TWB's online Portal facilitates trade to, from and between enterprises in developing regions of the world.
Despite over $2 trillion in foreign aid, only a few regions have shifted from developing to developed in the past 6 decades. Aid is essential during a humanitarian crisis, however, a paradigm shift is necessary to address on-going daily livelihood needs in developing regions, and to create sustainable economic value in the process. One proven way to accomplish this is responsible and inclusive trade. Economies that have shifted from developing to developed have actively participated in global trade, while the 49 least developed countries make up 12% of the world's population but contribute less than 1% to global trade.
TWB is establishing a comprehensive, unique and managed trading portal that extends global trading services to enterprises in developing regions of the world.
Tentang Anda
Tentang Anda
Nama Depan
Joseph
Nama Belakang
Fernandez
(@TWB_BoP
Tentang Organisasi
Nama Organisasi
Trade Without Borders
Situs Web
Negara Organisasi
United States, TX, Fort Bend County
Negara tempat organisasi ini menciptakan dampak sosial
Apakah organisasi Anda adalah:
a. Nirlaba
Berapa lama organisasi Anda telah beroperasi?
Beroperasi selama 1-5 tahun
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Inovasi
Beri nama entri Anda
TWB's online Portal facilitates trade to, from and between enterprises in developing regions of the world.
What change do you want to bring to the world?
Despite over $2 trillion in foreign aid, only a few regions have shifted from developing to developed in the past 6 decades. Aid is essential during a humanitarian crisis, however, a paradigm shift is necessary to address on-going daily livelihood needs in developing regions, and to create sustainable economic value in the process. One proven way to accomplish this is responsible and inclusive trade. Economies that have shifted from developing to developed have actively participated in global trade, while the 49 least developed countries make up 12% of the world's population but contribute less than 1% to global trade.
TWB is establishing a comprehensive, unique and managed trading portal that extends global trading services to enterprises in developing regions of the world.
What are the primary activities of your project?
4 core activities are integrated within TWB's Portal:
1. Needs Analysis - Most market research occurs in developed economies. TWB aims to increase our understanding of daily needs in developing regions via online surveys and local information kiosks, but also through in-country research projects. We supported P.T. Ruma, a Social Enterprise in Indonesia, on such a project, and plan to work with Design students from TU Delft on a project in the Philippines.
2. Product Procurement & Development – We procured a low-power, electric mosquito trap from Germany that was tested with funding from the World Bank and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. We engaged Catapult Design to test a solar solution for the trap so it can work in off-grid locations. We intend to build a database of suitable products, such as Mosquito Traps, and make them accesible via an online catalogue.
3. Global Supply Chain Management – We engaged a student consulting team from Thunderbird School of Global Management to understand distribution channels for the Trap in India and plan to distribute it through local enterprise networks, such as Arogya Parivar. Later, we hope to assemble the Trap locally providing income for local enterprises while lowering the cost of the Trap. An online ordering system would enable enterprise networks to place small quantity orders, with orders being aggregated to create economies of scale in manufacturing and distribution.
4. Impact Assessment – We plan to gather baseline data on the communities we serve, and then track the progress of those communities over time.
What is innovative about your initiative? How is it a new contribution to the field?
Thousands of enterprises in developing regions serve consumers in their local communities, yet do not have easy access to affordable, quality and suitable products. There are also myriad inventors and manufacturers of unique products who do not fully understand the needs of consumers at the Base of the Pyramid (BoP) and are uncertain of the best means to reach those consumers. Information and communications technologies exist, however, to help us bridge the gap between global suppliers and consumers at the BoP.
The supply chain dynamics can vary considerably, however, in developing regions. Customs rules and regulations change often, gaps in infrastructure exist and local transport options may be more limited. There are fewer mega retail outlets, but millions of small family-owned shops, markets, and street vendors. In many communities, it may just be an individual entrepreneur who provides access to essential products and services.
