RE Problem: I actually come from, and worked in, Bangladesh where the first micro-finance schemes really evolved and took off i.e. Grameen (http://www.grameen-

RE Problem: I actually come from, and worked in, Bangladesh where the first micro-finance schemes really evolved and took off i.e. Grameen (http://www.grameen-info.org http://www.grameen-info.org) founded by Muhammad Yunus. The solution is by no means simple or even scalable with ease (hence the Noble Prize he won), and each country really has its own set of issues/culture/ politics/other that play big factors. Taking micro-finance and Bangladesh as an example, you have remember most parts of the country (and in most countries where poverty and hunger and such related issues are rife) is very rural and most people have much difficulty even understanding banking let alone going to banks, which are few and far between (would you travel for one day to go to a bank or work to feed your family?), and even then there are so many sub-issues that need to be addressed. Ultimately solutions (in any scenario) work when those people affected take ownership and become actively involved. RE Sanity: Sometimes big problems are overwhelming and it is actually easier/better to solve smaller problems first that solve specific needs (just like in startup mantra). My thoughts came down to doing what was feasible within my constraints (I wish I was like Dr. Yunus, but alas). For those that care, this was to setup some mills to help farmer in local village area process their grain for almost free, and fisheries to help provide an alternate source of income/food for poor communities that was sustainable and required little/no effort. The network effect has been others have now started doing similar community-based things which is helping to raise standard of living of all concerned and in the (localised) wider area.