About

testMBAs Without Borders (MWB), a division of CDC Development Solutions, is an international organization that empowers local entrepreneurs in developing countries by matching them with top MBA leaders around the world. We believe that business can do amazing things and when channeled appropriately, it can have an incredible lasting impact in communities

Key aspects of MWB’s work:

  • We focus our efforts with grass roots entrepreneurs in developing countries. We believe that small businesses are a critical piece to create sustainability particularly in under-served markets
  • All project requirements come directly from our field partners. This ensures that we address the needs as identified by local owners and experts
  • Our field partners contribute towards the cost of sending an MBA abroad. This confirms the need and value of our MBAs and it also helps establish ownership - a key ingredient to every project’s success
  • We recruit our MBAs from around the world. The MBAs selected often have extensive professional experience in an international context

Why do we focus on small businesses?

Small businesses are critical for creating a thriving and sustainable local economy, especially in developing countries. Small businesses create opportunities for more people to participate in the formal economy, so they help reduce poverty by creating jobs.

In many developing countries large businesses have access to formal, bank-based credit and capital markets while households and micro-entrepreneurs have access to micro-loans. This leaves a massive gap known as the “missing middle.” While small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) in rich countries represent over half of GDP, they are largely absent from the formal economies of developing countries.

Socially responsible grassroots entrepreneurs in developing countries provide goods and services to the poor and create sustainable jobs. They are on the front lines in the fight against poverty and environmental degradation, but too often they are alone. MBAs Without Borders responds to this need in the “missing middle” by providing critical business support to local entrepreneurs.

MWB’s Sector Focus:

Agriculture, Health, Handicrafts, Micro-Finance and Environment
MBAs Without Borders focuses on the areas of agriculture, health, handicrafts, finance and the environment. MWB believes that small businesses can have a significant impact in these sectors and lead by example by helping farmers market their crops, increasing access to health care services, creating profitable micro-lending models, and even introducing renewable energy products to the market.

MWB’s Countries:

Bolivia, Cambodia, Colombia, Ecuador, Ethiopia, Ghana, Guatemala, Haiti, India, Kenya, Liberia, Mali, Mexico, Nepal, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Pakistan, Poland, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, Swaziland, Tanzania, Uganda, Vietnam and Ukraine.