TWB's innovative Portal brings together the best and most appropriate information and communications technologies, principled business operations, in-depth and intuitive understanding of communities at the BoP, and, most importantly, its founder's and key principals' passion to create sustainable social and economic value through trade. Ultimately, the Portal creates tremendous efficiencies for local enterprises to procure suitable products, such as solar mobile phone chargers, LED lighting, or mosquito traps, while providing manufacturers with outlets for their products to previously inaccessible markets.
What stage is your project in?
Beroperasi selama 1-5 tahun
Tell us about the community that you engage? eg. economic conditions, political structures, norms and values, demographic trends, history, and experience with engagement efforts.
TWB engages with manufacturers in both developing and developed countries who have products suitable for markets at the Base of the Pyramid (BoP). Our organizaton's primary purpose, however, is improving the livelihoods of those previously excluded from the global flow of goods and services, particularly in developing regions of the world. These include residents of slum communities in Tier 1 cities, the majority of residents in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities, and the masses in rural areas. Government services may or may not extend to those at the very Bottom of the Pyramid, earning less than US$5 a day. Where government services do not exist, NGOs may fill the void. Microfinance institutions mainly target those earning US$6 to $10 per day. Those earning from US$10 to $20 a day may not be living a subsistence existence, but may, nevertheless, be challenged by their local circumstances. For example, a shop owner in a Tier 3 city may have to travel some distance to a Tier 1 city at considerable expense and hardship to obtain supplies, since supply chains established by major importers and retailers do not extend to his or her hometown. TWB's on-going focus is to extend supply chains to the very Bottom of the Pyramid. The means to do so is to actively and intensively engage with local enterprise networks based in or serving these marginalized communities. By reducing the burden on these enterprises in accessing quality products for their communities, we help to directly increase the sustainability of those enterprises, and indirectly, the local communities they serve.
Share the story of the founder and what inspired the founder to start this project
Trade Without Borders was founded by Joseph Fernandez in March, 2007. Joseph was born in the developing world of South Asia, but emigrated to the developed worlds of Europe, and then the U.S.A. When he was 12 years old, he saw a TV commercial celebrating the 15th anniversary of the U.S. Peace Corps, and felt pulled back into the developing world. Upon graduating from the University of Texas at Austin, Joseph served in the Democratic Republic of the Congo as a Peace Corps volunteer. Later, he completed an MBA in International Management at Thunderbird, School of Global Management and then began work among the emerging markets of Asia providing global trading services to a diverse international clientele. Realizing that efficient global trading systems, for the most part, did not extend to the majority of the world’s population, and recognizing a correlation between prosperity and participation in global trade, Joseph felt compelled to establish Trade Without Borders.
Dampak Sosial
This Entry is about (Issues)
Please describe how your project has been successful and how that success is measured
TWB creates sustainable social and economic value on a global scale in 3 ways: Through our products, through the enterprises we engage, and through the targeted BoP communities we serve.
TWB's initial focus is on the Environment Sector. Specifically, it offers a comprehensive range of renewable energy solutions for developing regions. Its products include solar mobile phone chargers, solar LED lights, and Solar Home Sets that provide clean, renewable energy for an entire household.
We presently engage with local enterprises in India, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, the Philippines, Rwanda, and Mexico. The Grameen Foundation introduced TWB to energy enterprises in India that they support, along with E+Co and SELCO. TWB is assisting those enterprises procure suitable products for their local markets. TWB also signed an Agreement with SunNight Solar to help expand production of their proprietary solar torches that are distributed to BoP markets world-wide.
In the coming year, we plan to ship over US$2 million worth of products that will contribute about US$500,000 in income for the local markets they ship to. We plan to then double the value of shipments in each of the subsequent two years.
We are documenting the carbon offsets our renewable energy products generate. We plan to use Ted London’s Impact Assessment Tool to gather data on our impact on buyers, sellers and local communities. Finally, the Grameen Foundation’s Progress out of Poverty Index will be used to gather baseline data on poverty levels in targeted communities, which we can then track over time.
