A Profit-Driven Approach to Affordable Education: A Review of Hippocampus Learning Centers Government schools across India are haunted with serious issues. Teachers are absent 25 percent of days and teaching less than 55 percent of the time. This contributes to the low enrollment rates across the country, standing at a mere 37 percent of 361… Read more >
Updates
Surprising results with homeless pilot in Chennai
March 26, 2012 – Update
Unitus Labs has published the fifth and final case study from the Sorenson-Unitus Ultra Poor Initiative, a report that explores how the Equitas Bird’s Nest pilot was able to successfully stabilize housing for extremely poor homeless families in Chennai, India. Equitas Development Initiatives Trust (EDIT) launched the program in 2009 with a simple premise –… Read more >
2011 Unitus family update
February 13, 2012 – Update
Update from Unitus family on activities and progress in 2011 towards our poverty impact mission 2011 has been an exciting year for the Unitus family. Thanks to your help over the years we have been able to continue our tradition of high impact innovation. A few highlights from 2011: Birthed two new initiatives: Unitus Impact… Read more >
Unitus Ventures (formerly Unitus Seed Fund) launches in India with three seed investments
February 5, 2012 – Press Release
New Unitus Labs Initiative Seeks to Accelerate Development of Innovative Startups Which Have the Potential to Significantly Benefit Families Living on Less Than $2 Per Day Seattle, WA and Bangalore, India, February 6, 2012 — Unitus Labs, an international non-profit focused on reducing global poverty through economic self-empowerment, is launching today the Unitus Ventures (formerly Unitus Seed Fund),… Read more >
Self-reliance realized for isolated tribal villagers in India
January 23, 2012 – Update
Unitus Labs publishes new in-depth case study report on SKS NGO ultra poor program in Orissa, India. Report describes new tools developed to overcome physical, cultural obstacles of working with isolated ultra poor communities. Looking beyond progress made during an ultra poor intervention, the success of an ultra poor program must also be judged by… Read more >
Early introduction of livelihoods found to be critical factor in moving large numbers out of extreme poverty
October 14, 2011 – Update
For years, ultra poor interventions built around subsidies and skill-building activities have helped to move households living below the extreme poverty line toward some productive activity or eligibility for microfinance schemes. For all their individual successes, these interventions have also struggled with high cost-per-beneficiary and an inability to sustain programs after donor funds run out.… Read more >
New Kriti ultra poor case study offers insights on livelihood development
September 9, 2011 – Update
With higher cost of living and little access to arable land, ultra poor households in urban areas face very different obstacles than their rural counterparts. To respond to these needs, in 2009 Hyderabad-based Kriti Social Initiatives joined the Sorenson-Unitus Ultra Poor Initiative to pilot a program that paired livelihood development with cost-effective provision of basic… Read more >
New UPna sapna ultra-poor case study highlights 9 key learnings
August 12, 2011 – Update
UPna sapna case study finds new strategies for selecting and enrolling ultra poor households in programs to promote self-reliance Unitus Labs today released its first Sorenson-Unitus Ultra Poor Initiative case study which explores the Jharkhand, India-based UPna sapna project experience researching more scalable ways to provide opportunities for families to lift themselves out of extreme poverty. The case… Read more >
Update to Supporters: Unitus announces new strategic focus
June 15, 2011 – Update
Dear Unitus Supporters, I am excited to announce that Unitus is initiating a new strategy to tackle global poverty. Our new strategy is to accelerate the growth and effectiveness of income generating “livelihood opportunities.” We will support projects that directly and significantly increase income-generating potential for millions of people battling poverty. We will do so… Read more >
Unitus Labs announces new strategic focus to improve incomes of millions battling poverty
June 13, 2011 – Update
Unitus Labs (formerly Unitus, Inc.) announces a new strategic alliance with Unitus Impact to catalyze new markets for livelihood ventures in Asia and Africa, creating significant income-generating opportunities for millions battling poverty. Seattle and Bangalore (June 13, 2011) – Unitus Labs announced today that it is supporting a new initiative to build income-generating opportunities for millions… Read more >
Unitus non-profit changes name to Unitus Labs
June 13, 2011 – Update
Unitus, Inc. has officially changed its name from “Unitus, Inc” to “Unitus Labs” to better reflect its historical approach and current and going forward focus to engage in early-stage research on and the support for market-based solutions that reduce global poverty. The Unitus Family consists of 4 independently managed entities: Unitus Labs — Non-profit focused on… Read more >
Unitus, Inc. announces funding for four microfinance innovations projects
May 1, 2011 – Update
Unitus, Inc. has provided $227,000 to fund four innovative microfinance pilot projects at leading India MFIs As part of Unitus Inc.’s commitment to fulfill existing Microfinance Acceleration commitments, we are pleased to announce USD$227,000 funding of four innovation projects at leading India microfinance institutions (MFIs). We believe that these initiatives will help improve microfinance operations by creating robust… Read more >