Social Innovation Oxford 08: Closing Plenary

We waited patiently outside the Nelson Mandela Lecture theatre for the last gathering of the Skoll World Forum 2008. The theatre was full to the full to the gunnel's and I would not be surprised if nearly all 750 delegate attended!

Paul Collier, Professor of Economics and Director of the Centre of Economics at Oxford University, served as Director of Development Research Group at the World Bank, senior advisor to former PM Blair's Commission on Africa was the first speaker. His past and current research has centred on addressing developmental changes facing low income countries, including research on the economics of conflict, governance and macro economics with a strong focus on the effects of aid, exchange rates and trade policies.

Prof. Collier spoke about this recently published book, The Bottom Billion which aims at providing concrete solutions to answering the plight of the world's poorest citizens. He asked how we could provide jobs and basic social services to the bottom billion. How can social entrepreneurs help. He believes this is a market opportunity for them (the bottom billion), not as consumers but as producers.
How do we make them more productive producers? His solutions were micro finance, business expertise, formation of clusters. Apparently 65% of buttons in the world are made in one country clusters. He said the provision of social services by governments had failed. There was hard evidence that community models don't work. There needs to be sustained public finance through private means.