Berapa banyak orang yang telah merasakan manfaat proyek Anda?
1,001- 10,000
Berikutnya, berapa banyak orang yang dapat merasakan manfaatnya dalam tiga tahun mendatang?
Lebih dari 10.000
How will your project evolve over the next three years?
TWB currently engages with enterprises in India, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, the Philippines, Rwanda, and Mexico. All operations have been managed off-line to date. With adequate financial support, we aim to lauch our online Portal and integrate our services. This will enable us to rapidly scale up our global activities. With a robust Portal, we will be able to engage member organizations, such as micro-finance institutions, village store networks, and NGO and Social Enterprise umbrella organizations supporting local entrepreneur networks in multiple countries. With global supply chains established from manufacturers to BoP enterprises in the Environment sector, we will then expand to other sectors one by one, with Water & Sanitation and Health Care the next two sectors we expect to target.
Keberlanjutan
What barriers might hinder the success of your project and how do you plan to overcome them?
The biggest challenge is financing – not only for TWB's own operations, but also for transactions with local enterprises, who may also need financing to access TWB's products. TWB was originally established as a non-profit, and expected to utilize donations and grants to support its activities and the procurement of goods by local NGOs. However, TWB's primary mission is to create social and economic value through trade. A purely NGO model was not financially viable, nor would TWB be able to attain its primary mission by following this model. Therefore, in the past year or so, TWB transitioned to a hybrid Social Enterprise model. Its primary U.S.A. non-profit organization focuses on Needs Analysis, Impact Assessment and, longer-term, Education & Training of local enterprises. This entity is complemented by a commercial trading affiliate in Hong Kong that coordinates activities with manufacturers and logistics service providers. The revenues generated by the Hong Kong affiliate will help support the non-profit activities of the U.S. organization.
Besides financing, local government regulations and lack of understanding of some of the product solutions are potential barriers. Import regulations for Renewable Energy products can be highly inconsistent across borders requiring flexible strategies for product entry. NGOs and competent government agencies can also play a valuable role in educating local communities on the benefits of certain product solutions.
Ceritakan tentang kemitraan Anda:
To be truly effective on a global basis, partnerships are essential for TWB. Partnerships also help minimize our overheads as trusted partners provide complementary support services. In Hong Kong, our China trading services partner, MKL, is a 20-year old organization with an established infrastructure in the Far East. TWB has also established key partnerships in each key operational area. For Needs Analysis work, we have collaborated with Thunderbird, School of Global Management; for New Product Development we are partnering with Haddock Invention, a Hong Kong enterprise founded by an alumnus of MIT's D-Lab and have also collaborated with Catapult Design on product testing. We also expect to initiate a project with an Integrated Design team from TU Delft of the Netherlands; for Global Supply Chain Management we are developing relationships with key logistics partners with strong capabilities in different regions of the world; for Impact Assessment, we have the Grameen Foundation and plan to engage the Davidson Institute, as well. For our Portal development, we have worked with NIIT Technologies in India and have also had support from Li & Fung staff in Hong Kong. In each country in which we are active, we have established inclusive distribution partnerships. These partners not only help provide product access to the “last mile” within their countries, but also provide essential after-sales service ensuring adequate technical support for our products.
Current annual budget of project, in US dollars
$100.001 sampai $250.000
Explain your selections
TWB, to date, has been primarily supported by four individuals – TWB's Founder, Joseph Fernandez, a family friend of Joseph who prefers anonymity and two TWB Board members. In-kind support has also been provided by MKL in Hong Kong with free office space. TWB has also relied on volunteers and student interns to provide additional support.
How do you plan to strengthen your project in the next three years?
TWB's immediate focus is to scale up access to its Renewable Energy products in the countries in which it is presently active, with the help of our local, inclusive distribution partners. TWB's manufacturing partners are presently in the Far East. TWB plans to also initiate manufacturing activities in India, both to diversify its manufacturing base and to overcome import constraints in India, but also to exemplify how we intend to support local manufacturers whenever practical to do so.
