Out of Poverty : Paul Polack

Who is Paul Polack? And what does he have to do with tactics for solving global poverty?
Paul Polack’s organization IDE has brought 17 million out of poverty. Paul has made available resources for social change and solutions to poverty. His book Out of Poverty looks like a great read for social entrepreneurs like myself. I can’t wait to pick it up on Amazon.

12 Social Entrepreneurial Principles for Solving Poverty in the Developing World:

1) Goto where the action is. You can’t solve poverty from a World Bank office.
2) Talk to the people and listen to what they have to say.
3) Learn everything about the context of the problem and the people.
4) Think and act big. No reason to be modest. Small solutions applied thousands of thousands of times.
5) Think like a child to find the obvious solution people have missed in the past. (Irony of thinking big and like a child)
6) See and do the obvious. Emersing yourself in the problem helps.
7) If someone has invented it–you don’t have to. Find existing solutions
8} Make sure your approach can be scaled up.
9) Design for the poor. Affordability rules the design process with poor customers.
10) Follow practical 3 year plans. Must transform into effective work plan for 3 years.
11) Continue to learn from your customers. (interviewed more than 3000 farm families, $12 solar lantern)
12) Don’t be distracted by what other people say (Almost every project I’ve done has had sceptics)

• Visit the people who have the problem–in their real life setting. Have a keen interest in learning new things.

• If you give money away. Donate to organizations that have measurable impacts.

• Extreme poverty can be found in your community too.

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