MicroFranchise Development Initiative (MFDI)

Microfranchising is a model we are researching and piloting to provide better business opportunities and services to the poor by scaling down many of the franchising concepts found in some of the most successful companies in the world.

Single Mom Initiative

This initiative brings together a network of practitioners, researchers, and sponsors to conduct ongoing research to better understand the challenges that single moms face as they strive to become self-reliant, and then to use the research results to help practitioners better serve the single-mom population.

ESR Review

The new ESR Review is a publication dedicated to representing issues being addressed to create or improve self-reliance around the world.

ESR Conference

The annual Economic Self-Reliance Conference is the major collaboration and exchange venue for members and potential members of the ESR Network. The conference size is limited and networking time scheduled to ensure intimate networking opportunities for everyone involved.

Applied Research

Our research agenda investigates and develops interventions that best promote economic self-reliance—both domestically and abroad.

Student Internships

Every year the ESR Center sponsors a number of interns to go out in the field and work with one of our partner organizations to promote economic self-reliance.

Service Learning

The ESR Center is committed to helping students to participate in service-learning experiences through providing opportunities to students to volunteer with efforts that promote economic self-reliance.