The World We Want

With a four year commitment, 3W is one of the founding investors of Acumen Fund’s Education and Employability Portfolio. Through our work with Partners in Health in Haiti and Pratham in India, 3W funds specific education programs. Our collaboration with Acumen is slightly different in that the Acumen Fund invests in private-sector companies that can provide basic services to the bottom of the pyramid, profitably and, therefore, sustainably.

Historically, conservation initiatives have had noble intentions but with little collaboration among various stakeholders. We believe that if donors, conservation agencies, and local stakeholders work together on an agreed plan, the overall impact will be significantly greater. Together with the Arcus Foundation and others, we are working on various initiatives to conserve the most threatened Ape Habitats. We have a three pronged approach towards our conservation of these great animals: 1) to conserve habitat through projects on the ground, 2) to support the data gathering and scientific research required for policy change, and 3) to support sanctuaries.

In order to move forward on two of our priorities in Latin America, Poverty Alleviation through Job Creation and Rainforest Preservation, we have partnered with Root Capital. This innovative organization utilizes a highly impactful model that not only increases the economic welfare of impoverished farmers and artisans, but also drives sustainable agriculture practices.

A major obstacle for Haiti is a lack economic opportunity. To address the issue, 3W teamed up with Root Capital and supplied the start-up funding to get Root Capital’s innovative model up and running in Haiti. Root Capital pioneers finance for small and growing businesses (SGBs) by providing capital, delivering financial management training, and strengthening market connections so that these businesses can lift rural communities out of poverty.

One of 3W’s areas of focus in Haiti is job creation and increased economic opportunity. The lack of jobs is a symptom of the shortage of viable industries. We have partnered with Caribbean Harvest, a Haitian non-profit established by Val Abe, to help grow the fresh water fishing industry. Not only will Caribbean Harvest create sustainable incomes and a high-protein local food source, but the organization has a strong social agenda.