Killian Stokes is an individual who has walked the walk after being inspired and compelled to action by his eye-opening experiences travelling around Africa. A social entrepreneur and lecturer in global development, Killian combines his passion for economic and social justice with an eye for innovative business models that can end extreme poverty and protect the planet. He has worked for over twenty years across Europe, Africa, Asia and US in the tech and not for profit sectors.  

Killian and I began by taking stock of where we currently stand as a society, and some of the topical issues which need to be addressed (and why ultimately, there is cause for optimism). We proceeded to discuss:

	Who is Killian Stokes?
	How extreme poverty is being rapidly eradicating
	Technology as a tool for alleviating poverty 
	Changing our relationship to people in need 
	Redefining ‘charity’ as ‘justice’ and ‘aid’ as ‘international welfare’
	Is the Global North commercially interested in maintaining the status quo?
	Africa’s resource curse 
	Internet access as a basic human right?
	Changing population trends 
	The effect of emancipating women in developing countries 
	Reframing and redefining Africans as consumers
	The coffee industry – a snapshot of global trade inequality 
	The relationship between commerce and the environment 
	The effects of the population increasing 
	The existential threat to our planet 
	The two main challenges facing our world: extreme poverty and the environment  
	Moyee Coffee’s evolution 
	Reconstituting our approach to aid
	Governance and corruption issues in Africa 
	Income inequality and the eroding of the middle class 
	The role of a strong government vis a vis business 
	Billionaires and philanthropy
	The gift of life – what philosophy guides Killian’s life?

Moyee Coffee https://www.moyeecoffee.ie/

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#8 Killian Stokes - Does Aid Stifle Entrepreneurship? Tackling Global Poverty

Killian Stokes is an individual who has walked the walk after being inspired and compelled to action by his eye-opening experiences travelling around Africa. A social entrepreneur and lecturer in global development, Killian combines his passion for economic and social justice with an eye for innovative business models that can end extreme poverty and protect the planet. He has worked for over twenty years across Europe, Africa, Asia and US in the tech and not for profit sectors.  

Killian and I began by taking stock of where we currently stand as a society, and some of the topical issues which need to be addressed (and why ultimately, there is cause for optimism). We proceeded to discuss:

	Who is Killian Stokes?
	How extreme poverty is being rapidly eradicating
	Technology as a tool for alleviating poverty 
	Changing our relationship to people in need 
	Redefining ‘charity’ as ‘justice’ and ‘aid’ as ‘international welfare’
	Is the Global North commercially interested in maintaining the status quo?
	Africa’s resource curse 
	Internet access as a basic human right?
	Changing population trends 
	The effect of emancipating women in developing countries 
	Reframing and redefining Africans as consumers
	The coffee industry – a snapshot of global trade inequality 
	The relationship between commerce and the environment 
	The effects of the population increasing 
	The existential threat to our planet 
	The two main challenges facing our world: extreme poverty and the environment  
	Moyee Coffee’s evolution 
	Reconstituting our approach to aid
	Governance and corruption issues in Africa 
	Income inequality and the eroding of the middle class 
	The role of a strong government vis a vis business 
	Billionaires and philanthropy
	The gift of life – what philosophy guides Killian’s life?

Killian Stokes https://www.linkedin.com/in/killianstokes/


Links to material referenced 

Moyee Coffee https://www.moyeecoffee.ie/

Global Financial Integrity Institute and the Norwegian School of Economics http://www.gfintegrity.org/report/financial-flows-and-tax-havens-combining-to-limit-the-lives-of-billions-of-people/

Coffee industry facts http://spilling-the-beans.net/fascinating-fact-how-many-people-depend-on-coffee-production-for-their-daily-survival/

Mo Ibrahim http://mo.ibrahim.foundation/

Kenya mobile banking https://www.economist.com/blogs/economist-explains/2013/05/economist-explains-18

Akon’s Lighting Africa http://akonlightingafrica.com/

Good African Coffee http://www.goodafrican.com/

Dambisa Moyo book ‘Dead Aid’ https://www.amazon.com/Dead-Aid-Working-Better-Africa/dp/0374532125

Women reinvesting income into their families https://www.globalcitizen.org/en/content/10-reasons-why-investing-in-women-and-girls-is-so/

Oxfam report on income inequality https://www.theguardian.com/inequality/2018/jan/22/inequality-gap-widens-as-42-people-hold-same-wealth-as-37bn-poorest

Bill Gates ‘The Giving Pledge’ https://givingpledge.org/

Not everyone will ‘get’ this conversation. Nor would I expect many to. But for those that do, I believe you will appreciate the brilliance of Abdullah’s perspective on life. That is all I can say, for now.  

Abdullah’s YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/abdullahzeinab1

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