What is the BoP?
By definition, the Bottom of the Pyramid (also called the Base of the Pyramid or BoP) represents the the largest, but poorest socio-economic group - four billion people of the world, mostly in developing countries, who earn less than $2 per day.
To illustrate this, let's say the entire population of the world were a pyramid. We would see then, that the top is a pointed peak that represents the super-rich, while the massive chunk at the bottom is the rest of the world. In a population of 6.6 billion people, it's the one percent at the top that owns 40% of the world's wealth!
The Great Indian Pyramid
Despite India's resurgent economic progress of the last few decades, the oft-ignored fact remains that one third of the country - more than 250 million people, are officially below the poverty line, still earning less than 1$ a day. This is the massive chunk of opportunity, for education, healthcare and social development, that lies at the bottom of the Great Indian Pyramid.
For decades the World Bank, various donor nations, aid agencies, national governments and NGOs have poured in billions of dollars at the Bottom of the Pyramid. But the shape of the pyramid has only marginally changed. Clearly charity has not worked - the BoP is still vast and sluggish.
By definition, the Bottom of the Pyramid (also called the Base of the Pyramid or BoP) represents the the largest, but poorest socio-economic group - four billion people of the world, mostly in developing countries, who earn less than $2 per day.
To illustrate this, let's say the entire population of the world were a pyramid. We would see then, that the top is a pointed peak that represents the super-rich, while the massive chunk at the bottom is the rest of the world. In a population of 6.6 billion people, it's the one percent at the top that owns 40% of the world's wealth!
The Great Indian Pyramid
Despite India's resurgent economic progress of the last few decades, the oft-ignored fact remains that one third of the country - more than 250 million people, are officially below the poverty line, still earning less than 1$ a day. This is the massive chunk of opportunity, for education, healthcare and social development, that lies at the bottom of the Great Indian Pyramid.
For decades the World Bank, various donor nations, aid agencies, national governments and NGOs have poured in billions of dollars at the Bottom of the Pyramid. But the shape of the pyramid has only marginally changed. Clearly charity has not worked - the BoP is still vast and sluggish.
Our thesis
'... businesses, governments, and donor agencies (should) stop thinking of the poor as victims and instead start seeing them as resilient and creative entrepreneurs as well as value-demanding consumers.'
- The Fortune at the Bottom of the Pyramid (2004)
by Professor CK Prahlad, University of Michigan
The CLEF concept of Edu@Bop is one that echoes Prof. Prahlad's thoughts. Our thesis is to address the needs of these value-demanding consumers through education. Supply-demand equations apart, education is akin to fighting illiteracy and hence unemployment. It is the means we have chosen to fight poverty - by creating resilient entrepreneurs and forging sustainable change.
Read On>>
The Challenge
The Opportunities
'... businesses, governments, and donor agencies (should) stop thinking of the poor as victims and instead start seeing them as resilient and creative entrepreneurs as well as value-demanding consumers.'
- The Fortune at the Bottom of the Pyramid (2004)
by Professor CK Prahlad, University of Michigan
The CLEF concept of Edu@Bop is one that echoes Prof. Prahlad's thoughts. Our thesis is to address the needs of these value-demanding consumers through education. Supply-demand equations apart, education is akin to fighting illiteracy and hence unemployment. It is the means we have chosen to fight poverty - by creating resilient entrepreneurs and forging sustainable change.
Read On>>
The Challenge
The Opportunities