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Proven Innovations > The MicroConsignment Model
Desired Outcome: The pieces to solving this access problem exist. There are products in existence. There is no lack of technology solutions. Stoves, water filters, reading glasses, solar panels and hundreds of other product solutions abound. They simply need to be “pushed” out to communities. There is no lack of local and foreign human capital looking for solutions. Local individuals with the entrepreneurial spirit are in no short order. Local transportation networks to reach vulnerable communities have been developed. And, there are financial resources dedicated to solving the problem of access. What has been missing is a holistic model that puts the pieces of the puzzle together that first asks “what do villagers need?”, identifies the solution, and then works backwards to create an effective delivery system to solve those needs. Our Solution:
Within MCM the team of stakeholders is leveraged do what each does best, fill in the knowledge and competency gaps of the others, and contribute to implementation, expansion and improvements on an ongoing basis. Inherent in the model is that all activities and performance are measurable on a daily, weekly or monthly basis. This holistic approach allows for in-time support, response, modification and impact measurement. The MCM uses proven business processes adapted to create jobs through improving villagers’ standards of living at a relatively small cost compared to alternatives.
Low Income Villagers
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Poverty is not the problem. It is a symptom of the
"problem." The problem is lack of access to services
and products. One solution to this problem of access -
access to capital for developing world entrepreneurs -
has been addressed through the micro credit revolution. Other innovative solutions have been designed and are being implemented
to address the problems of access to education. Inventive models to address access to medicines for diseases such as AIDS and TB
are being executed. However, an entrepreneurial model that confronts the lack of access to services and products that address
chronic conditions such as pulmonary illnesses, gastrointestinal illnesses, visual problems, malnutrition, water scarcity, energy
deficiencies, and the like has not been effectively implemented at scale to date. Access can only be created if the product, place,
price, promotion and people are working in concert to serve the rural poor in an appropriate manner that takes into account local
cultural, societal and geographic conditions. The lack of access not only affects problems such as poor health and malnutrition, but
also results in a staggeringly high negative economic impact at myriad levels. 
The MicroConsignment Model (MCM), created by CE
Solutions leadership and now being replicated around the
world, delivers essential products, services and
information at affordable prices to the rural poor in the
developing world using entrepreneurship. Through
consignment rather than loans, MCM, entrepreneurs are
trained, equipped and supported. They are a continuous
source of new real time market knowledge. They offer a
growing number of appropriate solutions that address the
real needs, perceived needs and desires of populations at the “base of the pyramid” through village campaigns. MCM is unique in
that it addresses the “what” (essential products and services), the “who” (rural villagers), and the “where” (rural villages) by creating a
“how” (a highly scalable local distribution network of entrepreneurs) that is sustainably acts as an ongoing mechanism to solve
myriad healthcare and income/expense obstacles confronting the most vulnerable rural populations. The MicroConsignment Model
intervenes at all levels by creating a symbiotic “ecosystem” whereby needs are diagnosed and solutions are identified. Through the
MCM, individuals who lack experience, but possess entrepreneurial qualities, can start their own business through “sweat equity”
and earn profit within the first month. There is no financial downside risk to the entrepreneur. The local entrepreneurs, primarily
young women and homemakers, serve rural communities within a designated territory. The model utilizes a rotating capital
mechanism with exceedingly low start- up costs that are continually reinvested. It can either create the platform for a locally-owned
and administered social enterprise or leverage off of existing platforms. 
In the rural areas of Central and South America, it is very
common to cook with open fires, on the floors or “poyos”
inside homes. In the majority of traditional households,
there is no chimney and the only way that the smoke can
escape is through the door and through a permanently
open space between the roof and the walls. The interiors
of many homes are covered with thick layers of black soot
covering all surfaces. This constant smoke causes
pulmonary illnesses and damages eyesight. Children are
the victims of burns. Families spend an inordinate amount of money buying wood or a large part of their
time collecting wood. 
A lack of access to high quality reading and protective
glasses at an affordable price leads to many untreated
cases of presbyopia (the need for reading glasses)
and pterygium (a growth on the surface of the eye due
to long-term exposure to sunlight, especially to
ultraviolet (UV) rays, as well as environments where
dry conditions, dust, and smoke are present). Due to
this, vision quality deteriorates over time. Individuals
can no longer see up close to read, weave and the
like. 
Guatemalans lack access to potable water, which is a
vital liquid necessary for the survival of every human
being. Pure water is not only necessary for everyday
consumption, but maintaining an ample amount of
pure water in the body helps avoid and cure illnesses.
The growth of harmful parasites and bacteria lead to
gastrointestinal illnesses for children and many long-
term health afflictions for families. 
In rural areas communities are oftentimes not
afforded the normalcy of having access to the
electrical power grid. When available, electrical
service can be costly, erratic and brownouts and
blackouts are common causing a lack of work or
educational productivity and extra expenses in
candles when available. 
Families do not have access to different types of
vegetable seeds in small quantities, as local
agricultural stores often offer a limited selection in bulk
quantity. Those who are able to purchase their
desired seeds often do not have the knowledge on
how to plant and care for their plants and garden.
Resultantly, many families do not have home gardens
and are less able to provide a healthy, well-balanced
diet for their families. Food security suffers. 
Traditionally in Latin America, as in other parts of the
world, incandescent light bulbs are commonly used,
especially in homes. Unfortunately, incandescent light
bulbs are not efficient because the majority of energy
consumed by the bulb is wasted in the form of heat.
With the constant rise in energy costs, small changes,
such as the shift from a traditional bulb to an energy
saving bulb, can have dramatic results (savings) on a
family economy.  |
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