Asia

CDC Development Solutions works on a range of initiatives in Asia, most recently focused on microfinance and SME development. CDC Development Solutions works with private sector entities such as IBM and local consulting firms, as well as financial services organizations and donor agencies, including the Grassroots Business Fund, USAID, and others. Below, please find brief descriptions of the work that we do in the region. Click here for more information about our work in Asia or contact Tanya Gapeka.

CDS in Asia

Bangladesh

In Bangladesh, CDC Development Solutions, through its MBAs Without Borders (MWB) division, and in partnership with the Aga Khan Foundation and CIDA, worked with BRAC, one of the world’s largest NGOs, to carry out cutting edge research in micro health insurance and poverty alleviation amongst Bangladesh’s rural poor. The research supported the Challenging the Frontiers of Poverty Reduction-Targeting the Ultra Poor (CFPR-TUP) project, which provides training and income generating assets to 300,000 ultra poor households across rural Bangladesh.

Cambodia

CDS, through its MBAs Without Borders (MWB) division and in partnership with PATH, is helping enterprises introduce water treatment products to market and find access to safe water for low income populations. CDS’ MWBs work with existing private sector household water treatment and storage product manufacturers, the private sector market, and commercial agents to encourage them to focus their resources on the bottom of the pyramid.

China

In China, CDC Development Solutions delivered a series of trainings for executives and managers at the Bank of China in Shanghai, Beijing, and New York. The trainings were conducted by volunteers who were employees of some of the largest banks in the United States, and they increased the competitiveness of the Bank of China domestically and internationally. Trainings for the executives included (1) Treasury Management; (2) Asset Liability Management; (3) Retail Banking Risk Management; and (4) Corporate Banking, including client relationship management, marketing, and product innovations. Our partner in China was the Global Access Corporation.

Kazakhstan

In Kazakhstan, on a USAID-funded program, CDC Development Solutions and our MBA Enterprise Corps Advisors provided business advisory services in business training, accounting reform, strategic planning, regional trade promotion, association development, and quality management.  Additionally,  CDS implements IBM's Corporate Service Corps employee volunteerism activities in the country, with a focus in 2011 on Almaty.

India

CDC Development Solutions manages two primary programs in India: (1) the Social Enterprise Fellows program for the Grassroots Business Fund (GBF) and (2) the IBM Corporate Service Corps. For GBF, CDC Development Solutions recruits, trains, and fields MBA Enterprise Corps Advisors to provide services to investees in India. MBAEC Advisors provide training and consulting assistance to GBF’s investees in financial management, administration, growth planning, and ICT so that they are able to successfully and sustainably scale their businesses. Also in India, CDC Development Solutions implements the IBM Corporate Service Corps program. In Mumbai, Pune, Ahmedabad, Jaipur, Bangalore, and Delhi, CDC Development Solutions and IBM place Corporate Service Corps volunteers who provide services in ICT, marketing, strategic planning, and financial management to SMEs, associations, and NGOs.

Indonesia

After the devastating tsunami in Southeast Asia, CDC Development Solutions worked with Save the Children Indonesia on the development of systems that would promote better integration of NGO procurement activities and local suppliers of goods and services. CDC Development Solutions (1) provided an assessment of the infrastructure development and construction projects in progress in Banda Aceh, (2) recommended ways Save the Children could develop and increase local content by employing more local businesses as suppliers in the construction and other industries, and (3) focused on maintaining quality control while ensuring local participation. This work combined key elements of our Economic Security and Supply Chain Development practice areas, in that it combined best practices working in post-disaster regions with those focused on integrating local suppliers into international supply chains.

In Jakarta, CDS’ MBA Enterprise Corps (MBAEC) Advisors, in partnership with the Grassroots Business Fund, provide SEI—a local social venture fund—with operational assistance, investment management advisory services, and training to fulfill its future capital and investment needs. By building SEI’s investment and financial capabilities, CDS and GBF boost the capacity building programs available to SEI’s portfolio companies, allowing them to become more profitable and sustainable. In addition, CDS is assisting SEI to recruit and train full time and permanent staff. This helps SEI increase its competitiveness and ability to invest in Indonesia’s burgeoning social enterprises.

