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Oklahoma City-Based International Development NGO Focuses On Women

Jacob McCleland

May 23, 2017 |

WMOT |

Radio |

Over 15 Minutes

Response Location: India, Madhubani, Bihar

In many rural villages in Northern India and Nepal, long-standing cultural norms have relegated women to subordinate positions in marriage and minimal educational opportunities, stifling the social, agricultural and economic development of entire communities. But with the NGO World Neighbors' work to increase female literacy and help initiate locally-controlled savings and credit groups, these areas' female residents have become a more empowered component of local development and progressive change.

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How to Trick People Into Saving Money

Rob Walker

May 01, 2017 |

The Atlantic |

Text |

Over 3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Salem, Illinois

A large number of Americans are "unbanked or underbanked"—meaning they are not tied to traditional financial institutions to manage their money—which makes saving difficult. Walmart has managed to serve this population with a debit card program called MoneyCard that provides financial incentives to users to regularly put aside money into a "vault." This approach effectively takes into account behavioral economics in terms of how humans approach short- versus long-term rewards. Launching in August 2016, the program's membership had grown more than 130% and savings increased by 38% by December 2016.

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Public banking goes to pot

Jeremy Lybarger

April 19, 2017 |

High Country News |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Sebastopol, California

California looks to the Bank of North Dakota as a model to launch a public bank for the cannabis industry. While the Bank of North Dakota is the only public bank in the country thus far, California's cannabis industry hopes to mirror this public financing method to reduce marijuana-related violence and theft throughout the state.

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The world's greenest island

Tom A. Peter

April 16, 2017 |

The Christian Science Monitor |

Multi-Media |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: Denmark, Samso

Samsø, a small island in Denmark, has done what no other city has reached; energy independence. People on the island use a combination of wind, solar, and biomass, energy. How is such a large feat accomplished? Local leaders say it wasn’t because of technological breakthrough, but through collective action.

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Northern Lights: Large-Scale Solar Power Is Spreading Across the U.S.

Cheryl Katz

March 23, 2017 |

Yale Environment 360 |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States

Once largely confined to the desert Southwest, solar power is making its way across the United States. Due to decreasing prices in installations, coupled with government incentives and increasing knowledge of energy harvesting capabilities, solar has recently found its way into places such as Idaho, Maine, Alabama, Iowa, Kentucky, and Nebraska - with places like Georgia and Florida are looking to expand. Despite the pushback from the newest presidential administration, even cynics of the solar power movement are declaring it the most viable option.

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The future will be battery-powered

Amelia Urry

February 21, 2017 |

Grist |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

There is an ongoing competition to improve batteries as a method of energy storage that is environmentally conscious. Intense research on batteries is ongoing, including the development of the "saltwater battery', in order to improve their reliability, storage abilities and safety.

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Can the Graduation Approach Help to End Extreme Poverty?

Tony Sheldon

February 07, 2017 |

Yale Insights |

Multi-Media |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: Bangladesh, Dhaka

BRAC, the largest NGO in the world and one of the leaders in microfinance as an approach to combating poverty, discovered that despite its successes, microcredit did not always reach what are called the Ultra-Poor in effective, sustainable ways. So they formed partnerships and launched a new, comprehensive initiative that involves consumption support, technical and financial literacy training, and asset management to create a pathway to prosperity called the "graduation approach."

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In Kansas City, a lesson in transforming closed schools

Kalyn Belsha

January 24, 2017 |

Chicago Reporter |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Kansas City, Missouri

When public schools close, what can communities do with the buildings? Kansas City hired an urban planner to help repurpose school buildings to better engage the community and enabled non-profits a chance to purchase the old properties. This school reuse excelled from increasing the transparency of the decision-making process and “creative financing.”

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15 countries, other states use social impact bonds, too

Kristen Jordan Shamus

December 13, 2016 |

Detroit Free Press |

Text |

Under 800 Words

Response Location: United Kingdom, Peterborough

A project launched in the United Kingdom uses social-impact bonds to reduce recidivism among prisoners, bringing together public and private resources to implement more effective and cost efficient social programs. Their success is inspiring other countries to follow suit.

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To fight poverty in Africa, a new-old solution: cash handouts

Ryan Lenora Brown

December 11, 2016 |

The Christian Science Monitor |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: Lesotho, Maseru

The approach of giving cash straight to poor people - rather than funneling goods or services indirectly through the slow, diluted, and complex systems of charities or governments - is nothing new, but evidence of long-term success and sustainability are few. That's why many NGOs and governments are now coupling cash transfers with more comprehensive programs such as job training and financial counseling, as well as addressing some of the root causes that keep people poor, like lack of infrastructure and market access.

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