How can business harness the SDGs for greater impact in smallholder supply chains?

event timeline

16 January: Growing a Successful Enterprise Development Programme With The Harvard Kennedy School's CSR Initiative and sponsored by SABMiller - London Read More

This event marked the launch of a new report by The Harvard Kennedy School's CSR Initiative (CSRI) and Business Fights Poverty: “Sustaining and Scaling the Impact of Enterprise Development Programmes”, which draws on SABMiller’s experience. Speakers included: Jane Nelson, Director, CSRI; Andres Penate, VP Corporate Affairs, SABMiller Latin America; Vincent Maphai, Corporate Affairs and Transformation Director, SAB; David Elliott, Head of Profession, Private Sector Development, DFID; Christine Svarer, Head of Private Sector Engagement, CARE International; Chair: Graham Baxter, Adviser, Business Fights Poverty.

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27 February: Investments to End Poverty With Development Initatives - London Read More

How can we mobilise more and better finance to meet global development goals? What contributions are being made by the private sector, and how can these be incentivized and made more effective in terms of their impact on poverty and development? Join us for the next event in the 2014 Series, co-hosted with Development Initiatives (DI). The panel will include: Judith Randel, Co-founder and Director, Development Initiatives; Chris West, Director, Shell Foundation; Alistair Fernie, Head of Private Sector Department, DFID; Chair: Simon Maxwell, Adviser, Business Fights Poverty.

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06 March: Bridging the Gap for African Women in Business With Let Them Help Themselves Out of Poverty - Kampala Read More

Taking place in Uganda to mark International Women's Day, this event will focus on the availability of jobs for African women as well as the ability of African women in business to create jobs for others. The conference will include two panel discussions. The first panel will comprise of female Business Exectuives who will explore the challenges they face in employing women. The second will comprise youne women aged between 20 and 30 who will explore challenges that yound women face accessing jobs as well as how this age group can contribute to job creation in the future. The event is being organised by Let Them Help Themselves Out of Poverty, as part of the 2014 Series.

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11 March: Tweet Jam: Sustainable Fashion With Triple Pundit - #3pChat Read More

Business Figths Poverty teamed up with Triple Pundit, to lead the conversation about key sustainability topics facing the fashion industry. We’ll explore sustainability trends in fashion throughout the lifecycle: from the cotton fields all the way to the landfill. In the expansive scope of sustainability, how do brands decide where to focus and how to prioritize? How effective are their efforts for people and the planet? The conversation took place from 8am Pacific Time / 3pm GMT on Twitter with the hashag #3pChat

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12 March: Private sector for public good – can business fight global poverty? The launch event of the IDS Business and Development Centre, supported by Business Fights Poverty. Read More

This event marked the launch of the Institute of Development Studies (IDS) Business and Development Centre (BDC). The event brought together policymakers, business, academia and civil society to consider how the impacts of business on development can be improved. There is significant consensus that business has an important role to play in driving innovation, promoting economic growth and improving the wellbeing of communities in poorer countries. The aim of the IDS Business and Development Centre is to generate much-needed evidence around how this can be achieved.

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03 April: Google Hangout: A Conversation with Paul Polak A series of Hangouts with Paul, giving you a chance to ask him questions about his work, and to get his
advice on yours. Read More

Through Paul Polak’s work, and that of the organisations he has founded, more than 20 million people have been lifted out of poverty. His mission is to inspire a revolution in how we tackle poverty – harnessing business to benefit the 2.7 billion customers who live on less than $2 a day. He sets out his bold ideas in his recent book with Mal Warwick, The Business Solution to Poverty. At Business Fights Poverty, we’re delighted to be hosting a new series of Google Hangouts with Paul, to give you a chance to ask him questions about his work, and to get his advice on yours.

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06 May: The New Africa Hosted by Business Action for Africa and the Initiative for Global Development - Abuja Read More

Business Action for Africa and the Initiative for Global Development will be convening a high panel and reception to launch a major new report, “New Africa: Nigeria – From Growth to Opportunity”. A high-level panel will explore the question: How can business tap into the opportunities that Nigeria presents, while also maximising its contribution to long-term economic growth and broad-based socio-economic impact? Business Fights Poverty is a supporting partner.