Laos

In Laos, CDS, through our MBAs Without Borders (MWB) division, has partnered with the Grassroots Business Fund to provide Digital Data Divide, a non-profit IT company, with tools and expertise to help bridge the divide currently separating Laotian youth from access to global opportunities. MWB Advisors supply Digital Data Divide with improved tools to build cash flow analyses, improve reporting systems, and analyze project profitability across its operations. Digital Data Divide has trained more than 1,500 people with marketable skills, and more than 250 of its staff have graduated from entry-level jobs to positions that earn them six times the average income in Laos.

Nepal

In Nepal, CDC Development Solutions’ MBAs Without Borders (MWB) division, worked with The Tilganga Institute of Ophthalmology (TIO) to combat blindness among Nepal’s poor. Nepal has one of the world’s highest rates of curable blindness. The TIO, the implementing body of the Nepal Eye Program, an NGO focused on combating this problem, offers clinical services on a cost-recovery scheme which gives poorer patients access to the same high-quality of care that wealthier patients routinely receive. MBA Advisors worked with the TIO on marketing, strategic planning, business development, improving operational procedure, and increasing outreach programs. These programs have now expanded to help poor communities in Tibet, western China, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, India and North Korea.

Pakistan

In Pakistan, CDS’ MBAs Without Borders (MWB) division worked with Vestergaard Frandsen (VF), a company that specializes in complex emergency response and disease control textiles with clients worldwide, and is guided by a unique Humanitarian Entrepreneurship business model, whose "profit for a purpose" approach has turned humanitarian responsibility into its core business. The MWB project focused on creating a marketing plan for VF’s range of products, and also included assisting VF in finding the right distributor, establishing its retail presence in Pakistan, and executing a marketing strategy.

The Philippines

In the Philippines, CDC Development Solutions worked with the Novartis Entrepreneurial Leadership Program (ELP) to implement its Micro Healthcare Initiative. Focused on improving access to healthcare, the project aimed to bring stakeholders from pharmaceutical companies, government agencies, and local communities together in partnership to improve healthcare and health insurance for underserved patients. CDS coordinated diverse teams of Novartis staff who assisted in identifying sustainable and scalable models for improving healthcare service delivery for the large part of the population not covered by insurance.

South Korea

In South Korea, CDC Development Solutions worked with the Global Access Corporation to support businesses hoping to sell their products in international markets. Our Volunteer Advisors —experts in a range of industries— served on panels that evaluated the viability and export-readiness of products from firms hoping to sell into international markets. Our Volunteer Advisors also provided training and consulting assistance to firms on improving product quality and consistency so they could be considered eligible for export to major markets in Europe and the United States.

Sri Lanka

In Sri Lanka, CDS manages IBM’s Corporate Service Corps (CSC), an innovative initiative that seeks to promote economic growth in emerging markets while providing new global business and leadership opportunities for IBM employees. CDS coordinates diverse teams of IBM staff to provide support to a number of local NGOs, universities, and government agencies. IBM’s pro bono assistance in areas including IT, marketing, training, and strategic planning promote the ability of local stakeholders to generate sustainable growth and continued stability in Sri Lanka. CDS partners in Sri Lanka include include the Energy Forum, the ICT Agency of Sri Lanka, the Department of Computer Science & Engineering at the University of Moratuwa, and Respere, a private firm that develops critical ICT solutions for the humanitarian relief sector.

Thailand

In Thailand, CDC Development Solutions worked with the Kenan Institute-Asia (KI Asia) to provide training and technical assistance on best business practices for small and medium size businesses in international marketing, ISO certification, manufacturing process improvements, and restructuring. CDS also provided management training for banks on credit management; policy and advocacy training on corporate governance; and project management support to Thai organizations working to improve public health programs for vulnerable populations.

Regional Programs

Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan

In 5 countries in Central Asia, CDC Development Solutions worked with the private sector, NGOs, local consulting firms, and government institutions to drive growth, pluralism, and stability through enhancement of the capabilities of small and medium size enterprises (SMEs). For a succession of USAID-funded programs, CDS and our MBA Enterprise Corps Advisors provided business advisory services in areas including business training, accounting reform, strategic planning, regional trade promotion, association development, and quality management. Our partners in Central Asia included The Pragma Corporation, USAID, and a number of local consulting entities and governmental institutions.

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