World Bank's social enterprises in three NE states

The World Bank Wednesday launched its $1 million 2014 India Development Marketplace for implementing innovative service delivery in Meghalaya, Mizoram and Assam.

India Development Marketplace 2014 is a grant-based programme to be awarded to 10 social enterprises.

It will provide an opportunity for social enterprises from across the country to share their work and scale up for improving last-mile delivery of key services and products, Drew Von Glahn, World Bank's development marketplace team leader, said.

It identifies and supports non-profit and for-profit organisations that effectively deliver crucial services to the poor.

"The Development Marketplace also analyses effective practices of these enterprises in order to expand innovative solutions in getting crucial services to poor population," Glahn said.

He said it will approximately grant $150,000 (Rs.94 lakh) each to the 10 organisations.

"In addition to the financial resources, the grantees will be supported through a tailored capacity development programme delivered with the local partners jointly with the South Asia Inclusive Business Models Group of the International Financial Corporation, a member of the World Bank Group," he said.

Glahn said the final selection of grantees will be carried out by a jury of well-known development experts. The jury will award approximately 10 social enterprises with cash grants and technical assistance services for capacity building.

Moreover, Glahn said the India Development Marketplace would also rope in the development experts for selecting social enterprises that can deliver basic services that the people of the region need the most.

"The services include those that facilitate access to basic ones like health, nutrition, education, water, sanitation, housing and energy, financial services, transportation and information and communication technology," he said.