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20 May: The Intrapreneur Lab Hosted by Business Fights Poverty, Accenture Development Partnerships & Leadership Laboratories - New York Read More

The Intrapreneur Lab is a collaboration between Business Fights Poverty, Accenture Development Partnerships and Leadership Laboratories. The next Lab will take place from 20 to 22 May at Cornell University's Manhattan premises, New York City. The Intrapreneur Lab is a 3 day + 3 month programme that helps individuals in large companies develop profitable innovations that create social impact. The programme is open to groups of 20-30 participants with early-stage ideas from large companies.

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20 May: The Intrapreneur Lab Hosted by Business Fights Poverty, Accenture Development Partnerships & Leadership Laboratories - New York Read More

The Intrapreneur Lab is a collaboration between Business Fights Poverty, Accenture Development Partnerships and Leadership Laboratories. The next Lab will take place from 6 to 8 June in New York. The Intrapreneur Lab is a 3 day + 3 month programme that helps individuals in large companies develop profitable innovations that create social impact.

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20 May: Linking Socio-Economic Impact and Business Strategy With WBCSD, Business Action for Africa and DFID - London Read More

The next of the Business Fights Poverty 2014 Series aims to share insights and experience of utilising development impact data to inform business strategy and decision making processes.</br></br> A growing number of companies are measuring their socio-economic impacts to inform dialogue with their stakeholders in order to maintain license to operate, enhance the enabling environment, and strengthen corporate reputation.

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22 May: Google Hangout: A Conversation with Paul Polak A series of Hangouts with Paul, giving you a chance to ask him questions about his work, and to get his
advice on yours. Read More

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26 May: Module 1: Introduction to Inclusive Business and Innovation A private Inclusive Business eLab webinar with Christina Gradl, Endeva Read More

Inclusive businesses require targeted approaches because the market environment of slums and villages is very different from mainstream markets. To develop successful solutions, companies are well advised to include stakeholders in the innovation process. The module provides an introduction to inclusive business and the concept of open innovation. This private Inclusive Business eLab webinar will take place from 4-5pm CET on Monday 26 May. Course Instructor: Cristina Gradl, Endeva

THIS EVENT WILL BE STREAMED IN THE ELAB

02 June: Module 2: Market Understanding and Marketing A private Inclusive Business eLab webinar with Sara Ballan, DI International Business Development Read More

The basic ingredient to a successful business case is a solid understanding of one’s target group. The module explains how to gather relevant data and what to take into account when addressing the target group. This private Inclusive Business eLab webinar will take place from 4-5pm CET on Monday 2 June. Course Instructor: Sara Ballan, DI International Business Development

THIS EVENT WILL BE STREAMED IN THE ELAB

09 June: Design Expo 2014 A one-week, online celebration of product, service and business model design that transforms the lives of the world's poor, with iDE Read More

A one-week, online celebration of product, service and business model design that transforms the lives of the world's poor. A vibrant mix of Google Hangouts with topic pioneers, live co-creation clinics with subject experts, insight articles on the latest design thinking, and an online exhibition zone showcasing the best product and service designers. The week is being coordinated by Business Fights Poverty, in partnership with iDE.

09 June: Design Expo 2014: Google Hangout - The Business Model Behind the Bright Idea A Google Hangout to explore the business models behind impactful design Read More

A creative revolution is underway around the design of products and services that transform the lives of poor people. But without a clear business model, the bright ideas behind new products and services are unlikely to reach the scale and sustainability needed. In the first Google Hangout of the 2014 Design Expo, we will be discussing the importance of business models with Mal Warwick, Author, The Business Solution to Poverty, and Erik Simanis, Managing Director, Market Creation Strategies, Cornell University. The session will start at 4.30 UK time. Moderator: Zahid Torres-Rahman, Business Fights Poverty.

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09 June: Design Expo 2014: Online Discussion - Access to Energy An online panel discussion on how design is enhancing access to energy at the BoP Read More

This online forum discussion at 3.30 UK time will explore the following questions: What are the emerging technologies that have the potenital to transform access to energy in the future? What pricing and distribution approaches seem to be working in expanding the poor's access to energy? What should governments do to help drive access to energy, including for women and children? Panelists include: Liz Grubin, Impact Carbon; Vincenzo Capogna, Sunny Money (Solar Aid); Sheila Oparaocha, Energia; Davinia Cogan, GVEP International; Gaurav Mehta, Dharma Life.

