MBA's Without Borders USA
San Francisco, CA
Project location: South Africa and Swaziland
$20,000 2008
www.mbaswithoutborders.org

MBAs Without Borders (MWB) is an international organization that empowers local entrepreneurs and matches them with experienced MBAs, from around the world, to bring innovative market-based solutions to developing countries.

MWB provides an innovative and sustainable mobel to support local entrepreneurs in several ways:

• Focusing efforts with grass roots entrepreneurs in developing countries - believing that small businesses are a critical piece to create sustainability, particularly in under-served markets.
• All project requirements come directly from field partners to ensure that needs are addressed as identified by local experts.
• Field partners contribute 20-30% of the cost of MBAs - this helps establish ownership, a key ingredient to the project success.
• MBAs are recruited globally, often with extensive professional experience in the international context.

ABSF funding supports two projects in Africa where MWB is supporting four (4) for-profit businesses in Africa starting in June, 2008.

Project #1: "Streetwires" is a South African small business established in 2000 in order to create and market contemporary African wire and bead craft art, blending First World resources with traditional Third World craft skills.  The MBA volunteer working with Streetwires will also support 2 smaller businesses, Miele and Kunye, both who are involved in handicrafts and work with IFC's Grassroots Business Initiative.

Project #2:  "Gone Rural" is a female-run business in the remote areas of Swaziland which platis high quality homeware products from locally grown lutindzi grass.  The women not only gain a steady income, but also access to training and HIV/AIDS awareness workshops through their employment at Gone Rural.