Author: Anna Alu

September 28, 2017

Women’s month is every month!

This is the 14th blogpost from Nicolin Mamuya, the first ESOMAR Foundation scholarship in South Africa. The month of August is women’s month in South Africa!

This is the month where we celebrate all women as well as show gratitude to the four brave heroines (Lilian Ngoyi, Rahima Moosa, Sophie Williams and Helen Joseph) who marched to the Union Building to fight for the equality between genders.

Of course in my life, women’s month is every month! I strive to surround myself with friends who do not seek to compete with other females, but rather understand the significance of encouraging and empowering each other. I believe my obsession with women is due to being raised by a single mother.

My mother always emphasised about female power, which stuck in my head particularly because, I did not have a male figure in my life.
I believe females are slowly stretching out of the box that society has built around us. However, compared to the rest of the world, female leadership may still be considered taboo in Africa, with many males open to expressing their opposition. Therefore, I give credit to African female leaders such as the late Miriam Makeba, a late singer and female activist, Ellen Sirleaf, Africa’s first female president and Wangari Maathai, an environmental activist. Let them, along with other heroines, inspire bravery in many of us females.

The scholarship awarded to Nicolin was sponsored by SSI and in collaboration with SAMRA.

September 11, 2017

John Kearon appointed New President of the ESOMAR Foundation

Amsterdam, 12 September 2017 – The ESOMAR Foundation has announced the appointment of John Kearon as their new President. He will succeed Gunilla Broadbent who has covered this role since the creation of the ESOMAR Foundation in 2013 and has been the driving force of the founding board.

The ESOMAR Foundation wishes to warmly thank Gunilla for her dedication and for her belief that through the Foundation the wealth of knowledge and experience that is represented in the market research industry could be applied to every aspect of society to ensure a more transparent, reliable and sustainable world. Gunilla has ensured a smooth introduction of the Foundation into the world of philanthropy and has run the Board of Directors with commitment and enthusiasm.

The ESOMAR Foundation welcomes John Kearon and wishes him all the best in his new role. John, together with the other Members of the Board (Phyllis Macfarlane, Angela Canin and Anna Alu’) will take over responsibilities for setting and achieving the objectives and policies of the ESOMAR Foundation.

John’s role in conceiving and leading BrainJuicer Group PLC, now System1 Group PLC, made him Ernst & Young’s ‘Entrepreneur of the Year’, the ARF’s Gold Award for Research Innovator and four times winner of ‘Most Innovative Market Research Company’. As one client commented, “John’s a mix of Richard Branson and Colin Firth, with a healthy dose of Monty Python thrown in”. A popular speaker at industry events and winner of many awards, including two ESOMAR prizes. John believes that Understanding the human condition, to better the human condition is essential for making the world a better place.

Gunilla Broadbent said:

“I am absolutely delighted and thrilled that John has accepted the appointment as the new President of the ESOMAR Foundation . John happens to be one of my favourite people in the industry and we could not have asked for a better, more enthusiastic, charismatic and talented person to lead the Foundation to the next level.“

John Kearon said:

“It’s a genuine pleasure to take on the Foundation role and build on the brilliant foundations Gunilla and the team have laid. Starting something is always the biggest step – zero to one is infinite after all – my job is to build on what they’ve started.”

ESOMAR Foundation

The ESOMAR Foundation is the charity arm of ESOMAR, the global industry association of Market, Social and Opinion research.

The ESOMAR Foundation has been set up to explore how to use the knowledge, skills, creativity, interest and resources of researchers to help charities improve people’s lives around the world through greater human understanding.

ESOMAR Foundation believes that a fair, just and peaceful society is deserved by all and recognises the immense promise that the research community offers to those striving to achieve these goals on a global level. We bring volunteers and resources together to execute projects and provide financial support to help and support charities and NGO’s to achieve their aims.

www.esomarfoundation.org

ESOMAR

ESOMAR is the global voice of the data, research and insights community.

With more than 5000 individual and over 500 corporate members from over 130 countries, ESOMAR is a truly global association. We promote the value of market, opinion and social research and data analytics and represent more than 35,000 professionals including all those who use research for informed decision-making. We’ve been providing ethical and professional guidance and advocating on behalf of our global membership community for 70 years.

www.esomar.org

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION please contact:

Anna Alu

Info@esomarfoundation.org

+31 20 664 2141

September 7, 2017

The ESOMAR Foundation charity draw is now open!

For the third consecutive year, we are holding a charity prize draw to increase funds for the execution of our activities. By buying tickets you will help us reach our goal of setting up training, scholarships and help researchers in need.