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10 June: Design Expo 2014: Online Discussion - Enhancing Health Outcomes Online panel discussion focusing on design innovations that are enhancing health outcomes at the BoP. Read More

This online forum discussion at 3.30 UK time will explore the following questions: What are some of the key health challenges where business innovation can make a difference at scale? What are the key drivers for achieving better health outcomes at the base of the pyramid - is it just a matter of better products, or are the other factors such as better distribution or better community engagement? How can private sector products and distribution systems better connect with government systems? Panelists include: Jack Castle and Carey Carpenter, Living Goods; Simon Berry, Cola Life; Erica Frenkel, Gradian Health; Ramil Burden, GlaxoSmithKline; Donika Dimovska, Program Director, Results for Development Institute; Julia Watson, DFID.

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10 June: Design Expo: Twitter Jam - Designing for the BoP An online Twitter Chat co-hosted by Business Fights Poverty and Triple Pundit. Read More

Join the Design Expo Twitter Jam at 4.30 UK time (#bfpexpo), co-hosted by Business Fights Poverty (@FightPoverty) and Triple Pundit (@triplepundit). Some of the key questions we'll explore are: What are some of big successes and failures in designing for the BoP? What can we learn from these experiences? What insights are there in how to go about the process of design? What are the factors behind a successful business model? How can different players work together - large companies, social entrepreneurs, government and civil society? Do designers take gender sufficiently into account when designing for the BoP? What are the next big opportunities?

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10 June: Module 3: Last Mile Distribution A private Inclusive Business eLab webinar with Nicolas Chevrollier, BoP Innovation Center Read More

Distribution networks at the BoP are usually very weak and very different from mainstream markets. The module explains how to effectively and efficiently reach out to the target group, including for payments and after-sales service. This private Inclusive Business eLab webinar will take place from 4-5pm CET on Tuesday 10 June. Course Instructor: Nicolas Chevrollier, BoP Innovation Center

THIS EVENT WILL BE STREAMED IN THE ELAB

11 June: Design Expo 2014: Online Discussion - ICT and Social Impact An online panel discussion exploring the social impact of ICT at the BoP. Read More

This online forum discussion at 3.30 UK time will explore the following questions: What are some of the ways in which the huge growth in mobile phones is benefitting people at the BoP? What are some of key challenges and success factors in rolling out ICT innovations among low-income consumers? Looking ahead, what are some of big opportunties for large scale impact through ICT? Panelists include: Paulo Mele, Esoko; Michael Nique and Kai-lik Foh, GSMA; Anna Levy, Frontline SMS; Mike Quinn, ZOONA; Doug Ricket, SVTP.

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11 June: Design Expo 2014: Google Hangout - Successful Last Mile Distribution A Google Hangout to explore lessons for last mile distribution at the BoP. Read More

Successful "last mile" distribution is one of the key challenges when marketing products at the base of the pyramid. What are the insights and lessons from experience? In this Design Expo Google Hangout, we will explore the topic of last mile distribution with Lucie Klarsfeld, Hystra and Nicolas Chevrollier, BoP Innovation Center. The session will start at 4.30 UK time. The discussion will be moderated by Lewis Temple, CEO at IDE UK.

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12 June: Design Expo 2014: Online Discussion - Building Livelihoods An online panel discussion exploring the impact of product and service design on livelihoods at the BoP. Read More

This online forum discussion at 3.30 UK time will explore the following questions: What are some of the most innovative models that are having a real impact on the livelihoods of people at the BoP? What are the some of the key challenges facing innovators when designing products, services and business models for the rural and urban poor? How important is gender in the success or otherwise of some of the marketing and distribution models? Panelists include: Stephanie Hanson, One Acre Fund; Sampath Selvan, MKrishi; Keith Teichmann, Xylem; KC Mishra, eKutir; Alexa Roscoe, CARE International; Deborah Tien, AISE; Morgane Danielou, Farming First; Vincent Gainey, DFID.

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13 June: Design Expo 2014: Online Discussion - Delivering Water and Sanitation An online panel discussion to explore products and services delivering water and sanitation at the BoP. Read More

This online forum discussion at 3.30 UK time will explore the following questions: What role can business play in delivering water and sanitation at the BoP? How can WASH products, services and business models scale rapidly and yet remain appropriate for the local context in multiple countries; are we constantly going to have to 'reinvent the wheel'? What are the next big challenges facing the WASH sector? Panelists include: Jason Kass, Toilets for People; Fanny Boullard, Antenna; Tara Lundy, Vestergaard; Conor Riggs, iDE Bangladesh; Martina Nee, Peepoople; Yi Wei, iDE WASH; Rob Whitby, DFID; Ashley Thomas, Evidence Action.

