TED Tech Tech Solutions (#4): How organizations can grow in a post-aid world (with Jacqueline Novogratz)
Nov 28, 2025
Jacqueline Novogratz, Founder and CEO of Acumen, discusses her groundbreaking work in leveraging market tools to combat poverty and climate injustice. She argues that as we shift into a post-aid world, creative solutions must emerge to empower communities. Jacqueline emphasizes the significance of dignity in economic models and explores the impact of local innovators. She shares insights on climate tech, like biodigesters, and highlights the importance of patient capital and social networks for sustainable growth.
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Measure Impact From People's View
- Acumen measures impact from the people's perspective rather than top-down metrics.
- Jacqueline Novogratz calls for a dignity index to hold interventions accountable.
A Post-Aid Era Sparks New Models
- Novogratz argues we're entering a post-aid era after USAID cuts and shifting priorities.
- She sees this as a chance for creative private-sector and philanthropic solutions that increase independence.
Reject Mitigation vs. Adaptation Split
- Reject false binaries like mitigation vs. adaptation when serving low-income populations.
- Off-grid energy is both an immediate adaptation and a long-term mitigation opportunity.