This year our donors have been more generous than ever! It’s only September but we have already received a lot of interesting prizes including tickets for the latest Cirque du Soleil show, a weekend in a deluxe hotel in a Central America Capital, a 3 night stay in a five star hotel in Rio during Carnaval, to a drone, wifi sunglasses and much more!

You can support us by buying tickets or sponsoring the charity prize draw providing us with interesting prizes for our supporters.

Visit our dedicated webpage and support the work of the ESOMAR Foundation!

If you have questions don’t hesitate in contacting us at: info@esomarfoundation.org.

September 7, 2017

Sex trafficking, poverty, street children, child marriage…research can help finding solutions

My Choices Foundation, BBC Media Action, StreetInvest, Save the Children and Surgo Foundation have worked hard together with the market research industry in looking at the insights that help finding the most appropriate solutions to these societal problems affecting millions of people around the world!

On 12 September these organisations will present their findings at an ESOMAR Foundation event and will debate some ways forward to help tackle these societal issues. The session will be part of the ESOMAR Annual Congress to be held in Amsterdam on 11-13 September.

Meena’s story about sex trafficking in India is just one the stories we feature at this event….

Freshman Year, as a graduation party organizer!!!

This is the fourth blog-post from Esther Tot who received the ESOMAR Foundation Scholarship to study at the English based Bachelor Degree program in International Business at the National University of Management (NUM) in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.

Wohooo!!!!!! It’s the end of marketing class! Loads of assignments and self-discipline are over. At the same time there is also a year4 graduation party so our last and final assignment of the marketing class was to organize a party which is for all IBBA-er and especially for year4 students who are likely to graduate at the end of this year.

As an IBBA year1 or freshman year or as my marketing lecturer likes to call us the “baby prawn”, because we are the youngest among all the other classes at university, on August 12^th, 2017 all year1 held the task of organising one big event as we called it “IBBA Gala”. We divided into teams: the morning team planned and organized the activities of the event and we, the afternoon class, were tasked with contacting and finding sponsors for our event and we finally did a very good job! Our lecturer was proud of us as year1 students.

The activities and program had some fun features: female students in year1 had to dress like a man and male students had to dress as a girls and there were also some fashion shows as guy dressed as girl and girls dress as guy, as well as singing, and teachers and student awards.

I am at the back!!! With the L hand style!

As for me being in year1 and holding this kind of big event is something I will be proud of myself for the next few years because it is a real learning experience and I felt I was in a real world as a business woman and marketer.

I have successfully contacted the sponsor from Hot&Cold Café and my class successfully contacted BreadTalk, Major Cineplex, BOPEA, CAM Paint, and Domino’s Pizza (you can see the company’s logo on our backdrop).

This was the hardest year because it was my first year at university and next year I believe it will be better than this because I will learn to adapt to the university life from this year experience.

Some of my friends from morning and afternoon class and our Marketing Lecturer Ms. Sopornetra

Partners & Sponsors

We are always on the lookout for partners and sponsors. If you are an organisation looking to understand more on how you can support us, please find more information here or contact: info@esomarfoundation.org

September 1, 2017

The final stretch is almost there for Nicolin’s studies!

The school break is reaching its end and I must admit that I am a bit afraid of returning to school. However, this is the final stretch and I am ready for the victory!

I have recently found myself getting closer to God and enjoying the company of people who share the same love I have for him. I grew up in a Catholic church, which means all I know is Catholic. However, recently I have started attending my friend’s church. I really enjoy their messages as well as the songs they sing. I have had many say I seem confused because, I immerse myself into different religious cultures. It is almost as though there is no sense of direction or stability in how I choose to praise God. I say it does not have to make sense. It is about my relationship with him and nothing else.

The scholarship awarded to Nicolin was sponsored by SSI and in collaboration with SAMRA.

August 31, 2017

ESOMAR Foundation highlights how the right insight can disrupt sex slavery and calls for support!

Meena’s story is what we want to tell you about. It’s one of the many stories about sex trade in India. We hope by reading about Meena and her ordeal you will help this cause.

Why is the ESOMAR Foundation so keen on this story? Well, you probably do not know but through the brave work of My Choices Foundation and Final Mile and their insight into the real issues of sex slavery they understood that by focusing on the fathers who are unknowingly selling their precious daughters into slavery, they knew they could disrupt the sex trade and save girls like Meena.

Read the full story here… MEENA’S STORY

But, we need your help to do more, much more.