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13 June: Design Expo 2014: Google Hangout - Successful Product and Service Design A Google Hangout looking at product or service design for the BoP Read More

What are Key Elements for Successful Product or Service Design for BoP Customers? This Design Expo Google Hangout will explore best practice approaches to design with Mike Roberts, Country Director, Cambodia at iDE, and Jack Sim, Founder of BoP World Convention & Expo and Founder, World Toilet Organisation. The session will start at 4.30 UK time. The discussion will be moderated by Robert Silbermann, Board Member of iDE UK and Curator of the Business Fights Poverty 2014 Design Expo.

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16 June: Module 4: Financing A private Inclusive Business eLab webinar with Nicolas Chevrollier, BoP Innovation Center Read More

Inclusive businesses require access to adequate sources of finance to support early stages of opportunity identification through later phases of upscaling market solutions. In this block, we provide an overview of financial mechanisms to support inclusive business, including donors and impact investors. This private Inclusive Business eLab webinar will take place from 4-5pm CET on Monday 16 June. Course Instructor: Nicolas Chevrollier, BoP Innovation Center

THIS EVENT WILL BE STREAMED IN THE ELAB

23 June: Module 5: Partnering A private Inclusive Business eLab webinar with Fernando Casado, Global CAD Read More

Since markets need to be created rather than penetrated, implementation of inclusive business almost always requires collaboration with nontraditional partners, including nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), donors, public agencies, foundations and impact investors. The module introduces these different actors and provides tips for effective cross-sector partnering. This private Inclusive Business eLab webinar will take place from 4-5pm CET on Monday 23 June. Course Instructor: Fernando Casado, Global CAD

THIS EVENT WILL BE STREAMED IN THE ELAB

26 June: Lessons on Supporting Energy Access Enterprises Ashden and Christian Aid share their new research. Read More

Many enterprises are working to solve the huge problem of energy poverty in the developing world by delivering electricity to the 1.3 billion who live off the main grid, or by selling improved cook stoves to people cooking over smoky stoves or open fires that damage their health. Hear the results of research that Ashden and Christian Aid have undertaken into the most effective ways donors, NGOs, investors and others can support such enterprises. This event, from 4 to 6.30pm, will be hosted by Paul Valentin, International Director of Christian Aid. The panel will include Ben Good, CEO of GVEP; Charlie Miller, Partnerships Manager at SolarAid; and Chhavi Sharma of Ashden. Business Fights Poverty is an event partner.

07 July: Module 6: Results Measurement A private Inclusive Business eLab webinar with Filippo Veglio, World Business Council for Sustainable Development Read More

Inclusive businesses combine social and commercial returns. In order to be accountable to stakeholders and to manage and improve results over time, measurement is key. The module introduces different approaches to results measurement and explains the basic terminology and steps. This private Inclusive Business eLab webinar will take place from 4-5pm CET on Monday 7 July. Course Instructor: Kitrhona Cerri, WBCSD. Speaker: Catalina Garcia, Communications and Sustainable Development Director, SABMiller Latin America

THIS EVENT WILL BE STREAMED IN THE ELAB

10 July: Social Intrapreneurism The BBC's Jon Sopel will lead a discussion with the authors of "Social Intrapreneurism and All That Jazz". Read More

Accenture Development Partnerships, The Doughty Centre for Corporate Responsibility at the Cranfield School of Management, Business Fights Poverty and Impact Lab are hosting an evening with the authors of Social Intrapreneurism and All That Jazz to discuss how corporate social innovation has made an impact in business. The evening will include a discussion with: David Grayson, Professor at Doughty Centre for Corporate Responsibility, Cranfield School of Management; Melody McLaren, Associate at Doughty Centre for Corporate Responsibility, Cranfield School of Management; and Gib Bulloch, Founder and Executive Director, Accenture Development Partnerships. Jon Sopel, BBC's North America Editor, will be facilitating the discussion.

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28 August: BoP World Convention and Expo BoP World Convention and Expo - Singapore Read More

Themed "A Brave New Marketplace: Unleashing Opportunities at the Base of the Pyramid", the inaugural BoP World Convention & Expo is a unique forum that encourages key stakeholders from multiple sectors and industries to share knowledge, engage with issues and explore partnerships to bring sustainable and affordable solutions that could impact millions of lives.Business Fights Poverty is a Supporting Partner.

