Business on the Frontlines (BOTFL) is an MBA course developed and taught by Professor Viva Bartkus. I consider BOTFL to be exemplary for the Notre Dame MBA program. The core mission of BOTFL to utilize business as a force for good in areas devastated by conflict and poverty is reflected in Viva's statement:

Never underestimate the human dignity associated with a good day’s work, particularly for those who have come through conflict and deep poverty.

In a few short weeks, six BOTFL teams will travel across the world to work with a partner organization on projects that seek solutions in providing a good day’s work to the bottom billion. Below is a list of their destinations, partners and projects. The travel is difficult and the work can be stressful. Let’s keep the students and advisers in our prayers, as well as those whose hope depends on efforts like BOTFL to find business solutions.

BRAZIL

Partner: Fundação Amazonas Sustentável (FAS)

Project: Last year in partnership with FAS, students examined the pirarucu value chain. This year, students will partner with FAS again to examine the value chain for farinha to look for opportunities for the indigenous communities of the Amazon rainforest to improve the livelihoods of their members.

COLOMBIA

Partner: Fundación Ideas para la Paz (FIP)

Project: The team will again partner with FIP. This year's project will look specifically at economic alternatives to coca cultivation in formerly FARC-held lands in rural Colombia.

GUATEMALA

Partner: Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS) Humanitarian Services

Project: This is third year working with LDS Humanitarian Services and the second year working with the group in Guatemala. The team will establish a cacao co-op to capture more value of the chocolate value chain for the local Mayan community.

PUERTO RICO

Partner: Universidad del Sagrado Corazón

Project: During BOTFL's first visit to Puerto Rico, the team will look at opportunities to drive economic growth and livelihoods in the Santurce neighborhood of San Juan, an area formerly recognized as an artist community and creative hub, which was devastated by Hurricane Maria in fall 2017.

TUNISIA

Partner: Agrimed/the Abdennadhar Group

Project: This is also BOTFL's first visit to Tunisia. The team will work with a local business group to study the feasibility of converting olive husks left over from olive oil production into a sustainable energy source for either domestic consumption or export to the US/EU.

RWANDA

Partner: Mission of the Glorious Cross/Sinapisi

Project: Ben Murunga, a 2013 MBA and BOTFL alum, currently works with Sinapisi in Rwanda. The team will support efforts to review strategic planning for the organization and its partners.

In Notre Dame,

Martijn