Economic Development

Economic Development Strategies to Combat Global Poverty

Social Impact Pioneer, social entrepreneur, home care leader and purposeful leader – Amrit Dhaliwal shares how to be a values-driven leader.
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As globalisation widened the gap between corporations and communities, CSR often became marketing gloss. “CSR 2.0” calls for a systemic approach that embeds social impact into commercial strategy—aligning profit with purpose. By addressing beyond-the-firm constraints and fostering inclusive growth, businesses can turn responsibility into resilience, competitiveness, and genuine poverty reduction.
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Accelerators are touted as engines of SME growth. Yet most target established businesses, leaving low-income women behind. Hand in Hand’s grassroots accelerator proves their potential: over 8,000 women have scaled businesses, boosting incomes, creating jobs, and lifting families well beyond the poverty line. Amalia Johnsson, Hand in Hand International CEO, explains why inclusive growth demands we accelerate women too.
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How Can Companies Turn Sustainability into Jobs, Livelihoods and Lasting Business Value? Hosted with Novonesis This Insights Paper explores how companies can translate sustainability
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Watch this Fireside with East African Breweries on their Learning for Life programme and from UN Women on Generation Equality to examine regional perspectives
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Watch this Workshop with Walmart to explore how to expand MSME growth opportunities in the face of disruption. We examine strategies for strengthening local
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How Can Regional Partnerships Unlock Economic Opportunity for All? Hosted with East African Breweries and UN Women This Insights Paper explores how regional partnerships
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How Can We Expand MSME Growth Opportunities in the Face of Disruption? Hosted with Walmart This Insights Paper examines how micro, small and medium
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What Bridges Must Business Build to Deliver a Fairer, More Resilient Future? At the 2025 Global Goals Summit, Business Fights Poverty marked its 20th
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This report examines Ibiza’s escalating housing crisis, marked by inaffordability, displacement, underutilisation, and fragmentation, and identifies its structural drivers, from speculation and seasonality to regulatory blindspots. Drawing on surveys of over 1,000 residents and international case studies, it sets out 60 actionable proposals across three pathways: market-driven business initiatives, government-led policies, and community-based models like cooperatives and land trusts. Practical strategies include mobilising vacant stock, strengthening regulation, supporting seasonal workers, and piloting collective ownership. With (Ma) Laboratorio de Transformación Sostenible and Business Fights Poverty, supported by the Government of the Balearic Islands and EU NextGeneration funds.
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This report argues that companies should harness their core operations to create inclusive, resilient livelihoods by 2045, responding to today’s intertwined geopolitical, economic, and climate disruptions. It sets out a five-bridge framework—with practical priorities and cases—for: integrating social impact into core functions, aligning environmental and social agendas for a just transition, evolving governance and incentives, connecting decision-makers to those closest to the issues, and scaling cross-sector collaboration. With the Business Fights Poverty Institute.
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This action brief explores how living wages can tackle working poverty, strengthen business resilience, and contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals. Drawing on peer-reviewed research and interviews with 31 experts from business, academia, NGOs, and international organisations, it examines the discourses that shape progress on living wages. The brief highlights actions companies can take to frame living wages as investments in well-being and productivity, harness collective agency across value chains, and advocate for supportive regulation. A practical resource for business leaders, policymakers, and civil society actors seeking to accelerate the adoption of living wages through evidence, collaboration, and systemic change. With the Business Fights Poverty Institute and the University of Cambridge.
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Challenging stereotypes through marketing isn’t just good ethics—it’s smart business. With global ad spend nearing $2 trillion, brands have immense power to shift harmful beliefs. This article explores how inclusive communications can reduce discrimination, boost ROI, and unlock competitive advantage—if businesses act now, before the window of opportunity closes.
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Innovation thrives when knowledge is shared. In this piece, Chris Lawrence explores how open learning—rooted in humility, transparency, and collective wisdom—can unlock solutions to global challenges. Moving beyond open source technology, he argues for a business philosophy that values shared experience and human connection to foster lasting social impact and inclusive innovation.
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Social entrepreneurs are driving inclusive, sustainable solutions, but they need stronger support. Åsa Skogström Feldt, Managing Director of IKEA Social Entrepreneurship, reflects on over a decade of experience, highlighting the urgent need for blended capital, inclusive circular solutions, and empathetic leadership to scale impact for the world’s most vulnerable communities.
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Mark Horoszowski and Alam Bains of MovingWorlds talk behaviour change, empowering social innovation and taking volunteering to another level.
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Tradeable impact credits—like those issued on the Common Good Marketplace—are transforming how businesses fund global poverty alleviation. With verified outcomes, clear valuation, and rigorous auditing, these credits enable companies to invest in real results and receive measurable social returns. This article explores the promise of impact credits as a tool for scalable, accountable, and high-impact funding.
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Meet Stefan Engels, an international development leader with a remarkable cross-sector journey—from corporate boardrooms to grassroots innovation hubs across Africa. Now based in Nairobi, Stefan brings nearly two decades of experience working at the nexus of private sector development, inclusive business models, and entrepreneurial ecosystems.
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A project to build the resilience to climate change of coastal communities in Sierra Leone, and a partnership with world-leading researchers on how the private sector can contribute to a fair and just energy transition, are just two examples of AXA XL’s work on social impact. As part of managing the risks and seizing the opportunities of the transition and navigating the extreme weather events from a changing climate, AXA XL are working to deliver positive social impact for people and communities around the world and accelerate an inclusive transition.
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With trust and supply chains under pressure, companies need more than good intentions—they need smart strategy. In this new piece, Alix Lebec shows how a portfolio approach to impact can align capital, philanthropy, and business goals to drive efficiency, resilience, and value. Discover how leading companies are integrating purpose to navigate a complex future.
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What do we mean by "Economic Development"?

Explore how economic growth can significantly reduce poverty through innovative business initiatives and strategic planning. Join us in making a difference.

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