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10 September: SEED Africa Symposium A forum to stimulate the growth of social and green entrepreneurship in Africa - Nairobi Read More

Register now for the SEED Africa Symposium 2014! A unique forum for businesses, policy makers, civil society and support institutions to share their knowledge and experience, explore innovative business models and partnerships, and develop solutions to stimulate the growth of social and green entrepreneurship in Africa. More than 250 representatives will convene in Nairobi and discuss solutions to build an effective ecosystem for social and green enterprises. Business Fights Poverty Members benefit from a special discount at registration. Just contact the SEED team before registration to get a special discount code.

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24 September: Inclusive Business, Climate Change and Green Leap 12:00-13:30 EDT: Livestream from the BCTA Annual Forum 2014 Read More

Watch the livestream of the second plenary session of BCTA's Annual Forum. Speakers include: Stuart Hart, Professor Emeritus of Management at Cornell University’s Johnson Graduate School of Management; Genichiro Shimada, General Manager of International Relations Group, Panasonic Corporation; Raman Ramachandran, Chairman & Managing Director, BASF; Bart Hartman, Founder and Chief Entrepreneur, NOTS Impact Enterprises.

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24 September: Catalyzing Partnerships for Inclusive Business at the Country Level 14.30-16.00 EDT: Livestream from the BCTA Annual Forum 2014 Read More

Watch the livestream of the second plenary session of BCTA's Annual Forum. Speakers include: Ricardo Michel, Director, Center for Transformational Partnerships, United States Agency for International Development (USAID); Rapa Lopa, Executive Director, Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP); Mark Joaquin Ruiz, Co-founder & Managing Director, Hapinoy; Willie J. Uy, President & Chief Executive Officer, Phinma Property Holdings Corp; Marcos Neto, Cluster Leader, Innovations and Development Alliances, UN Development Programme (UNDP).

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24 September: How to Strengthen Partnerships with Business to Deliver the SDGs 8.00-9.30 EDT: Livestream from the BCTA Annual Forum 2014 Read More

Watch the livestream of the session organised by Business Action for Africa, Harvard Kennedy School CSR Initiative and The Partnering Initiative. Speakers include: Magdy Martínez-Solimán, Director, ad interim, Bureau for Policy and Programme Support, UN Development Programme (UNDP); Sam Worthington, President and CEO, InterAction; Mark Devadason, Group Head of Sustainability, Standard Chartered; Louise Kantrow, ICC Permanent Representative to the UN; Stuart Hart, Professor Emeritus of Management at Cornell University’s Johnson Graduate School of Management.

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24 September: Commemorating the Milestones of Inclusive Business 10.00-11.45 EDT: Livestream from the BCTA Annual Forum 2014 Read More

Watch the livestream of the first plenary session of BCTA's Annual Forum. Speakers include: Eriko Ishikawa, Global Program Manager, Inclusive Business Models, International Finance Corporation (IFC); Lena Ingelstam, Director of Partnerships and Innovations, Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA); Peter White, Chief Operating Officer, World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD); Martha Herrera, Corporate Social Responsibility and Community Development Director, CEMEX; Grace Waiharo, Head of Operations, Phillips Healthcare Services Limited; Sahba Sobhani, Acting Programme Manager, Business Call to Action (BCtA).

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09 October: Building Effective Partnerships for Development A 2-Day Training Course by The Partnering Initiative, in association with Business Fights Poverty - Oxford Read More

Many of today’s societal, environmental, business sustainability and humanitarian challenges are so complex and interconnected that they can only be tackled by different sectors working together. To address the vital challenge of partnering capacity, The Partnering Initiative (TPI) has pioneered a range of training courses and developed a series of guidebooks to support practitioners. TPI’s 2-day training programme develops skills, understanding and knowledge for effective cross-sector partnering, optionally leading to a Certificate in Partnering Practice.This 2-day training course, in association with Business Fights Poverty, will take place in Oxford, UK, on 9 and 10 October.

