Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0
Author-Name: Arora, Saurabh
Author-Email: s.arora@tue.nl
Author-Workplace-Name: School of Innovation Sciences, Eindhoven University of Technology
Author-Name: Romijn, Henny
Author-Email: h.a.romijn@tue.nl
Author-Workplace-Name: School of Innovation Sciences, Eindhoven University of Technology
Title: Innovation for the base of the pyramid: Critical perspectives from development 
	 studies on heterogeneity and participation 
Abstract: This article criticises current BoP approaches for under-appreciating 
	 two issues that play vital roles in projects targeting the poor at the 
	 BoP: heterogeneity among the poor, and the intricacies of participatory 
	 partnerships between TNCs, the non-profit sector (NGOs) and local poor 
	 communities in the global south. Our main contention is that the extant 
	 BoP literature has a naive view of what working with the poor really 
	 involves, which grossly underestimates adverse power relationships and 
	 disregards the hierarchies between the poor and outsiders who administer 
	 development interventions. To unpack the hidden complexities associated 
	 with heterogeneity and partnership dynamics, we draw on extensive 
	 knowledge from the field of development studies, which has accumulated 
	 key insights about working in and with poorer communities over several 
	 decades. 
Classification-JEL: I30, M14, O19, O31, O32, Z10
Keywords: innovation and development, participation, poverty alleviation, TNCs 
Series: UNU-MERIT Working Papers
Creation-Date: 2009
Number: 036
File-URL: http://www.merit.unu.edu/publications/wppdf/2009/wp2009-036.pdf
File-Format: application/pdf
File-Size: 275 Kb
Handle: RePEc:unm:unumer:2009036