More Tanzania statistics

I was inspired by SN's post about the TEDxDar statistics on Tanzania.

In case anyone's looking, here are two solid (and possibly interconnected) sources of demographic, political, economic and social information and statistics on Tanzania:

CIA World Factbook Tanzania Page. Includes:

• Geography
• People
• Economy
• Government
• Communications
• Transport
• Military
• Transnational issues

EconomyWatch.com Tanzania Page. Includes:

• Annual economic indicators from 1980 - 2015
  
• Aggregate indicators (per field)

It may be worth setting up a country-data section on our resources page - let us know what you think and we'll work on it. Happy reading.

Memes and Social Media

On this TED Talk, Alexis Ohanian (filmed November 2009) shows how Internet trends can essentially affect consumer demand. His presentation also hints at how demand can be measured using social networks.



Read more:
About this video
TED Talks homepage

Autonomy, Mastery, Purpose

Daniel Pink - author and speaker on how the realm of "work" can be improved - held a small talk at TED talks earlier this year, focusing on the science behind motivation.

This short talk may be useful for young entrepreneurs who are looking to start a business from scratch, especially with respect to their human resources structure. There are some important points Mr. Pink makes about what motivates us, and what may consequently help us be more productive with our time at work.



Read more:
Daniel Pink on TED talks
Daniel Pink's homepage
TED Talks homepage

Measuring Social Value

Building and expanding a venture that creates social value involves assessing impact. How do you measure how your project has improved the quality of life of your constituents? What has been the "value" added?

The Research Initiative on Social Entrepreneurship (RISE) published a report in March 2004 titled "Double Bottom Line project report: Assessing social impact in double bottom line ventures". Essentially prescribed as a methods catalogue, the project and report have analyzed currently existing approaches to measuring social value.

The report has important implications on the autonomy of social enterprise, since improving and expanding services in the face of concentrated economic and a technological changes requires acute accountability of value-add.

The report has been compiled by Catherine Clark (Columbia Business School), William Rosenzweig (Haas School of Business), David Long (Abt Associates), and Sara Olsen (SVT Consulting).

Access:
The RISE webpage
PDF report: "Double Line project report: Assessing social impact in double bottom line ventures"

YOSEFO: Micro-lending in Tanzania

The Youth Self Employment Foundation (YOSEFO) is dedicated to providing microfinancing services to young men and women in Tanzania "so that they can create jobs, educate their children, live a healthy life and improve their overall standard of living."

YOSEFO is heavily supported by the Tanzania Investment Bank and the National Microfinance Bank (NMB). This year alone, YOSEFO disbursed about TSH 3.2 billion (about $3 million) between January and September. According to an article on YOSEFO's achievements since its inception 12 years ago, about 70% of this year's beneficiaries were women, and 48% lived in rural regions.

Read more about YOSEFO's financial services:
The Citizen - Article on YOSEFO
YOSEFO homepage
YOSEFO news resources

Mo Ibrahim index ranks African nations

The Mo Ibrahim Foundation - an institution committed to promoting good governance across the African continent - has published an index that ranks African countries based on:

- Safety and Rule of Law
- Participation and Human Rights
- Sustainable Economic Opportunity
- Human Development

These rankings may be useful for both, young entrepreneurs living inside as well as outside the listed countries, in planning and targetting potential social enterprise initiatives. "Negative" governance does not necessarily equate to the impossibility of starting capacity-building projects, but may instead present an opportunity to do so.

Check out the rankings here.

Read more:
Mo Ibrahim index methodology
About the Mo Ibrahim Foundation