Economic Development

Economic Development Strategies to Combat Global Poverty

Business calls on governments to mitigate the impacts of COVID-19 and accelerate SDG progress for refugees

On 16 September, the Business Refugee Action Network (BRAN) released its Business Takes a Stand for Refugees Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) Statement and called on governments to include refugees in the SDGs, support them in the wake of COVID-19 and call out the racism and xenophobia they face. Daphne Jayasinghe reflects on the impact of COVID-19 on refugees’ economic inclusion and the role of business in ensuring refugees are not left behind.
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Peg Willingham

Peg Willingham is the Executive Director of Fairtrade America. Fairtrade’s mission to work with businesses, farmers and workers certifying products as ethically and sustainably sourced is more important than ever. Listen to this podcast to hear Peg share her insights of the compounded effects of COVID-19 on many of the world’s poorest farmers;
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VIDEO: How can companies integrate human rights into their business purposes and strategies

Members of the Business Fights Poverty share their insights through a series of “how-to” videos on the themes of Business Fights Poverty NYC Online 2020. This session aims to help business professionals understand the opportunities of a human rights approach and perspective for building business resilience,
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VIDEO: How can I cultivate Intrapreneurship in my buisness?

Members of the Business Fights Poverty share their insights through a series of “how-to” videos and seminars on the themes of Business Fights Poverty NYC Online 2020. Maggie De Pree, shares tips on how to help business professionals understand what is an intrapreneur, how someone can tell if they are one and how to create the conditions for their success
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To achieve the SDGs, business needs to grapple with its inequality footprint

Rising economic inequality, now exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, is a major threat to the world’s economy and to achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals. SDG 10 (reducing inequality) has been one of the most neglected SDGs by companies to date.  With COVID-19 exacerbating the global inequality crisis – here is what business can do.
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Upcoming Online Event: Driving Digital Equity for the Most Vulnerable

As part of Business Fights Poverty NYC Online 2020, Business Fights Poverty and Visa are convening a webinar and online peer discussion to explore how multilateral partnerships can drive digital equity for the most vulnerable.  This article gives a brief insight into the importance of digital equity, and explains how a wide range of organisations can play a part in driving change at a systemic level. 
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Upcoming Online Event: The Future We Want

Far from acting as the “Great Leveller”, as some initially claimed, the COVID-19 pandemic has shone a spotlight on the structural inequalities and fragilities that are ingrained in our current systems – in our economies, social security and health care systems, in food production, education, sanitation, access to the internet and digital services, and much more. As part of Business Fights Poverty NYC Online 2020, Business Fights Poverty and AB InBev are convening a webinar and online peer discussion to explore opportunities, challenges and collaborative solutions as we rebuild better from COVID-19.
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Upcoming Online Event: Nature and Its Value to International Supply Chains

As part of Business Fights Poverty NYC Online 2020, Business Fights Poverty and Standard Chartered are convening a webinar and online peer discussion to explore how we can account for, invest in and enhance the value of nature present in supply chains. This article delves into nature’s benefits to international supply chains, and examines one initiative that is seeking to align commercial and environmental imperatives: the ‘Soft Commodities Compact’. 
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Upcoming Online Event: Business Donor Partnerships for System-Level Impact

As part of Business Fights Poverty NYC Online 2020, Bayer, Mastercard, The European Commission, The UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, Unilever, USAID and The Partnering Initiative are sharing their insights during the webinar and online peer discussion to explore the Business Donor Partnerships for System-Level Impact.
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Upcoming Online Event: Hygiene and Behaviour Change: Business Coalitions to Fight COVID-19

The COVID-19 pandemic triggered unprecedented coalitions by all sectors of society to protect the lives, livelihoods and learning of the world’s most vulnerable people.As part of Business Fights Poverty NYC Online 2020, Business Fights Poverty and Unilever are convening a webinar and online peer discussion to explore how business coalitions can help in the fight against COVID-19.
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Join us to participate in the largest ever global conversation on building the future we want

On 21 September 2020 the UNGA High Level Meetings will open in New York. But, for the first time in its 75 year history the events will be held almost entirely online. Our founder Zahid Torres-Rahman outlines how you can be part of the biggest ever global conversation on the future we want. Join us to #RebuildBetter
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What are the innovations that could shape and transform the next decade?

The World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) has released an issue brief outlining the business model shifts, emerging technologies and social innovations that could shape the next decade. The report is designed to help us think about the innovations that we can leverage in service of the SDGs, and those that we need to work harder to bring about.
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Alexis Geaneotes and Kathy Mignano

During this podcast we hear Alexis Geaneotes and Kathy Mignano from IFC share the latest thinking on inclusive business.
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Supporting Women’s Wellbeing through Flexible, Digital Earning Opportunities

The WTO has recently predicted that the economic impacts of the coronavirus pandemic will be disproportionately felt by women, with a ‘pink collar recession’ threatening to roll back the gender equality gains of recent decades.  In the UK, there are indications that women are bearing the brunt of redundancies, mothers are more likely than fathers to have been furloughed, and women have done the greater share of domestic and caring work during lockdown.
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Going above and beyond to support women entrepreneurs

As has been observed in the Business Fights Poverty community, the coronavirus pandemic poses a specific set of threats to women. Whether in the UK or Uganda, there’s growing evidence that the pressures of lockdown and the associated economic downturn will lead to a regression in women’s rights and gender equality.
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Resetting the Agenda: Using partnerships as a step to more impactful change in a better, post pandemic world

The coronavirus has exposed just how fragile our lives are. Over the past decade, even though there have been increasing calls for a change to global economic and political systems, those voices remained on the periphery. However, as the pandemic unravels these systems ever more rapidly, calls for systemic change have shifted from the margins to the mainstream.
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Reinforcing the ‘S’ in ESG during COVID-19: reflections from our investees

As businesses worldwide grapple with the effect of nationwide lockdowns, it’s clear that COVID-19 has provided an opportunity to reflect on responsible investing and business practices in the private sector.
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Study on the Economic Impact of COVID-19 in sub-Saharan Africa Demonstrates High Loss of Income and Usage of Digital Loans

A new study on the economic impact of COVID-19 in sub-Saharan Africa demonstrates high loss of income and uncertainty around future employment, especially among informal workers. Loans are also in heavy use, which presents an opportunity for the private sector to assist through more favorable lending programs. 
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Evaluation gaps, challenges and implications: Responsible business initiatives for sustainable supply chains?

Evidence on voluntary sustainability standards effectiveness and impact is strengthening, but little evidence exists on the efficacy of growing numbers of Responsible Business Initiatives (RBIs) which focus on entire corporate sustainability. Some are mature (e.g. corporate codes), others are more recent (e.g. sectoral multi-stakeholder initiatives, supplier capacity strengthening approaches, benchmarking initiatives, mobilizing investors). But quality evidence and rigorous synthesis is generally very thin across the board.
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The Cost of Cash to Ghana’s Cocoa Sector

Ghana is among the world’s leaders in the use of mobile money, but shockingly, the cocoa sector still pays upwards of 7 billion cedis (US$1.2 billion) every year in cash and checks to purchasing clerks, who then transfer it to farmers in cash. This means over 90% of the farmer transactions are still made in cash. Our organizations have released today new analysis showing that the costs and risk of cash to the cocoa sector are valued at more than $20 million every year, or more than 20% of turnover for all LBCs.
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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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