“We’re looking at the singular condition of poverty. All the other individual problems spring from that condition... doesn’t matter if it’s death, aid, trade, AIDS, famine, instability, governance, corruption or war. All of that is poverty. Our problem is that everybody tries to heal each of the individual aspects of poverty, not poverty itself. ”
We believe that better, more effective, sustainable solutions to poverty are long overdue.
Deriving our name from the northern Tanzanian pare tribe's word for "the sparks that ignite a fire", We are a multidisciplinary collaborative of industry professionals, students, academics and humanitarians pioneering a broader, integrated approach to end poverty.
Drawing upon a diverse team of individuals and partner organizations from fields including agriculture, construction, education, economics, health care and environmental conservation, we look at the wider spectrum of challenges impoverished people face. This enables us to understand poverty as a whole system by identifying linkages and underlying causes. As a result, we create more targeted, impactful solutions that address poverty on multiple fronts simultaneously. Tailoring these activities to the specific context of the regions in which we work, we consider the constraints but also utilize the opportunities unique to these geographic locations. This approach serves as the foundation for our ultimate goal: establishing permanent routes out of poverty.
Drivers of Change
In our broadened approach, we look at four key drivers of change. Use the links below to find out more about these and how they play a role in eliminating poverty.
Building Human Capital
Encouraging Economic Growth
Improving the Built Environment
Fostering Environmental Stewarship
“The work is far from over, and a number of challenges remain. It is becoming even more difficult to reach those remaining in extreme poverty, who often live in fragile contexts and remote areas. Access to good schools, healthcare, electricity, safe water and other critical services remains elusive for many people, often determined by socioeconomic status, gender, ethnicity, and geography. Moreover, for those who have been able to move out of poverty, progress is often temporary: economic shocks, food insecurity and climate change threaten to rob them of their hard-won gains and force them back into poverty. It will be critical to find ways to tackle these issues as we make progress toward 2030.”