Hobnobbing with the great and the good


For the second time in a month!  First in Berlin, at the BMZ 50th Anniversary celebrations (BMZ is the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development),  that included a conference entitled  Minds for Change- Future Forum where I had the opportunity to hear Professor Muhammed Yunus, Nobel Laureate and the founder of Grameen Bank, among other things.  And again yesterday, at the Galle Face Hotel Grand Ballroom, where the South Asia Policy and Research Institute (SAPRI) , a brainchild of Her Excellency Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaranatunga, had its first inaugural event  - the Role of the Corporate Sector and Non-Governmental  Agencies in Poverty Alleviation, where Professor Yunus was once again a keynote speaker. 


It’s interesting that Bangladesh has produced  two greats in micro finance – Fazle Hasan Abed, the founder of BRAC, and Muhammed Yunus, the founder of Grameen.  The former was knighted by the Queen for his contribution to mankind, and the latter won a Nobel Prize for his organisation.  My friendly micro finance expert is a fan of BRAC, and does not think that the Grameen social businesses are as viable as BRAC’s.  I leave that judgement to him and to others who know about these things.  This blog post is about  their call to prayer, as it were, rather than an evaluation of their practical achievements. 


I  have never heard Abed speak, but I like Yunus’ understated  and inspirational style.   His message  both in Berlin and in Colombo  was simple – we need to rethink our economic and business systems.  They should not be based on peoples’ selfishness, but on people’s selflessness.  Business must direct itself at solving social problems – such as making nutrient fortified yoghurt affordable to the poor, or shoes that cost less than a euro, or providing solar home systems to households without electricity  etc.  This is what he calls ‘social business’.  Some more take –aways from his speeches –

  • Grameen Bank is now working in New York City and a few other cities in the US. Interesting to see the fruits of this transfer of experience

  • On the nature of poor people: “Poor people are like bonsai.  There is nothing wrong  with the seed, but the pot is too small for them to grow”

  •  On the role of government:  “the role of government is to be the conductor of an orchestra.  Not to play every instrument, but to ensure that the different instruments together produce wonderful music”

  • We must encourage people to be job providers, not job seekers – note that this has been picked up by the editorial in today’s (December 10) Daily Mirror.

Not sure that the Sri Lankan private sector (present at the Galle Face Hotel in full force! ) bought the concept of social business, Yunus style.  They were more interested in their philanthropic, corporate social responsibility achievements – and I think the closest one really got to a social business was  perhaps Ranjith Page’s exposition of Cargills operation of linking farmers and consumers in a win-win situation.  The questions from the audience was not very interesting either..unless of course the more interesting people were seated at the back where the microphones  did not reach.   


I also thought it was disappointing that no one really picked up on CBK’s speech  - where she talked about inequality as an increasing problem.  Given the current reductions in Sri Lanka’s poverty levels as indicated by the official Head Count Index, it is likely to be inequality, and relative poverty that will be a problem in the future.  Inequality can be reduced  by increasing the wellbeing of poor people; but, given a planet with limited resources,  isn’t there also a role for reducing the unfettered consumption of those who are not poor?  Is this something our  Sri Lankan private sector can/will take on board?  

PS Note that I have edited or linked most of the acronyms, in response to one of my readers criticisms.. CBK, for those who are not used to calling her that, is the acronym for former Sri Lankan President, Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaranatunga!


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