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Phase: Applause

Markets of Hope

A global on-line marketplace of local goods and services offered to a global audience to reactivate local economies.

Photo of Carlos Miranda Levy
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Markets of Hope early rendition applied to disaster recovery Markets of Hope early rendition applied to disaster recovery
Creation of a global on-line store where the people and businesses of declining economic regions and  disaster areas can offer and sell their products and services to the world, creating opportunities for recovery with dignity with inclusion and the generation and distribution of wealth.

A global marketplace where survivors of natural disasters and economic decline increase their skills, are actively engaged in the recovery process and sell goods and services to the world so they can generate wealth and not depend on donations.

The goal is to empower local communities impacted by natural disaster and economic decline to generate wealth and become self-sustainable, connecting them with a global market for their goods and services.

EXCLUSION OF LOCAL RESOURCES AND ALIENATION OF FUNDS

Natural disasters disrupt the economy and generation of wealth where they occur. It takes time for the economy to recover and most incoming resources for recovery are managed by foreign organizations, professionals and volunteers, excluding local stakeholders. Funds provided by the international community are largely spent on foreign resources and remain outside the local ecosystem. Furthermore, local resources and stakeholders are not actively engaged in the relief and recovery initiatives, often being displaced by foreign providers and ending up depending on foreign aid, assistance and hand outs.

TRANSFORMING DONORS INTO CONSCIOUS CONSUMERS,

DONATION RECIPIENTS INTO GENERATORS OF WEALTH

The proposed approach allows those interested in helping disaster areas to buy goods from survivors or employing them and getting something back instead of making donations whose destiny is uncertain. You are not just helping with money, but enabling the survivors to engage in a sustainable, profitable and dignified activity. By combining multiple disaster areas we become a diverse channel to connect them with a global audience of consumers interested in acquiring goods and helping at the same time.

ACKNOWLEDGING THE POTENTIAL OF LOCAL STAKEHOLDERS

Survivors of natural disasters and economic decline are resourceful and capable people able to fend for themselves and generate wealth if given the opportunity. The physical infrastructure may have been destroyed, but not so the social structure. The buildings and businesses might be gone, but the professionals and the skills of the people are intact, ready to be put to good use.







What resources (money, time, people, technology, etc) will your concept need to be successful?

US$100,000 to US$500,000 2 years A multidisciplinary team of 4. Local partners and organizations. Website, e-commerce capability (merchant transactions), order fulfillment and logistics coordination, quality control, accountability. Most important of all is engagement of local organizations and partners to run the last mile and ensure the success and needed actions at the local level.

What steps could you take to implement this idea today?

THREE MAIN PROGRAMS: Marketplace program: A Global on-line store of goods and services produced locally in disasters areas and offered to a global audience. Matching program: A Global Database and Matching Service of "Local Goods & Service Providers" and "Requirements by International Organizations" supported by a... Skills Development program: A Capacity Building and Certification Program, which empowers local stakeholders and makes sure they match and meet the expectations of relief, local and international organizations. LOCAL STRATEGY AND PARTICIPATION OF LOCAL AND GRASSROOTS ORGANIZATIONS Working together with local and community organizations and putting them in charge of local operations, we delegate the process of scouting for artisans, makers of goods and local service providers, contact with them, capacity building and their certification. The local partner organizations receive training and a support kit for training, evaluating and certifying local goods and service providers. They also cover the costs of the local operation, including web connectivity, phone services, local financial costs (incorporation, bank accounts), collecting goods to be shipped and distributing payments to the local providers. In exchange, they earn a percentage of the revenue. IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGIES - Partnering with local governments, trade associations, business groups and community and grassroots organizations. - Providing easy to follow procedures and logistics to participating merchants. - Generating trust by providing instant, updated and transparent information on earnings, sales, shipping, costs, profit margins, use of funds and detailed information of participating merchants to both customers and to merchants. - Accessible and personal support for both customers and participating merchants. - Capacity building and personalized training for participating merchants and individuals by local partners. > A detailed training kit is provided for partners to use and guarantee the quality of training. - Connecting participating merchants and individuals with local organizations to generate synergies and leverage the experience and power of others. - Access to resources and partners, knowledge, skilled human resources and active leaders in the field. > Business to Business matching and cooperation program where businesses in areas not affected by economic decline or disaster choose to assist, partner, mentor and optionally fund or loan money and resources to similar business of their same trade in affected areas.

How can your idea be scaled so that it's implemented in cities around the world?

Starting at one to three location and running a modest pilot to learn from the challenges and quickly scale discovering local advantages and offerings that add value to the market place and are appealing to global consumers.

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