Human Rights and Governance

Advancing Human Rights and Governance

determined African woman standing in a field of crops determined to yield a harvest of crop

The Missing Link in Water Stewardship: Why Gender Equity is Not an Add-On

As water scarcity intensifies, businesses must rethink not only how much water they use but who is most affected by its depletion. This article explores why gender equality, disability and social inclusion (GEDSI) are essential to effective corporate water stewardship, helping companies reduce operational risks, strengthen community trust and build more resilient, equitable water management strategies.
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Young African, female person or employee checking technology for supply chain stock photo

Good Intentions Don’t Transform Supply Chains. Better Design Could.

Despite growing commitments to gender equality, many supply chain programmes struggle to deliver real outcomes for women. This article argues the problem is not motivation but design. By rethinking how gender initiatives are structured—embedding context, capability, and evidence from the start—companies can move beyond participation metrics and create meaningful, lasting change in global supply chains.
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Sunrise through the forest- future of social impact

Together for 2026: Navigating a Shifting Social Impact Landscape

As social impact becomes more complex, politicised and contested, businesses and practitioners are rethinking how change is led and communicated. Drawing on insights from Business Fights Poverty’s Together for 2026 forum, this article explores how organisations can move beyond acronyms, build trust locally, integrate impact into core decision-making, and sustain leadership resilience in an uncertain global landscape.
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Reimagining old IT equipment before it becomes waste: How Business Can Turn Obsolete IT & Laptops into Opportunity

Reimagining Old IT Equipment Before It Becomes Waste: How Business Can Turn Obsolete IT & Laptops into Opportunity

As support for Windows 10 ends, millions of corporate laptops risk becoming e‑waste. London social enterprise SocialBox.Biz shows how businesses can repurpose redundant IT devices with open-source software, cutting emissions while tackling digital exclusion. Partnering with charities, companies can turn “old kit” into a lifeline for people facing homelessness, poverty and isolation, and strengthen ESG performance.
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Maaria Mozaffar

Legislating Humanity to Change the System, with Maaria Mozaffar

In this episode, legislative attorney and human rights strategist Maaria Mozaffar shares how inclusive policy starts with empathy, not slogans. From writing human-centred laws to challenging systemic inequity, she reveals how anyone can shape justice. Tune in for a powerful conversation on dignity, courage, and transforming disillusionment into action.
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The AI Divide Is Growing: Why the Future of Youth Entrepreneurship Rests on a Knife Edge

Artificial intelligence offers enormous potential to level the playing field for young entrepreneurs — but without urgent action, it risks deepening inequality. Drawing on insights from Youth Business International’s policy paper, this article explores how business, policymakers, and support organisations can collaborate to close the AI divide and build a more inclusive future for entrepreneurship.
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Beauty with Purpose: How Avon is Empowering Women and Driving Sustainability

Beauty with Purpose: How Avon is Empowering Women and Driving Sustainability

Avon is redefining beauty through purpose-driven sustainability. From empowering millions of Representatives to innovative cruelty-free and refillable products, Avon’s strategy integrates climate action, ethical sourcing and gender equity. This article explores how Avon’s inclusive business model and ESG commitments are creating lasting social impact across communities and supply chains.
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Climate resilience for micro-retailers

Climate Resilience for Micro-Retailers: Why this is Your Next Strategic Priority

Micro-retailers are vital to local economies and brand ecosystems, but many face repeated disruption from climate shocks. A new report from Business Fights Poverty and Mastercard Strive explores how digital financial tools can fortify, navigate and recover from climate risks, creating stability for low-income entrepreneurs and strategic value for financial institutions and supply chains.
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Textile factory workers responsible purchasing practices

Embedding a Commitment to Responsible Purchasing Practices

Global retailer Primark is pioneering responsible purchasing practices across its supply chain by adopting itemised costing methodologies, embedding cross-functional training and collaborating with suppliers. This case study explores how the retailer aligned buying, merchandising and ethical trade functions, leveraging the Ethical Trading Initiative Learning & Implementation Community to support living wages and sustainable conditions for workers worldwide.
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Women Entrepreneurs Driving Inclusive Economic Growth

