I have the impression that we need to make an effort to understand each other better. The market development world and that of social development are not two separate worlds. The divide is fake. However, those who are leading one sector or the other, generally see each other as foes. There’s a lack of trust that allow us to interact and not working on building that trust is irresponsible. Leaders don’t lose, as always, the poor are the losers.
I’m going to say what might seem a heresy to the social sector: Those who are leading this discussion are on top of the pyramid. Together with business entrepreneurs, we monopolize financial capital, social capital, knowledge, and speech. Powerful people are the ones discussing these issues, and we’re not agreeing at all.
Apparently, this appears to be an ego discussion. The social sector feels aggravated to the lost of control over the “poor” speech. It adopts a defensive position that impedes to see the opportunity. On the other hand, the business sector, with some arrogance, is stepping on in the social sector without taking into account structures and with high hopes on the new paradigm (Fortune at the Bottom of the Pyramid – CK Prahalad). It’s actually walking as an Elephant inside a crystal product store. It’s financial capital disposition allows it to do so and its schools are not aware yet on how to help it. For the people, the poor, we need to work together.
ENDLESS OPPORTUNITIES I believe that as a responsibility with the planet, the top of the pyramid needs to decrease its consumption radically (see http://www.noconsumo.blogspot.com). But this being an important discussion, it belongs to another debate that will be developed on top of the pyramid.
However, the poor, the BOP, must be provided with several services and products. Globalization has made evident the existing debt. Water, energy, nutrition, education, health, capital, justice, governance, technology, housing, culture, and entertainment… are part of the agenda owed to two thirds of the world’s population. Problem that is now global.
Paradoxically, this -being a global problem, will be resolve to some extent, locally. And there, it’ll be a space not only for transnationals but also for local economic agents.
On this matter, we must -more than resist to the great enterprise speech, develop our entrepreneurial imagination and apply it to serve the poor and enable them to serve each other. If both sectors don’t act due to ideological differences, first, there would not be an improvement in the poor’s life style, and secondly, capital would continue to be transferred only to the developed world.
Hence, I suggest to stop thinking about transnationals and let’s reflect about all we could do to develop the BOP market. I suggest (this graphic concept has been developed with Peruvian painter Luis Garcia Zapatero) turning the pyramid up side down, and creating an opening on its former vertex in order to build a sand clock (see graphic at www.peruenrumba.blogspot.com). Let’s fill the bottom of the pyramid with relevant products and services. This, my dear friends, is an image that all of us (or at least most of us) might like better.
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