Green bonds

Green bonds

Investors around the world are seeking ways to both safeguard their financial interests and contribute to a sustainable future. At the same time, much greater investment is needed to address global challenges including climate change, biodiversity loss, and poverty.

Investors around the world are seeking ways to both safeguard their financial interests and contribute to a sustainable future. At the same time, much greater investment is needed to address global challenges including climate change, biodiversity loss, and poverty.

Blogs 21 Apr, 2023

Human capital

Human capital

The last few years have ushered in a harsh new reality where crises are the norm rather than the exception. Pandemics, economic slumps and extreme weather events were once tail-end risks, but all three have hit South Asia in rapid succession since 2020.

The last few years have ushered in a harsh new reality where crises are the norm rather than the exception. Pandemics, economic slumps and extreme weather events were once tail-end risks, but all three have hit South Asia in rapid succession since 2020.

Blogs 08 Mar, 2023

Communal meals unite rich and poor

Communal meals unite rich and poor

Whereas Zimbabwe is a very classist country, when it comes to social norms, certain traditions and custom cut across class lines. One such custom is “mahwauro”, a practice of serving meals on fresh banana leaves.

Whereas Zimbabwe is a very classist country, when it comes to social norms, certain traditions and custom cut across class lines. One such custom is “mahwauro”, a practice of serving meals on fresh banana leaves.

Blogs 08 Mar, 2023

"Natural disaster"

"Natural disaster"

The phrase ‘natural disaster’ is used in the news, in social media, and in everyday conversations to describe extreme events like hurricanes, floods, earthquakes, or volcanoes.

The phrase ‘natural disaster’ is used in the news, in social media, and in everyday conversations to describe extreme events like hurricanes, floods, earthquakes, or volcanoes.

Blogs 21 Feb, 2023

Light in the darkness

Light in the darkness

A nightmare from a not very distant past keeps resurfacing down our memory lane: those 18 hours of power outage engulfing us in the darkness, and making us grope around for a candle, a flashlight, a kuppi — a kerosene-fueled light, or even a diyalo, tiny pieces of pinewood laden with its resin and easily combustible — à la old times.

A nightmare from a not very distant past keeps resurfacing down our memory lane: those 18 hours of power outage engulfing us in the darkness, and making us grope around for a candle, a flashlight, a kuppi — a kerosene-fueled light, or even a diyalo, tiny pieces of pinewood laden with its resin and easily combustible — à la old times.

Blogs 15 Feb, 2023

Poverty line

Poverty line

Poverty has been with us since the dawn of civilization, but the measurement of global poverty is a relatively new development.

Poverty has been with us since the dawn of civilization, but the measurement of global poverty is a relatively new development.

Blogs 09 Feb, 2023

The Übermensch

The Übermensch

‘Ubermensch’, coined by Friedrich Nietzsche in his book ‘Thus Spoke Zarathustra’, (1883) is a loose translation of ‘Superman’. A defiant, competent overman who has natural instincts to fight back even to life’s most harrowing bewilderment.

‘Ubermensch’, coined by Friedrich Nietzsche in his book ‘Thus Spoke Zarathustra’, (1883) is a loose translation of ‘Superman’. A defiant, competent overman who has natural instincts to fight back even to life’s most harrowing bewilderment.

Blogs 30 Jan, 2023

Epiphany moments

Epiphany moments

Everyone has epiphany moments in life. Call it a Buddha moment if you like. Since the enlightened one was born in the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal, albeit over two millennia ago, it is natural for us to get some of his wisdom and renunciation ability.

Everyone has epiphany moments in life. Call it a Buddha moment if you like. Since the enlightened one was born in the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal, albeit over two millennia ago, it is natural for us to get some of his wisdom and renunciation ability.

Blogs 26 Jan, 2023

Pros and cons of plastic water tanks

Pros and cons of plastic water tanks

So called “Jojo” tanks have become very popular in Zimbabwe. They are large-capacity vertical water storage tanks that can hold anything from 1,000 to 20,000-litres. They’re handy in a country where piped water is unreliable.

So called “Jojo” tanks have become very popular in Zimbabwe. They are large-capacity vertical water storage tanks that can hold anything from 1,000 to 20,000-litres. They’re handy in a country where piped water is unreliable.

Blogs 25 Jan, 2023

Going hungry

Going hungry

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a devastating impact on the world’s economy, triggering a recession that has severely affected food security and nutrition for millions of people.

