youth

The Grassroots Business Initiative (GBI) is the brainchild of the World Bank Group’s International Finance Corporation (IFC).  Launched in 2004, the GBI supports innovative social enterprises – dubbed Grassroots Business Organizations (GBOs) – that directly engage the poor as entrepreneurs, consumers, employees and suppliers, offering financing and capacity building know-how to GBOs.

Speaking of successful cities (see my previous post), the Cities Alliance is collaborating with the World Bank and the Government of Norway to launch an international essay competition for young people (18-25) which asks, “What can you do to shape the city of your dreams?”  Yes, there are cash prizes and finalists get to travel to Cape Town, South Africa this June, all expenses paid by the World Bank.  Submissions are entirely internet-based, and the deadline for submission is March 23, 2008.  What do you have to lose?