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Knowledge Center

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A Wealth of Knowledge

Acumen Fund’s investments support some of the world’s most innovative businesses. Yet, even if we reach our goal—$100 million in investments, touching 50 million lives—98% of the world’s poor will be unaffected by our work. We believe sharing what we learn with others will extend our impact beyond our portfolio. The Knowledge Center, an ever-growing library of stories, tools and lessons, allows others to leverage insights from our work to change how people and institutions fight poverty.

Acumen Spotlight

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Video
Dorah: Quality Healthcare and Loyal Customers
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Photo Essay
Affordable Irrigation for Subsistence Farmers
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Story
When to Put Your Camera Away
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Jacqueline's Letter: Spring 2010
Author: Jacqueline Novogratz | May 2010
A quarterly update letter from Jacqueline recaps recent news, including updates on growth, learnings from our work and events in the community. Publication Preview: "When I was in business school, company growth ...

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Jacqueline's Letter: Winter 2010
Author: Jacqueline Novogratz | February 2010
A quarterly update letter from Jacqueline recaps recent news, a visit to the beautiful new home of a former prostitute and slum dweller outside of Nairobi, Kenya, and an inspiring ...

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Jacqueline's Journal - Kenya January 2010
Author: Jacqueline Novogratz | January 2010
Jacqueline Novogratz, CEO of Acumen Fund, shares stories from her trip to Kenya, where she sees how investees like Jamii Bora, Ecotact and Western Seeds are making a difference in the lives ...

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Jacqueline's Letter: Autumn 2009
Author: Jacqueline Novogratz | November 2009
A quarterly update letter from Jacqueline recaps recent news and Acumen Fund's annual Investor Gathering, which took place in New York on November 17, 2009. Amongst other news, there is ...

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Dreaming of a Brighter Future With Sustainable Electricity

A farmer in Bihar, India, speaks of the changes in his life and the new opportunities for his children, thanks to the electricity provided by Husk Power Systems.

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Jacqueline Shares Her Blue Sweater Story

The Blue Sweater is the story of an amazing coincidence that reveals how interconnected our world really is.

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Reading The Blue Sweater in Kenya

Watch a video of a Blue Sweater reading group in a Kenyan urban slum.

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What Happens Next: Story of an Acumen Fund Investment

In 2007, Acumen Fund invested in Jamii Bora to create a housing development that will enable slum dwellers to own homes for the first time.  Trace the path of this ...

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Safe Drinking Water for Poor

WHI’s rural community water systems have already given one million people in India alone daily access to safe, affordable water. In 2007, WHI added 150 new water systems.

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Improving Livestock Productivity in Pakistan

Jassar Farms Private Ltd. (JFPL) is a corporate dairy farming business focused on dairy and breed improvement of poor livestock farmers aiming to increase milk productivity.

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Why Conversations Matter: A Day with Micro Drip

I was eager for the road trip. It was a chance to get out of Karachi, where the inability to simply walk around freely must surely become stifling; it was also a ...

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The Farmer Calls the Shot

Generally, when I do the road trip from Nairobi into Western Kenya, I stay up late the night before so I can snooze during the journey. I sleep because I’ve taken the ...

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Simple Mathematics

This cost analysis hangs on a wall at in the Osembe Primary School, a concrete block building surrounded by rice fields not far from Lake Victoria.