollars a day. It is backed by grant capital from UK, Canadian, Swedish, US and Australian governments as well as corporate and philanthropic donors. This interview reflects the personal experiences and views of Joseph Ssentongo and does not represent the position of GIF or any of its partners.
Conversation Highlights
- (4m35s) - Joseph recalls his work with the Investment Climate Facility for Africa working with government to improve private sector investment across 14 countries
- (13m08s) - What is the Global Innovation Fund (GIF)?
- (18m19s) - How does GIF remain accountable not just to its major donors but also to the people and communities it claims to serve?
- (20m33s) - Joseph unpacks the tricky balance between delivering world-class evidence and also investing in novel innovations which may not yet have a strong track record of evidence
- (23m04s) - Joseph shares his personal experience and the unique contribution of GIF to the waste pickers of Mr. Green Africa, a new kind of recycling company in Kenya
- (26m49s) - How GIF strives to be a catalyst that can lead the way for other donors to invest in risky innovations
- (30m20s) - What's next for GIF? Joseph describes the launch of GIF's Innovating for Climate Resilience Fund as well as the Innovating for Gender Equality sub-fund
- (31m22s) - Joseph tackles our Rapid Fire questions, from people who inspired him to his favourite podcasts
To find out more, access the show notes at https://AidEvolved.com
Let us know what you think of this episode on LinkedIn or on Twitter (@AidEvolved)
A note from our sponsor: this episode is brought to you by idealist.org. Are you looking to hire dedicated and talented professionals? Idealist is the #1 job board for the social impact sector. Sign up to start posting jobs today! Go to idealist.org/aid to get a credit for one free 30-day job listing.
Tuesday Feb 07, 2023
Tuesday Feb 07, 2023
Pippa Yeats first built Turn.io to send reminders to mothers in South Africa about how to stay healthy. She never dreamt that she would be one of the first responders creating a lifeline to information in a country at war - after government websites and other channels were taken down by cyberattacks. In today's interview we retrace the event surrounding February 24th 2022, when Russia first invaded Ukraine. This triggered a group of Turn.io software developers to band together with the State Emergency Services of Ukraine and Meta (formerly Facebook) to launch the Ukrainian crisis response hotline - in just three days.
A note from our sponsor: this episode is brought to you by idealist.org. Are you looking to hire dedicated and talented professionals? Idealist is the #1 job board for the social impact sector. Sign up to start posting jobs today! Go to idealist.org/aid to get a credit for one free 30-day job listing.
To find out more, access the show notes at https://AidEvolved.com
Let us know what you think of this episode on Twitter (@AidEvolved) or by email (hello@AidEvolved.com)
Tuesday Jan 24, 2023
Tuesday Jan 24, 2023
In 2022, Segal Family Foundation was the second largest US grant-maker in Sub-Saharan Africa by number of grants given (below Gates and above Ford Foundation). We speak with long-time Executive Director, Andy Bryant, about the radical changes he introduced to address the challenges of traditional philanthropy, and how he made it work in practice. One common theme emerges across Andy's work: a deep commitment to localization and to empowering African visionaries to drive African solutions.
Conversation Highlights
- 13m56s Hiring and talent
- 15m06s Finding great opportunities
- 19m30s Monitoring and evaluation
- 22m35s Getting and acting on feedback
- 27m29s Unrestricted funding
- 31m07s Challenges
- 45m22s Rapid fire questions
To find out more, access the show notes at https://AidEvolved.com
Let us know what you think of this episode on Twitter (@AidEvolved) or by email (hello@AidEvolved.com)
A note from our sponsor: this episode is brought to you by idealist.org. Are you looking to hire dedicated and talented professionals? Idealist is the #1 job board for the social impact sector. Sign up to start posting jobs today! Go to idealist.org/aid to get a credit for one free 30-day job listing.