Women Entrepreneurs: The Untapped Engine of Global Economic Growth

Women’s Entrepreneurship Day highlights a critical truth: empowering women entrepreneurs is essential for global economic growth. Despite driving innovation and community resilience, women still face systemic barriers to finance, digital access, networks, and safety. Closing the gender gap in entrepreneurship is not only a moral imperative—it is a powerful economic strategy with transformative potential.
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Strengthening Supply Chains by Tackling Gender Inequality and the Climate Crisis

As world leaders gather at COP, Amanda Smith, Global Head of Social at Diageo, shares insights into Diageo and CARE’s shared ambition to build resilient supply chains by tackling gender inequality and climate vulnerability together.
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Women and Climate Supply Chains

Investing in Women-Led Organisations to Fight Climate Impacts in Global Supply Chain Communities 

The human toll of climate impacts presents specific challenges for women workers and their communities, especially in climate-vulnerable countries. Climate action and investments must not only focus on mitigation but also address the unique impacts on women and the connection between workplace and community across issues like women’s health, violence, migration, forced labor, among others. 
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Human Rights and Business

Help Shape the UK’s Approach to Business and Human Rights: Take Part in the National Baseline Assessment

The UK Government invites Business Fights Poverty members to contribute to a National Baseline Assessment of the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights. Led by Nottingham Rights Lab, the survey and consultation explore government and business efforts to protect and respect human rights. Responses are welcome until 14 November 2025.
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Young Leaders Driving Environmental Change Win The Iris Prize 2025

The Iris Prize 2025 celebrates young environmental leaders driving change in Mongolia, Mexico, and the Philippines. With £718,000 in support since 2022, the award funds youth-led projects tackling air pollution, river restoration, and marine conservation. The initiative highlights the urgent need to back youth innovation for a sustainable future.
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Highway crossing a large river 5 Bridges

Views from the Global Goals Summit on Business Fights Poverty’s New Report: Making the Five Bridges to 2045 a Reality

At this year’s Business Fights Poverty Global Goals Summit, a number of sessions turned their attention to the launch of our new Five Bridges to 2045: How Business Can Build a Fairer, More Resilient Future. Eighteen experts from our global network took part in online sessions and an in-person event hosted with Barclays in New York, where representatives from Ikea, Natura, Vodafone Foundation, ABF Sugar and Fundación Paraguaya shared their perspectives on how to bring the report’s vision of embedding social impact and sustainability into core business closer to reality.
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Collaborative Climate Action

Collaborative Climate Action Starts with Workers

Climate change is already harming garment workers—especially women—through extreme heat, flooding, illness, lost wages, and increased violence. RISE’s new research reveals how climate risks cascade through workers’ lives and offers actionable steps for brands and manufacturers. The call is clear: climate action in the garment sector must start with listening to workers.
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woman with two sons in rural setting

What Happens When Women Entrepreneurs Are Left Out of Business Growth Strategies?

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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The Power of Participatory Radio with Hannah and Meshack

The Power of Participatory Radio with Hannah and Meshack

Listen to this podcast conversation to learn about The Power of Participatory Radio. Social Impact Pioneers – Meshack Kitungu Kawinzi and Hannah Davis share how one of the world’s oldest and most trusted communication tools, radio, is being harnessed to change lives and strengthen communities.
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How Can We Unlock Decent Jobs for Underserved Young People in Africa?

Watch this Workshop with Standard Chartered to explore the demand-side ecosystem for employability in Africa, focusing on market-responsive skills, employer incentives, and decent work.
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How Can We Prepare the Workforce for an AI-Driven Future?

Watch this Workshop with Barclays to explore how AI is reshaping the future of work. Hear from workforce development leaders, Per Scholas, Robin Hood,
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What do we mean by "Human Rights and Governance"?

Explore initiatives that advance human rights and promote effective governance, driving global change, enforcing equity and alleviating poverty.

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