TWB relies heavily on key partnerships at present. As it scales up its operations, however, it would be prudent to build up TWB's internal team as well, particularly to coordinate activities in its four key operational areas – Needs Analysis, Product Procurement and Development; Global Supply Chain Management, and Impact Assessment.
Finally, TWB's Portal will be the one aspect that will enable TWB to deliver its trading services in the most efficient manner on a global basis. All its products will be accessible through its Portal, and orders for specific products could be placed online. Order management, order tracking, freight forwarding, market research reports and impact assessment reports will all be accessible through the Portal.
Ultimately, however, TWB would wish to maintain close links with the BoP communities it aims to serve. Feedback on its products and services will always be welcome and the capacityy to make adjustments to its product and service offerings depending on local market needs will be an essential element of TWB.
Challenges
Which barriers to employment does your innovation address?
Please select up to three in order of relevancy to your project.
PRIMARY
Lack of access to information and networks
SECONDARY
Restricted access to new markets
TERTIARY
Lack of efficiency
Please describe how your innovation specifically tackles the barriers listed above.
The 2 largest markets for mobile phones are the emerging ones of China and India, while mobile phone use has spread like wildfire in Africa also. Mobile phones provide a classic leap of technology access to communication services, promoting greater interaction between separated family members, business associates, and information seekers and providers. Information and Communications technologies exist today to bring people closer, facilitate more efficient business dealings, and to provide information and services. The key is to apply the technologies with a particular focus and objective in mind. The TWB Portal focuses on increasing the flow of information, services and goods in an efficient manner to, from and between developing regions of the world.
Are you trying to scale your organization or initiative?
If yes, please check up to three potential pathways in order of relevancy to you.
PRIMARY
Leveraged technology
SECONDARY
Grown geographic reach: Global
TERTIARY
Repurposed your model for other sectors/development needs
Please describe which of your growth activities are current or planned for the immediate future.
TWB intends to fully leverage information and communications technology in all aspects of its operations. TWB is already global with U.S.A. and Hong Kong operations, and caters to enterprises in Asia, Africa and Latin America. TWB's immediate objective is to deepen and solidify its Environment sector activities within the current markets it serves. With the right local partners, TWB's model is easily replicable globally. Moreover, its core competencies in product procurement, product development and global supply chain management are also replicable across sectors. TWB's six color logo, as indicated on our web site, represents six different sectors. Longer-term, TWB aims to extend its services across all six sectors.
Do you collaborate with any of the following: (Check all that apply)
Technology providers, NGOs/Nonprofits, For profit companies, Academia/universities.
If yes, how have these collaborations helped your innovation to succeed?
It will take India the next 30-40 years to move from a developing to a developed economy even with double digit growth annually. The same is true for many African countries. TWB's mission is to create sustainable social and economic development through responsible and inclusive global trade. Our task is an admittedly daunting one which we absolutely cannot undertake unilaterally. As such, we gladly share, collaborate and engage with as many like-minded organizations as it is possible and practical to. We collaborate with inclusive for-profit and non-profit partners in each market we serve, and have had positive engagements with NGOs, like the Grameen Foundation, and academic institutions such as Thunderbird, School of Global Management, as well as technology providers such as NIIT.
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 | 100 weeks ago Joseph Fernandez updated this Competition Entry. |
| 100 weeks ago Joseph Fernandez updated this Competition Entry. |
| 101 weeks ago Joseph Fernandez updated this Competition Entry. |
| 101 weeks ago Joseph Fernandez updated this Competition Entry. |
| 101 weeks ago Joseph Fernandez updated this Competition Entry. |
| 101 weeks ago Joseph Fernandez updated this Competition Entry. |
| 101 weeks ago Joseph Fernandez updated this Competition Entry. |
| 101 weeks ago Joseph Fernandez updated this Competition Entry. |
| 101 weeks ago Joseph Fernandez submitted this idea. |