So how is this any different than any other model? Many international development experts share the following view:

"...support the growth of small and medium size companies in regions of poverty. Businesses that create stable jobs and vibrant local economies are the only sustainable program for mass poverty alleviation ever created."

Steve Beck and Tim Ogden Geneva Global, HBR Sept.
2007 p21

Economies grow on the basis of small to medium sized companies that employ people. Those people pay taxes. The government spends the taxes collected on social infrastructure projects. The improved infrastructure, (stable power, roads, etc…) attracts more investment and the cycle continues.

The ZOË Alliance model is about harnessing market forces intelligently so that we can begin with a local business leader, grow employment in a village, and ultimately positively impact the entire nation.

By intelligently we mean that the gifts are high quality and good value, the products sourced by corporations will help them generate profit, and the employment conditions in Haiti, India and other countries are ethical. By adhering to these principles, we can ensure sustained growth for our business colleagues in these countries.

Developed based on the prevailing wisdom of international development practitioners, the ZOË Alliance model links the market to the village turning our purchases into a way to break the cycle of poverty.