13 October: The Intrapreneur Lab Hosted by Business Fights Poverty, Accenture Development Partnerships & Leadership Laboratories - Oxford Read More

The Intrapreneur Lab is a collaboration between Business Fights Poverty, Accenture Development Partnerships and Leadership Laboratories. This Lab will take place from 13 to 15 October at Oxford University's Saïd Business School. The Intrapreneur Lab is a 3 day + 3 month programme that helps individuals in large companies develop profitable innovations that create social impact. The programme is open to groups of 20-30 participants with early-stage ideas from large companies.

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06 November: Technologies and services for the Base of the Pyramid A learning forum around the challenges and experiences of designing for the BoP - Madrid Read More

With the aim of providing a learning and discussion forum around the challenges and experiences of designing for the Base of the Pyramid, CODESPA Foundation (www.codespa.org), in collaboration with Business Fights Poverty, IESE Business School and Forética, and the support of AECID (Spanish Agency of Development) and Fundación Profesor Uría, is organizing a conference on 6^th November in Madrid. Organizations of reference in this field such as International Development Enterprises (iDE), GIZ, Coca-Cola Bottle Company and FrontlineSMS will participate at the event.

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17 November: The Intrapreneur Lab Hosted by Business Fights Poverty, Accenture Development Partnerships and Leadership Laboratories -Jo'Burg Read More

The Intrapreneur Lab is a collaboration between Business Fights Poverty, Accenture Development Partnerships and Leadership Laboratories. This Lab will take place from 17 to 19 November at the Gordon Institute of Business Science, Pretoria University. The Intrapreneur Lab is a 3 day + 3 month programme that helps individuals in large companies develop profitable innovations that create social impact. The programme is open to groups of 20-30 participants with early-stage ideas from large companies.

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18 November: Trust Women An event putting the rule of law behind women's rights - London Read More

The Trust Women Conference, hosted by Thomson Reuters Foundation from 18-19 November in London, will bring together global corporations, lawyers, and pioneers in the field of women's rights to take action and forge tangible commitments to empower women.

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20 November: Scaling Corporate Social Enterprise Conference organised by the Multilateral Investment Fund (MIF) and partners - Santiago, Chile Read More

This conference will be the first event in Latin America to convene key actors from private corporations, government agencies, academia and civil society to define the next steps in building a robust ecosystem to support the scaling of social enterprises – an enterprise that deliberately expands access to goods, services, income and employment opportunities for vulnerable populations as part of its core business while seeking profit or return on investment. The conference is organized by the Multilateral Investment Fund (MIF) in close coordination with other public and private sector windows of the IDB Group, as well as local counterparts Sistema-B and Fundación Avina.

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24 November: Dignity 2014 – Celebrating Impact in India Organised by London+Acumen - London Read More

With its 14 years of work on the field, Acumen understands that poverty isn’t just about lack of income. What keeps people from realising their full potential is lack of choice and opportunity. It is that choice that gives people freedom, and above all dignity. This year the Dignity event will focus on celebrating the work of Acumen in India where 40% of the world’s poor live. At the event you will have the opportunity to learn more about Acumen’s work in India, the investee companies and the personal stories of both the social entrepreneurs and customers in India. The evening will include a drinks reception and traditional Indian performances. Event takes place 6.30 to 10pm.

02 December: How Do You Create a Transformative Business Model? Webinar hosted by Business Call to Action and Business Fights Poverty Read More

This webinar, hosted by Business Call to Action and Business Fights Poverty, will discuss challenges and opportunities companies face in developing, sustaining and scaling successful inclusive business models that achieve commercial success and development outcomes by doing business with the 'base of the economic pyramid’. Speakers include: Erik Simanis, Managing Director, Market Creation Strategies, Center for Sustainable Enterprise, Cornell University’s Johnson School of Management; Paul Polak, Founder and CEO of Windhorse International and iDE, and author of The Business Solution to Poverty; and Nitin Sharma, Senior Project Manager, BoP South Asia, BASF (tbc). The event will take place from 16:30 to 17:45 UK time.

03 December: Partnering for Impact Event profiling new report by Business Action for Africa and partners - London Read More

Panellists: David Kennedy, Director General, Economic Development, DFID; Laurie Lee, CEO, Care UK; Igo Weli, Director of Local Content, Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria; Gib Bulloch, Executive Director of Accenture Development Partnerships. This event marks the launch of a new report which analyses a wide range of business partnerships in Africa to identify key barriers and enablers for achieving sustainable impact at scale, alongside considerations for policy makers and businesses as they address the means of implementation for the SDGs.