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a devastating impact on the world’s economy, triggering a recession that has severely affected food security and nutrition for millions of people.

Blogs 25 Jan, 2023

"He's my inspiration!"

"He's my inspiration!"

Quite often, I upload numerous photos of Lionel Messi on Facebook with the selfsame caption on each post that reads, “He’s my inspiration!” In one instance, one of my friends commented, “How?” I took his oneword question literally without giving it a single thought, assuming that he was asking me to justify the statement (caption).

Quite often, I upload numerous photos of Lionel Messi on Facebook with the selfsame caption on each post that reads, “He’s my inspiration!” In one instance, one of my friends commented, “How?” I took his oneword question literally without giving it a single thought, assuming that he was asking me to justify the statement (caption).

Blogs 23 Jan, 2023

Green bonds

Green bonds

Investors around the world are seeking ways to both safeguard their financial interests and contribute to a sustainable future.

Investors around the world are seeking ways to both safeguard their financial interests and contribute to a sustainable future.

Blogs 23 Jan, 2023

Conflict and employment

Conflict and employment

The emergence of new conflicts, together with the increasing duration of existing displacement crises, implies that forced displacement is set to increase.

The emergence of new conflicts, together with the increasing duration of existing displacement crises, implies that forced displacement is set to increase.

Blogs 18 Jan, 2023

Frequent plane crashes

Frequent plane crashes

On the 15th of January, on Maghe Sankranti, a passenger plane carrying 72 people crashed near the newly inaugurated Pokhara International Airport.

On the 15th of January, on Maghe Sankranti, a passenger plane carrying 72 people crashed near the newly inaugurated Pokhara International Airport.

Blogs 18 Jan, 2023

Health and sanitation

Health and sanitation

A sanitation campaign in the Lao People’s Democratic Republic reveals that reducing open defecation has unexpected benefits across households and communities.

A sanitation campaign in the Lao People’s Democratic Republic reveals that reducing open defecation has unexpected benefits across households and communities.

Blogs 17 Jan, 2023

PRIA and Indian media

PRIA and Indian media

The initial enthusiasm for PRIA seems to have petered out. We have forgotten GBIA completely. With Kuwait’s Jazeera and Nepal-born Himalaya pulling out the few flights citing worsening weather, the writings are writ large on the walls and skies. It faces existential questions.

The initial enthusiasm for PRIA seems to have petered out. We have forgotten GBIA completely. With Kuwait’s Jazeera and Nepal-born Himalaya pulling out the few flights citing worsening weather, the writings are writ large on the walls and skies. It faces existential questions.

Blogs 12 Jan, 2023

Behavioural science

Behavioural science

Behavioral insights offer effective tools to come up with innovative solutions to address people’s behavior and biases regarding climate change.

Behavioral insights offer effective tools to come up with innovative solutions to address people’s behavior and biases regarding climate change.

Blogs 05 Jan, 2023

Food export: Learn from Ukraine

Food export: Learn from Ukraine

Embattled Ukraine, braving rains of missiles, exports grains to Africa to save its impoverished people from hunger and starvation. Ukraine’s president magnanimously declared that he would not allow people to die of hunger when Russia tried to throw a spanner on export from the Black Sea.

Embattled Ukraine, braving rains of missiles, exports grains to Africa to save its impoverished people from hunger and starvation. Ukraine’s president magnanimously declared that he would not allow people to die of hunger when Russia tried to throw a spanner on export from the Black Sea.

Blogs 05 Jan, 2023

The world at your doorstep

The world at your doorstep

We, humans, are accustomed to do one thing as soon as we wake up and get up: swing the curtains wide open and check the weather prospects, intuitively wishing them to fit in our expectations.

We, humans, are accustomed to do one thing as soon as we wake up and get up: swing the curtains wide open and check the weather prospects, intuitively wishing them to fit in our expectations.

Blogs 04 Jan, 2023

Healthy life – a patchwork of daily routine

Healthy life – a patchwork of daily routine

“ You were right!” I murmured at midnight when my heart pounded quickly. I remember my better half saying” avoid packaged food and junk food, and drink more water”. However, I didn’t heed these words. I then realised that she was absolutely right. It was her concern about my health.

“ You were right!” I murmured at midnight when my heart pounded quickly. I remember my better half saying” avoid packaged food and junk food, and drink more water”. However, I didn’t heed these words. I then realised that she was absolutely right. It was her concern about my health.

Blogs 03 Jan, 2023