Serving the BOP (Bottom or Base of Pyramid) Market

Although the three billion poorest people have very little money, together they are reported to spend around 5 trillion pounds per year!  The concept of supplying the BOP with essential products is receiving much global interest.

Discussions are taking place with two other UK charities to plan a consultation with selected UK companies, to explore the commercial supply of specially adapted goods or services at affordable prices to the poorest people. Charities could use their warehousing and distribution networks and charity or mission field workers in developing countries are well placed to recruit and train representatives to sell these goods 

This collaboration could include consideration of purchase of basic raw materials grown or harvested by poor communities.

A combination  of supplying needed goods, help with microenterprise development, as we are planning and the purchase where possible of materials could offer a comprehensive approach to sustainable poverty reduction.

We will be interested to hear from anyone interested in this concept. Contact us. 

1. Microconsignment

Supplying specially developed affordable essential products via missions and charities to the poorest communities is proving successful in some African countries and reports (http://www.kiwanja.net/database/document/report_next_4_billion.pdf ) suggest that the market potential is massive. Aid for Trade is working with two UK charities to assess this opportunity and will be exploring the use of biodegradable packaging as part of a possible collaborative development programme. A consultation with selected UK companies is being planned

2. Fast Road and Pavement Repair

Readymac (www.rhino-uk.com) have developed a small scale system for repair of potholes and damaged pavements with a special filling, mixed in a mobile machine. The repairs set hard in just 10 minutes. A smaller machine is being developed with an expected cost of about £7,500.