I am interested in hearing from anyone who has done some reflecting on how developments in micro-philanthropy, especially in terms of how it links people and groups individually to support projects or activities, might affect the structure of conventional international development aid.

It seems to me that the rapid technological advances that allow people to connect directly through the internet mean that much of what is happening now in micro-philanthropy is happening below the radar of the "big picture" international aid system. Building on this grassroots movement (which is what international development aid says is needed for sustainable peace and development) seems to go against much of the way international aid is currently delivered, which tends to be top down and requiring communities and projects to fit into a larger project framework.

Microphilanthropy seems to allow individual, small, discrete projects to flourish without having to fit into such a large network (apart from the desire, in some cases, to "scale them up"), and builds strong connections between people and communities. Does this mean development aid agencies will need to start becoming "talent spotters", to be looking for what is working and actually driven from the grassroots? A recent study of community-directed health initiatives in four African states suggests that this is a much more effective way to deliver health than the conventional model - but this kind of "structural" community empowerment seems to go against much of what is done in conventional international aid, although it also requires extensive voluntary commitment from the communities involved. Another innovative model, in Kenya, involves franchising pharmacies, which are run by unemployed nurses, and which provide health care and medication in areas otherwise not served by doctors or medical clinics.

Are we moving towards "social business" as something that will replace much of the conventional aid system? Are the approaches that are starting to bring together civil society organizations and local governments, private business, development aid agencies, and BOP consumers starting to change the development aid system? If poverty becomes history, what happens to the role of development aid agencies?

I am fascinated by how most grassroots-driven community initiatives and businesses tend to blend different areas with little or no difficulty. For example, a glassmaking factory in Swaziland that has created jobs in a remote area, developed glassblowing artistry and artisans, and recycled glass from all over the country by paying people who bring in clean waste glass and organizing cleanups by community groups and schools in return for support to school activities - not to mention the benefits the factory provides to the community as a whole. A similarly broad approach was taken to develop the Grameen Danone yogurt plant in Bangladesh. It would be challenging to develop a project with such a diverse range in most conventional aid development terms, which often tends to be siloed in particular areas - environmental protection, economic development, or social development - because of donor funding patterns and priorities.