Please help by choosing one of the following…

Buy a ticket to our charity prize draw for EUR 30

Corporate Donation Enquiry EUR 3000

‘Research for Good’ Competition

To find out more, you can register for My Choices Foundation live-streamed presentation at ESOMAR Congress, Tues 12th Sept at 11.15 CEST. You can also donate directly to their work.

August 8, 2017

Making the World a Better Place

A not-to-be-missed session organised by the ESOMAR Foundation (Part 2)

How engaging and fundamental this can be! We have recently written about the special session that the ESOMAR Foundation will hold on 12 September at the ESOMAR 70^th Anniversary Annual Congress. While ESOMAR celebrates its anniversary, the Foundation looks at the essential area of society which refers to eradicating poverty and leaving no one behind.

The market research industry has a wealth of knowledge and expertise that can be applied to every aspect of society to ensure a more transparent, reliable and sustainable world. Market researchers are great believers of applying their skills and knowledge to do social good, so we already know that we can count on their participation and involvement in the discussions. It’s a golden opportunity to mobilise forces within the industry and reach out to NGOs and all interested parties. The aim is to create synergies and cooperation to make the world a better place!

Here is the programme:

From Village to Virtual Reality
How behavioural research has transformed the Red Alert approach to prevention of sex-trafficking in India

Hannah Surabhi, My Choices Foundation, India

My Choices Foundation exists to give women and girls in India the choice to live lives free from abuse, violence and exploitation. It does this by addressing two of India’s most pervasive and intractable issues: Domestic Violence and Sex Trafficking. Their anti sex-trafficking work through Operation Red Alert is leading the prevention movement in India, and has become an international pioneer in its technology-driven approach. The presentation will cover how My Choices is applying the findings from their research (that employed learnings from cognitive neuroscience and behavioural economics) to understand and influence the behaviour of families at high risk to sex-trafficking.

Using Qualitative research to develop and understand the impact of media content in difficult contexts – Afghanistan, South Sudan and Somalia

Sonia Whitehead, BBC Media Action, UK

BBC Media Action is the BBC’s international development charity who use the power of media and communication to help reduce poverty and support people in understanding their rights. Sonia Whitehead will summarise how they have used qualitative research to both inform the development of TV and Radio programmes and understand their impact. Work will be presented from countries such as Ethiopia, Afghanistan, South Sudan and Somalia.

“I am one in a million” – Respecting street children’s realities

Georgina Day, Streetinvest, UK and Flora Somogyi, BigSofa, UK

StreetInvest is a global charity that exists to improve the lives of street children. StreetInvest believes that participatory research and data collection are an integral part of developing successful programmes on the ground and national and international policies and legislation. StreetInvest and Video Analytics Company, Big Sofa, will share how they have used rich qualitative video data from ethnographic research, to generate insights into this marginalised and often invisible population, and how they hope to go beyond informing stakeholders, to influencing change in the way interventions are designed.

Paragon Partnership with Save the Children UK – Early progresses and lessons

Alexis Le Nestour, Save the Children, UK

The Paragon partnership connects market research agencies with NGOs to provide support on research. Paragon is supporting Save the Children UK in its research on adolescent girl nutrition and child marriage in Western and Central Africa. The presentation will provide more details about the progresses made and how it complements the type of research done by SCUK. Lessons for NGOs and market research agencies that wish to engage in common research project will be discussed.

How can we make a difference?

The presentations will be followed by a Panel discussion including the above speakers as panelists and with the participation of Steve Kretschmer, Managing Director of the Surgo Foundation. Topics to be tackled during the panel discussion are:

What can the MR Industry do to achieve this vision?
How can we better use the data we already have and the surveys we do?
How can we promote and demonstrate the value of Qualitative and Ethnographic data to Donors and Policy Makers?
How can we mobilise our experts and energetic young researchers?
How can we really make a difference?

The session will be led and moderated by Gunilla Broadbent, ESOMAR Foundation President and Phyllis Macfarlane, ESOMAR Foundation Treasurer,

This is a unique opportunity for the ESOMAR Foundation to take an active part in the 70th anniversary ESOMAR Congress. Watch this space for more news on the programme. For more information contact us at: info@esomarfoundation.org

August 2, 2017

The Annual Report 2016 is out!

We are pleased to share the Annual Report and Financial Statement 2016 of the ESOMAR Foundation.

In 2016 the Foundation strengthened several activities and enjoyed an increase in awareness and support from the industry and beyond. These developments provide a promising outlook for the future. The Foundation can continue to execute its activities in partnership with the many stakeholders who have provided both financial support and expertise and will hopefully continue to do so in the years to come.

The ESOMAR Council and the Supervisory Board continue to support and stimulate the Foundation in executing its mission “to use the skills, knowledge and support of the industry to do social good”.

