The key to inclusive business: Getting better at partnering
“Partnering with other sectors is a bit like being a parent. Until you’ve experienced it for yourself, you really can’t appreciate what it’s like” – head of education partnerships of a multinational bank. Inclusive business (IB) projects, by definition, tend to sit in areas outside of companies’ traditional comfort zones. Whether providing incomes to disadvantaged […]
Enabling Green and Inclusive Markets – A Case for Public-private Collaboration
Sustainable development and green growth require real dialogue between private and public sector actors on how to improve the operating environment for green and inclusive businesses. To support this, the Donor Committee for Enterprise Development (DCED), UN Global Compact and the World Resource Institute’s (WRI) New Ventures initiative, organized an event “Enabling green and inclusive […]
Climate change and your supply chain – why doing nothing is not an option
Oxfam What happens when climate change impacts on source products that are part of a global supply chain? Oxfam posed this question to three multinational corporations to find out what companies can do to support the farmers in their value chains to adapt. At Oxfam we know that hundreds of millions of people are already […]
Inclusive innovation to Fight Hunger
Eradicating hunger is amongst the most pressing societal challenges of our times and the lack of substantial progress a shameful failure of the international governance system. Besides the necessary increase in international development aid, a higher emphasis on promoting inclusive innovation to fight hunger is also necessary. This means that low-income countries most affected by […]
Empowering Girls: International Inspiration using sport to tackle gender issues
One thing that gives me a buzz is that the significance of International Inspiration, London 2012’s international legacy programme, is not just about opening doors for children and young people to PE, sport and play. Of course this is important in its own right. But what is exciting is that International Inspiration is using sport […]
Fairtrade Olympics
Last Friday, London, the largest Fairtrade City in the World, welcomed the London 2012 Olympic Games that are the Fairest Olympics the World has ever seen. During the Games, an estimated 10 million Fairtrade bananas from the Windward Islands and South America will be eaten, 7.5 million cups of Fairtrade tea served, 14 million cups […]
Interview: Olympic Medallist, Douglas Wakiihuri
Interview by Chris Markl, Founder, Kourage Athletics Douglas and I connected via mutual friends in the Kenyan running community. After exchanging calls and emails, I was on a plane to Las Vegas, Nevada where Douglas had recently relocated. We spent 15-hours together over a period of two-days. We ate incredible sushi together, which Douglas ordered […]
The Fairest Olympics the World has Ever Seen
Last Friday, London, the largest Fairtrade City in the World, welcomed the London 2012 Olympic Games that are the Fairest Olympics the World has ever seen. During the Games, an estimated 10 million Fairtrade bananas from the Windward Islands and South America will be eaten, 7.5 million cups of Fairtrade tea served, 14 million cups […]
The Power of Business-Driven Development
In 2011, Africa received $7 billion USD more in foreign direct investment than foreign aid, providing unprecedented potential for large-scale economic growth and opportunity. In fact, as companies expand their operations in frontier markets, we are witnessing businesses from developed and developing countries alike delivering a profound, positive impact through employment opportunities, training and education, […]
Kourage: The Power of Sport to Fight Poverty
I’m Chris Markl an economics professor and an expert on foreign investment and job creation. I’m also the founder of Kourage Athletics. Kourage Athletics is Kenya’s running brand. Our mission is to leverage the tradition of Kenyan runners to create authentically kenyan running apparel. In addition Kourage seeks to become the first African brand that […]
Inclusive Business – The Next Frontier for Corporate Responsibility
Anne Stubert, Senior Consultant, Corporate Citizenship Since its foundation in 1997, Corporate Citizenship has worked with leading sustainable businesses around the world, advising them on all aspects of what it means to be a responsible business. Over the past few years, our clients and partners have increasingly explored the opportunities of Inclusive Business and our […]
Understanding company impacts on development – examples of what is useful
Pity the poor executive who is tasked with enabling a company to understand its contribution to development. A quick review of the landscape shows an array of approaches, with little discussion of their usefulness for different purposes. That said, the range of impact reports is certainly growing. More companies are adopting what are known as […]
Every Label Tells A Story: Crafting the New Normal in Fashion
Was it Machu Picchu? Or maybe Kilimanjaro? Perhaps my first trip to Asia? I’m not exactly sure when it really hit me…the devastating impact of industry on our environment and its citizens. But, an idea started to form one day. I had just come home from grocery shopping where I had obsessed over the labels […]
Access to Food and Improved Nutrition at the BoP: Five business interventions to achieve social impact, financial sustainability and scale
Improving food and nutrition security through better availability, accessibility, and utilization of food and food products is a complex challenge. It involves a sector where key activities – such as the production, distribution and consumption of food and the identification of food markets – are largely in the hands of private enterprises. Interventions by the […]
Announcing the winners of the G20 Challenge on Inclusive Business Innovation
The 15 winners of the G20 Challenge on Inclusive Business Innovation were announced on June 18, 2012 at the G20 Leaders Summit in Los Cabos Mexico. Ambassador Mr. Rogelio Granguillhome, Executive Secretary of the Mexican Agency for International Development Cooperation and Chair of the G20 Development Working Group presented the awards. Business Fights Poverty first […]
Citi and The Red Bush Tea company named winners of Business in the Community International Award
The Business in the Community International Award identifies examples of how businesses are helping to tackle global poverty and whether using microfinance models or the power of the brand through cause related marketing, Citigroup and Redbush Tea Company win for their different responsible business programmes supporting global communities Citi won Business in the Community’s International […]
Supporting Local Innovation to Improve Nutrition and Health
Encouraging local business to accelerate delivery of nutritious foods into markets One in seven people do not get enough food to lead an active and healthy life, and an estimated two billion people suffer from micronutrient deficiencies globally. There is plenty of published evidence to suggest undernutrition is having a severely negative impact in the […]
Corporate Volunteerism Bubbles Up for P&G Children’s Safe Drinking Water
Across the globe, businesses are recognizing the expanding importance of corporate volunteer programs as an effective way to support their communities while increasing employee retention and engagement. The workforce of tomorrow demands corporate social responsibility. Millennials number 60 million in the U.S. and an estimated 86% want their work to make a positive impact on […]
Corporate Volunteerism Bubbles Up for P&G Children’s Safe Drinking Water
Across the globe, businesses are recognizing the expanding importance of corporate volunteer programs as an effective way to support their communities while increasing employee retention and engagement. The workforce of tomorrow demands corporate social responsibility. Millennials number 60 million in the U.S. and an estimated 86% want their work to make a positive impact on […]
Anglo American's Socio-Economic Assessment Toolbox in Action: Thermal Coal – Supporting access to safe clean water in the local community
The Emalahleni project is an initiative managed by Anglo American’s Thermal Coal business unit in South Africa. Local communities around Thermal Coal locations often were unable to access piped potable water networks and consequently were reliant on unreliable alternative water sources. Based on these community priorities and needs, the project established a water treatment plant […]