Development Alternatives (DA) is a not-for-profit organisation set up especially to promote sustainable development. Over the past 27 years, it has become widely recognised as a successful innovations organisation with a primary mission to create sustainable livelihood options in the developing world that can be replicated on a large scale. DA’s belief in the power of enterprise and the utility of the market has led to the establishment of its own green businesses, designed to take low carbon, resource efficient pathways to inclusive growth in areas such as rural housing, renewable energy, water management, sustainable agriculture, waste management and recycling from local to global scale. In the field of institutional design, it has worked on the governance, information and financing systems needed to underpin sustainable development at the bottom of the pyramid. More Technology and Action for Rural Advancement (TARA) is a 25-year-old social enterprise set up by The DA Group to disseminate the “means for creating sustainable livelihoods” on a large scale and to thus mobilise widespread action to eradicate poverty and regenerate the environment. TARA looks at collaborating with the industrial sector for inclusive development of the areas around industrial projects. More recently, The “DA Group of Organisations” is experiencing accelerated growth through the establishment of several special purpose vehicles. TARAhaat Information and Marketing Services Private Limited creates micro-franchises to deliver IT-enabled education and skill building products to young job seekers. TARA Machines and Tech Services Private Limited promotes sustainable technology solutions for small and medium enterprises. TARAenviro is a new company set up to market cutting-edge products to save water and our planet’s other vital resources. DESI Power Private Limited promotes biomass energy based “EmPower” models for rural electrification and enterprise creation. These entities have become the object of attention for green investors and social venture funds. |