Economic Development

Economic Development Strategies to Combat Global Poverty

Refugee Food Entrepreneurship: How the Business Community Can Support Sustainable Livelihoods

Food entrepreneurship is a growing area of livelihood creation that has gained traction as countries search for ways to address the refugee crisis. We provide recommendations for how the business community can provide support to refugee food entrepreneurs.
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The Triangle That Will Fix Capitalism

It is remarkable how the agenda in this 50th edition of the World Economic Forum (WEF) Annual Meeting has shifted towards calling for a move to stakeholder capitalism, as issued by Klaus Schwab in the new Davos Manifesto. The theme of the 2020 forum itself is: “Stakeholders for a Cohesive and Sustainable World”.
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The Company of the Future Must Do Well by Doing Good

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Fintech Opens New Opportunities for Private Sector to Support Cash Transfer Aid in Developing Countries

The Danish Red Cross, Grassroots Economics Foundation, and partners will collaborate to develop a new global platform for blockchain-based community currencies to boost cash transfer aid and help cash-poor regions grow their own economies, thanks to a grant from Innovation Norway matched by private sector. 
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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.
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Maggie De Pree

Activist innovators and intrapreneurs’ inspiration, thought leader and all-round cheerleader is our podcast interviewee this week – Maggie De Pree.
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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*.
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10 Trends That Should Be on Your Board’s Radar

I have vivid memories, from the years I spent working on social impact in-house for big business, of scrambling for Board or Exec report around this time. ‘Please summarise the key social impact trends and the effects on business’, was the exam question. This year, I thought I would do the same for you. Feel free to borrow, comment and add your own.
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Positive Impact Tool – Shape the Future of Investor Impact Measurement

Introducing the Positive Impact measurement tool. The UNEP FI want businesses to help shape how this tool is developed further. Hear from Careen Abb in this exclusive presentation to find out more about how the tool works. Your feedback will help shape the future of this work.
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Appropriate Technology for Serving the ‘Last Mile’ – The Need for Simple, Flexible and Scalable Solutions

In the second part of this three-part series, which deals with challenges of digitizing indirect FMCG distribution channels in emerging markets, I explore why developing and deploying appropriate technologies to gather data has been a challenge and will provide some examples of how N-Frnds, a technology platform company focusing on digital distribution in emerging markets is addressing this challenge.
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Harnessing the Power of Businesses to Advocate for Change

Consumers’ expectations towards companies to act socially responsibly and take a stance on social issues have grown. A recent study showed that almost two thirds of consumers make purchasing decisions based on a company’s stand on social issues.[i] It also showed that 60 percent of consumers want to see companies’ values and stances more transparently, and 53 percent believe that companies can do more than governments to solve social issues. Through corporate advocacy, companies can show they are ready to act on issues that are important for them.
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Adjusting the Lens on Inequality

Inequality is our era’s defining challenge. The new UNDP Human Development Report argues that we must overturn systemic drivers of inequality to narrow the human development gap for those furthest behind while addressing the risks posed by emerging inequalities. Collective action must be part of the solution, and business has a role to play.​
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Payal Dalal

Meet Payal Dalal, Vice President for Global Programs at the Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth. The Center is the philanthropic hub of Mastercard and is focused on developing new partnership models and activating Mastercard assets.
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Reaching the Elusive Last Mile – Challenges of Digitizing Indirect FMCG Distribution Channels in Emerging Markets

Part I: Lack of data on indirect distribution networks Reaching the ‘last mile’ is imperative for consumer facing companies in emerging markets, however several constraints remain. In this three part series I will deal with some of these constraints and share some of the learnings and insights I have gained through my work at N-Frnds, a technology platform company focused on last-mile distribution in emerging markets.
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Social Innovation: The Answer to Progress

Inspiration spurs ideas and ideas spur solutions. I am personally inspired by working with a community of 42,000 non-profits and education institutions that are on the frontlines of change every day. 
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Siamak Sam Loni

Meet Siamak Sam Loni – a man on a mission to deliver the UN Sustainable Development Goals through the power of young people and their global expertise.
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Understanding the Pitfalls and Shooting for Alignment: How ViiV Healthcare is Tackling HIV Globally

In this interview, Anna Johnson, Editor, Business Fights Poverty set out to explore how ViiV Healthcare has been able to enhance the accessibility and affordability of life-saving HIV drug, dolutegravir (DTG), through a strategic approach to partnering with Helen McDowell, Head of Government Affairs and Global Public Health, ViiV Healthcare
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Access the latest Inclusive Business Resources

Over the past year, the UK Department for International Development, through the Inclusive Business Boost programme, has supported the development of knowledge products to help multinational corporations (MNCs) scale and replicate inclusive business initiatives. We are pleased to be sharing the full suite of resources with you here.
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C’est La CIV!

“Enfin!” French CEO’s might smile at the new Statement of the Purpose of the Corporation signed by 181 American CEOs. To them, the idea that a corporation must serve the interests of all stakeholders is part of “savoir vivre” in business. It is therefore perhaps not surprising that France is leading on Corporate Impact Venturing, the practice of investing in startups with a positive social impact.
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A New Twist on an Old Story: Renewed Hope For Impact From Large Companies

The inclusive business cake has often failed to rise for multinational corporations, but some new recipes offer hope of better things to come
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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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