A special Thank You!

Without the generous help and support of the many volunteers, sponsors, friends, ambassadors and partners, the ESOMAR Foundation could not survive! So, we would like to take this opportunity to warmly and sincerely THANK YOU ALL for ensuring that together we can pursue our mission of contributing to a better world.

Results so far are encouraging! With the help of our wonderful industry, we look forward to continuing to grow and achieve even better results in the years to come!

If you wish to know more about the ESOMAR Foundation, please contact us at info@esomarfoundation.org

July 28, 2017

ESOMAR Foundation, WIRe, Unilever Fund MSRA Kenyan Scholarship

Scholarship goal reached for Innocent Rwamba Nyaga in Kenya to pursue MS in market research at the University of Nairobi

19 July 2017 – Amsterdam, NL – The ESOMAR Foundation, a charitable organization representing the market research industry, in cooperation with global non-profit Women in Research (WIRe) and Unilever, recently funded the Marketing and Social Research Association’s (MSRA) Kenyan Scholarship initiative. The scholarship has been assigned to recipient Innocent Rwamba Nyaga, who will be pursuing a Master of Science in Marketing, with a focus on Market Research, at the University of Nairobi, School of Business.

“Providing the opportunity for Innocent to pursue her studies in the market research field, and support the future of our industry makes us proud here at The ESOMAR Foundation.” says
Gunilla Broadbent, President, ESOMAR Foundation, “We are grateful for the generous support of WIRe and Unilever, two organizations who are just as committed as we are to investing in future talent in the market research industry!”

This year’s MSRA scholarship recipient student, Innocent Rwamba Nyaga, is a Kenyan native from a disadvantaged socio-economic background. Through the scholarship, Innocent will have the opportunity to pursue an advanced degree and, in the future, a career in market research. Through funding the education of women like Ms Nyaga, the organizations involved help to advance the voice of women in the market research industry as well as the voice of African women in the practice.

“The ESOMAR Foundation’s support for women in Kenya, and research as a whole, provides a strong basis for the industry to continue to develop from the principles of sound education and professionalism.” says Althea McCourt, Chair, MSRA, “This is an important milestone.”

Women in Research (WIRe) raised the funding for the scholarship through outreach to their global community, and supported by a matching donation from Unilever. WIRe is the leading non-profit organization dedicated to the advancement of women in the market research industry, providing career development and educational opportunities for women while supporting gender diversity initiatives. Unilever, a global consumer goods company with a strong focus on charitable initiatives—especially in emerging markets—matched the WIRe community’s contribution dollar for dollar to the scholarship fund.

“Supporting the ESOMAR Foundation and this scholarship initiative perfectly aligns with WIRe’s global goals and organizational initiatives,” says Kristin Luck, founder of Women in Research, “We look for opportunities to arm women in the market research and insights industry with the tools they need to develop professionally and support education, entrepreneurship and other career development goals. We are thrilled that our community stepped forward to support this important initiative, and we offer our congratulations to Innocent as she works toward her goal of a career in marketing research.”

Based on the success of the MSRA Kenyan Scholarship program, ESOMAR Foundation and WIRe plan to continue to collaborate in 2017 to fund additional scholarship initiatives in emerging or disadvantaged markets.

About ESOMAR Foundation

ESOMAR Foundation is a charitable Foundation representing the Market, Social and Opinion Research industry. Our industry has a wealth of knowledge and experience that can be applied to every aspect of society to ensure a more transparent, reliable and sustainable world. The ESOMAR Foundation is the charity arm of ESOMAR, the global industry association of market, social and opinion research. https://esomarfoundation.org

About Women in Research

Women in Research (WIRe) is the leading non-profit organization dedicated to the advancement of women in the market research industry, supporting educational programming and networking events across five continents. WIRe programming also facilitates leadership, entrepreneurship, mentoring and other career development goals. WIRe’s mission is to advance the contributions and voice of women in research, both for themselves and the greater good of the market research industry. www.womeninresearch.org

About the Marketing and Social Research Association

The Marketing and Social Research Association (MSRA) was established in 1998 and is Kenya’s professional association for individuals involved in compiling or using marketing and social research. It aims to create a forum for research practitioners within which members can maintain a spirit of cooperation, support and mutual goodwill. http://msra.or.ke

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Media Contact: Michelle Andre, michelle@womeninresearch.org, 415-577-8634

How you can support

If you are a market researcher, a national market research association, an NGO involved in research or a university interested in a scholarship in your country please contact us at info@esomarfoundation.org

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