IIMs hit research trail to take on poverty

AHMEDABAD: IIMs are not just about fat salaries, corporate case studies and tackling business models for top-notch companies: Students from IIM Ahmedabad (IIMA) are using management studies to fight global poverty. Thirty students here have chosen to change the way Indian companies look at corporate social responsibility with research in enterprise solutions to poverty (ESP).

The initiative is led by Nancy Barry & Associates, with Inter-American Development Bank, aiming to mobilise around 150 MBA and MPA students from leading global institutes like Harvard, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Wharton and China European International Business School. IIMA, has the single-largest number of participants — 30 students and six faculty advisors. In India, the research is sponsored by Tata Chemicals and IFMR Trust.

The in-country MBA programmes have formed teams with students from US schools while the advisors will provide guidance and supervision. The research, in its second year, includes 22 field studies across six developing countries. Research papers and field studies are expected to be complete by March-April. “ESP’s primary objective is to have a positive impact on the incomes and assets of at least 50 million low-income people in five years, in the six focus countries: India, China, Mexico, Brazil, Colombia and Kenya,” said Ms Barry.

These six countries represent over 60% of the world’s population living under $2 a day. “But they also command over 60% of the GDP of emerging markets, with powerful local companies capable of mobilising the finance and organisations, to build competitive and inclusive business models, which will eventually serve the purpose,” asserts Ms Barry.

“The key areas are agribusiness, creating decentralised distribution systems, innovations in microfinance, improving communication and enterprise networks. IIMA students are participating in all these four field studies which involve preparation of ‘live cases’ on various companies,” second-year PGP IIMA student Vijayendra Haryal said.