How businesses respond to Coronavirus has massive ramifications – now and for the future economy that emerges
Here are 8 ideas on elements that are important right now for responsible business practice, despite highly-varied and fast changing contexts: 1. Even if the workforce is being downsized, rapid reactions should not come at the cost of worker rights and representation. Companies should ensure they are working with unions and other workers’ representatives to […]
COVID-19 and the Poor: Inclusive Business has solutions, but needs radical collaboration
When you are poor, social distancing is not an option, and hygiene and health services are often not available. When you live in a slum, you have to go out to make money, you take a mini-bus to work, you go to crowded market for groceries, and to the pump for water. The current pandemic […]
Social Impact Measurement and Business: What, Why, and How?’
On February 27th, Business Fights Poverty held a live written discussion to explore how we can measure, manage and get the most from our social impact. This article provides you with a vivid flavour of the panel members’ perspectives on some of the topics that were raised. This was one of our liveliest online discussions […]
The Morning Show: How Business and Television Can Help Us See Possible Contributions to Peace
The Morning Show aired its first ten episodes in Fall, 2019 and quickly gained multiple nominations and awards in Hollywood’s award season. The show centers on the kind of morning program popular in the U.S. and elsewhere that features a mix of news, interviews, weather, and special segments, usually including some goofy or cute ones. […]
Why Off-Grid Energy Matters…And How it Can Matter Even More
That’s why we commissioned 60 Decibels to aggregate and share, for the first time, data collected on 49 off-grid solar companies in a new report – “Why off-grid energy matters” – launching this week at the Global Off-Grid Solar Forum & Expo in Nairobi. This was no small undertaking – it includes data from across 17 […]
How to Profitably Serve the Last Mile
High cost of maintaining a single brand distribution network While some of the most profitable companies in the world are working on solutions for the last mile, the costs of maintaining these distribution networks remains a challenge, given the low profit margins. Even when product costs are low, maintaining a network of sales reps to […]
Demystifying Impact Measurement and Management for Inclusive Business
Rabayl, what does it mean to be the Impact Specialist at Business Call to Action? I see my role as a coach and guide, working with inclusive businesses to help them better understand and manage the effects they are having on low income populations, whether they are direct or indirect, positive or negative. Most companies […]
What Will Last Mile Distribution Look Like in 2025? Six Predictions for an Emerging Sector
Beneficial household products such as solar lights, improved cookstoves, water purifiers, nutritional supplements and agricultural inputs can play a significant role in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. But these products can’t make an impact if they don’t reach the last mile customers who could benefit from them. And since they often live in rural communities […]
Top Stories of 2019
While the social impact and business agenda is shaping up for 2020, we first wanted to share the most popular stories we published in 2019 with you. A huge thank you to the authors featured in this list and to all of you who made contributions. We hope these stories inspire you and welcome your submissions this year*. 10 Seven Key Learnings for Corporate Partnership Leads in […]
10 Trends That Should Be on Your Board’s Radar
Ten things that caught my attention on the topic of business and social impact: 1.Climate change goes social: Global CEOs rank it as the biggest threat to business. But it has taken Greta Thunberg leading six million people to strike for the climate on one day to generate a feeling of real action. The global […]
Appropriate Technology for Serving the ‘Last Mile’ – The Need for Simple, Flexible and Scalable Solutions
Technology Challenges With the widespread proliferation of mobile phones, most of the leading FMCG players have attempted various initiatives to use technology to reach and gain visibility of mass-market businesses. However, while mobile phones are a true game-changer, common misconceptions have plagued many of these initiatives: Assumption 1: Mobile Phone = Mobile Data The majority […]
Harnessing the Power of Businesses to Advocate for Change
Improving social responsibility requires broad, holistic engagements that reach beyond company walls to influence stakeholders and decision-makers, fostering cross-sector partnerships to drive change. With their size and reach, multinational companies are in a position to influence their peers, investors and political leaders to step up the action for sustainable development. By cooperating with each other, […]
Adjusting the Lens on Inequality
2019 has been a transformative year for the inequality debate. From the historic broadening of the Business Roundtable’s view on the role of a corporation to the protests taking place in Chile, Haiti, Lebanon and elsewhere, a common thread is the need to address inequalities in human development and the sense of unfairness they can […]
Reaching the Elusive Last Mile – Challenges of Digitizing Indirect FMCG Distribution Channels in Emerging Markets
With over 400 million business not connected to the digital economy and an annual “offline” trade of $5 trillion (Based on World Bank Statistics), today’s global consumer facing companies realize that reaching the ‘elusive last mile’ is key to their bottom line and ongoing growth. However, despite many efforts, ranging from partnerships with NGOs and […]
Access the latest Inclusive Business Resources
Many multinational corporations (MNCs) are actively looking at how to scale and replicate inclusive business initiatives. In response, the UK Department for International Development, through the Inclusive Business Boost programme, has supported the development of knowledge products that aim to help MNCs identify and address the issues and challenges they face. To date, it has […]
C’est La CIV!
Corporate Impact Venturing (CIV) is a relatively new approach, marrying classic Corporate Venturing with social entrepreneurship. It is particularly apt for venturing into low-income markets, as our recent report shows. Oh la la! Many of the pioneers in CIV are French multinationals: The French utility Engie started “Rassembleurs d’Energie” in 2011 with a total investment capacity of […]
A New Twist on an Old Story: Renewed Hope For Impact From Large Companies
I have been lucky enough to meet the women entrepreneurs of 2 Chak Village, Sargodha district in Pakistan three times over the last two years. They tell inspiring stories of how selling high-quality hygiene products to their fellow women has brought them valuable income, but also respect and empowerment. Many of them have had extremely […]
What Does it Take To Go Big? Management Practices to Bring Inclusive Business to Scale
The Inclusive Business Management Practices Tool, supported by DfID and developed as part of the Inclusive Business Boost, marks a new stage in the development of Business Call to Action. The Tool provides inclusive business (IB), particularly within multinational corporations (MNCs), with an assessment tool that sets a new bar, with aspirations to motivate and […]
What Difference Can a Multinational Make? With the Right Management Practices in Place, a Lot.
In the latest Business Call to Action (BCtA) report, launched at the BCtA 9th Annual Forum, we examine how to overcome these organisational barriers, drawing from examples of successful companies who are already doing this, and offer steps that companies can take to adapt their management practices to become more inclusive business friendly. Business experts predict that […]
How Can Business Accelerate Career Opportunity for Entry-Level Workers to Ensure the Future of Work is Strong and Inclusive?
During Business Fights Poverty New York, a select group of professionals from the business, academia and the international development community explored how companies are responding to disruptive trends affecting the Future of Work, such as automation, the rise of artificial intelligence, and new forms of independent employment and how companies are preparing their workforce for […]