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26 January: Building Effective Partnerships for Development A 2-Day Training Course by The Partnering Initiative, in association with Business Fights Poverty - Oxford Read More

Many of today’s societal, environmental, business sustainability and humanitarian challenges are so complex and interconnected that they can only be tackled by different sectors working together. To address the vital challenge of partnering capacity, The Partnering Initiative (TPI) has pioneered a range of training courses and developed a series of guidebooks to support practitioners. TPI’s 2.5-day training programme develops skills, understanding and knowledge for effective cross-sector partnering, optionally leading to a Certificate in Partnering Practice. This 2-day training course, in association with Business Fights Poverty, will take place in Oxford, UK, from 26 to 28 January 2015. For more information, click here.

04 February: Accelerating Sustainable and Inclusive Business First in the 2015 Series, hosted by Citi Foundation - London Read More

Join the first event in the 2015 Series, hosted with Citi Foundation, The Fletcher School at Tufts University, the UK's Department for International Development and the Business Call to Action, to discuss the latest thinking on how to accelerate sustainable and inclusive business and the role of partnership. Speakers include: Philip Martin Brown, Managing Director, Citi Microfinance; Claire Alexandre, Head of Commercial and Strategy - M-Pesa at Vodafone (tbc); Marcos Neto, Team Leader, Private Sector and Foundations, UNDP. Chair: Dr Bhaskar Chakravorti, Senior Associate Dean for International Business and Finance and Executive Director of Institute for Business in the Global Context, The Fletcher School at Tufts University.

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09 March: Inclusive Business Online Bootcamp Online Bootcamp from the Inclusive Business Accelerator - Online Read More

This online bootcamp from the Inclusive Business Accelerator focuses on ‘marketing and distribution to the BoP’. Behavioural change and last mile distribution are key to setting up a successful business with low-income groups. The target group of the bootcamp is entrepreneurs who are working on innovative products in rapidly expanding sectors such as sustainable energy, food/agriculture and water/sanitation. The IB Accelerator bootcamp starts on March 9th until April 3rd. Registration is open until February 15th 2015.

10 March: Achieving Scale and Impact Supporting Small Businesses Online discussion with SABMiller, IDB and US State Department - Online Read More

To mark Global Partnership Week (www.p3.co), join us for a live, online discussion of ways to achieve greater scale and impact in our efforts to strengthen small businesses. The CSR Initiative at the Harvard Kennedy School and Business Fights Poverty recently completed a report on SABMiller’s new 4e Path to Progress program in Latin America that aims to empower nearly 200,000 small retailers at the base of the pyramid by 2020. The report identifies emerging lessons and key strategic questions facing 4e on the journey to scale. Many of these are common to enterprise development programs across regions and industry sectors. Please join us to share your insights, and help spark some new ideas.

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09 April: Inclusion Inc Conference on Sustainable and Inclusive Business - Boston Read More

Inclusion Inc, hosted by the Fletcher School at Tufts in Boston from April 9 - 10, is part of a series of conferences in 2014-15 aimed at fostering dialogue and practical solutions for Sustainable and Inclusive Business Activities (SIBA). The events seek to explore how the private, public, and social sectors can partner to create more inclusive ecosystems. Inclusion, Inc. will draw upon IBGC’s ongoing research in SIBA focusing on key barriers and common issues to inclusive business at scale in emerging and developed markets.

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13 April: Building Effective Partnerships for Development A 2.5-Day Training Course by The Partnering Initiative, in association with Business Fights Poverty - Oxford Read More

Many of today’s societal, environmental, business sustainability and humanitarian challenges are so complex and interconnected that they can only be tackled by different sectors working together. To address the vital challenge of partnering capacity, The Partnering Initiative (TPI) has pioneered a range of training courses and developed a series of guidebooks to support practitioners. TPI’s 2.5-day training programme develops skills, understanding and knowledge for effective cross-sector partnering, optionally leading to a Certificate in Partnering Practice. This 2-day training course, in association with Business Fights Poverty, will take place in Oxford, UK, from 13 to 15 April 2015. For more information, click here.

21 April: Linking savings groups to banks - What works, what doesn’t, what’s next? Webinar hosted by Care International UK Read More

Join us on Tuesday 21 April for this webinar hosted by Care International UK to learn about a recent review of the opportunities and challenges of linking groups to Barclays banks and other financial institutions in Uganda, Zambia, Tanzania, Ghana and Kenya. The webinar - "Linking savings groups to banks - What works, what doesn’t, what’s next? Recent insights from 5 African countries" will also provide the chance to hear from other Charter signatory members Fidelity Bank and Grameen Foundation on their recent experiences of linking groups.

