Google Finds New Way to Give - Enabling Improvements in the Public and Private Sector
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As you'd expect, some of Google.org's initiatives focus on what Google itself does best: getting information out to whoever wants it. In some cases, that makes a big difference. The idea behind Google's "Inform and Empower to Improve Public Services" initiative is that transparency of information will help make the system work better. People are more likely to ask for their rights when they know what they are. That's a crude example; here's a real one, taken from Google.org's web site:
"In Uganda, school textbooks and other materials weren't getting to students – less than 30 cents of every dollar in central government funds set aside for instructional materials reached schools. Local government inertia and mismanagement froze the rest – especially in the poorest school districts. Then the government began releasing data on monthly education spending to newspapers and radio stations. Schools were required to post notices on monthly transfers of funds received. While problems remain, today almost every dollar authorized for instructional materials in Uganda is actually used to buy books and improve the learning environment."
Google.org's funding of this initiative includes $2 million to Pratham, a non-governmental organization in India, to create an institute that will perform large scale assessments in the education sector; $765,000 to the Centre for Policy Research, a Bangalore-based analysis group; and $660,00 to the Center for Policy Research, an India-based think tank, to help policy makers make more informed decisions on issues of urban local governance and urban service delivery.
Taking advantage of its hybrid status, Google.org also pledged to help fuel the growth of small- and medium-sized enterprises, as part of its SMEs initiative. It will do this by supporting efforts to lower transaction costs to invest in SMEs, create opportunities to access larger financial markets and make investments in this sector. In other words, Google.org is trying to tackle some of the root causes that prevent SMEs from becoming profitable investment opportunities. Geographically, Google.org is focusing on India and East Africa. Partners include TechnoServe, Acumen Fund, and Grameen Foundation USA.
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