Blog Archives

Meet Our Staff: Why Do I Believe in Opportunity?

In May of 2010, I attended a luncheon hosted by the Chicago Council on Global Affairs where Melanne Verveer, the first-ever U.S. ambassador-at-large for Global Women’s Issues, spoke to the significance of investing in women as a means to drive economic growth in the developing world. Equally as captivating as Ambassador Verveer’s remarks was being Read more…

Posted in Our Leadership, Our Mission and Vision, Our Motivation, Our Work, Resources
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Innovation to Aid the Horn of Africa: USAID Administrator Rajiv Shah at the Chicago Council on Global Affairs

Last Thursday, USAID administrator Dr. Rajiv Shah spoke at The Chicago Council on Global Affairs lunchtime talk entitled “America’s role in Food Security and the Horn of Africa Famine.” Administrator Shah began with slides and stories from the amalgam of refugee camps that make up the Dadaab camps in Kenya. The camps, which were built for Read more…

Posted in Events, Resources, Rural Outreach, Technology
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What We’re Reading: Roger Thurow on Bill Gates at the Symposium on Global Agriculture & Food Security

The following post, “Expert Commentary–The Importance of Innovation” by Roger Thurow, was published today on the Chicago Council on Global Affairs‘ Global Food for Thought blog about the Symposium on Global Agriculture and Food Security that took place today in Washington, D.C.. Bill Gates came to the Chicago Council’s Symposium on Global Agriculture and Food Read more…

Posted in Events, Loans, Resources, Rural Outreach, Savings, Strategic Partners, Technology, What We're Reading, Where We Work
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“Why Farming?” Today’s Symposium on Global Agriculture & Food Security in Washington, D.C.

Today in Washington, D.C., the Chicago Council on Global Affairs‘ “The Symposium on Global Agriculture and Food Security: Progress to Date and Strategies for Success” with noted experts in agricultural policy, global development, philanthropy and more. Keynote Speakers: Bill Gates, Co-chair and Trustee, The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Rajiv Shah, Administrator, U.S. Agency for International Read more…

Posted in Events, Loans, Resources, Rural Outreach, Savings, Strategic Partners, What We're Reading
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What We’re Reading: Roger Thurow Interview on Hunger, Microfinance and More

On Wednesdays, we highlight an article, book or blog in our “What We’re Reading” series. We feature works that are noteworthy, inspiring, educational or relevant to the microfinance work we do at Opportunity. We welcome your comments in the comment field below–-tell us what you’re reading, or respond to the piece we’ve highlighted. The following Read more…

Posted in Loans, What We're Reading, Where We Work
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Global Food for Thought Blog: “Extending the Reach” by Roger Thurow

The following post by Roger Thurow, “Extending the Reach,” was published on the Global Food for Thought blog on March 4, 2011 as part of Thurow’s Outrage & Inspire series. Thurow is Senior Fellow for Global Agriculture & Food Policy at the Chicago Council on Global Affairs, a finalist for the 2004 Pulitzer Prize in international reporting, and co-author of Read more…

Posted in Rural Outreach, What We're Reading, Where We Work
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Chicago Event: Empowering Women and Rebuilding Afghanistan

I frequently visit the Chicago Council on Global Affairs website to peruse their schedule of multidisciplinary programs, always hoping to find programs on microfinance. When I saw that the Women and Global Development Forum was hosting a program called Rebuilding Afghanistan: A Civilian and Military Perspective, I knew it would be an event not to Read more…

Posted in Events, Loans, Resources, Women's Opportunity Network
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Chicago Event: Granting Opportunities for Women Worldwide

The following guest post about this Chicago Council on Global Affairs event was written by Women’s Opportunity Network (WON) co-chair Betsy Perdue: “Studies show that women, when provided with a decent wage, invest 90% of their earnings in their families while men invest around 30-40%… Please join Jacqueline Novogratz and Kavita Ramdas for a discussion Read more…

Posted in Events, Our Mission and Vision, Our Motivation, Our Work, Women's Opportunity Network
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Today is World Food Day–Saturday, Oct. 16

Saturday, Oct. 16th is World Food Day, a day designated by the U.N.’s World Food Programme to raise awareness and support in the fight against global hunger. From wfp.org: “World Food Day on October 16 reminds the world that around 1 in 7 people alive today are going hungry[...] [Though,] this year, the number of Read more…

Posted in Events, Loans, Microfinance Conference, Microinsurance, Our Work, What We're Reading
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LiveBlog: Plenary Session with Roger Thurow, the Gates Foundation’s Tamara Cook, Under Secretary of State María Otero and more

“There are many things that call us to this conference, yet what ultimately brings us together this weekend is helping impoverished people work their way out of poverty.” – Member of the board of directors, A.T. Tshibaka, The first plenary session of the 2010 Fall Microfinance Conference  This very first plenary session kicks off our Read more…

Posted in Events, Local Staffing, Microfinance Conference, OptINnow, Our Work, Where We Work
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