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28 April: The Intrapreneur Lab Hosted by Business Fights Poverty, Accenture Development Partnerships and Leadership Laboratories -Singapore Read More

The Intrapreneur Lab is a collaboration between Business Fights Poverty, Accenture Development Partnerships and Leadership Laboratories. This Lab will take place from 28 - 30 April at INSEAD's Singapore Campus. The Intrapreneur Lab is a 3 day + 3 month programme that helps individuals in large companies develop profitable innovations that create social impact. The programme is open to groups of 20-30 participants with early-stage ideas from large companies.

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06 May: Responsible Business Summit Asia Ethical Corporation’s Responsible Business Summit Asia - Singapore Read More

Ethical Corporation’s Responsible Business Summit Asia is the regional prominent meeting place to find out where business leaders and innovators are headed around their sustainability and CSR strategy. #RBSA2014 brings together corporate practitioners from Fortune 500 brands working in corporate sustainability, environment, supply chain and communications. To see the full speaker line-up, agenda, and to download your free event guide, visit here. For more information please Elina Yumasheva on [email protected] or on +44 (0) 207 375 7573.

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12 May: Shared Value Leadership Summit Hosted by the Shared Value Initiative - New York Read More

The 2015 Shared Value Leadership Summit will gather the world's leading thinkers and doers of shared value to deliver the "how-to" of building a shared value strategy that truly showcases business at its best. Participants will share best strategies and roll up their sleeves to generate new business solutions to social issues, reimagining the role of business in society and the nature of competitive advantage. This is shared value leadership. Join the Shared Value Leadership Summit, 12-13 May, New York. #SVLeaders

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21 May: How Can Business Fight Ebola? Online Panel Discussion with Standard Chartered, CDC, GSK, Arcelor Mittal, Mercy Corps, Oxfam, World Vision and Unicef - Online Read More

The impact of the Ebola outbreak on West Africa has been devastating for families, communities and public health systems already under severe strain. This online discussion will explore how the private sector can best contribute in the wake of a major public health emergency and identify lessons learned for the future. Key questions for the discussion are: How can business best contribute to tackling public health crisis’ like ebola? What have we learned from the on-going ebola outbreak about how to successfully mobilise a business response, and where are the business innovations happening? How can public-private collaboration enhance the impact of business’s contribution? The event is part of the People Month of our Business and SDGs programme.

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28 May: How Can NGOs Scale Social Impact with Business Ideas? Google Hangout with Erik Simanis, Cornell University, and Anna Gerrard, Sightsavers - Online Read More

Join Erik Simanis, Head of the Frontier Markets Initiative at Cornell University, and Anna Gerrard, Technical Advisor: market-based and private sector programmes at Sightsavers, to discuss the lessons from Sightsavers' experience in scaling their impact by implementing business ideas. The Google Hangout will start at 10.30am NYC / 3.30pm London Time. The event is part of the People theme of our Business and SDGs programme.

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02 June: Closing Africa's Energy Gap By-Invitation Lunchtime Panel Discussion with The Initiative for Global Development - Cape Towm Read More

To coincide with the World Economic Forum on Africa Summit and the IGD Frontier 100 Forum, Business Fights Poverty and the Initiative for Global Development is hosting a lunchtime panel discussion (12.30 - 1.30) with Standard Chartered Bank, ContourGlobal and the UK Department for International Development. Access to energy is routinely cited by large and small businesses as the most significant barrier to their success. Unreliable or inaccessible power also impacts healthcare and education outcomes, which in turn have long-term implications for individuals and societies. The event marks the launch of our new report, and is part of Planet Month, within your Business and SDGs programme

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09 June: The Business of Energy: Enterprising solutions to the energy access challenge 2015 Ashden International Conference - London Read More

Across the developing world, enterprising businesses are innovating with technology, marketing and business models to bring clean, safe energy to millions. But how realistic is it to expect the private sector to solve the poor’s energy needs? What role do social enterprises play? And where do governments’ responsibilities lie? Don’t miss your opportunity for an update on the cutting edge of sustainable energy. Photo: Azuri Indigo solar panel; winner 2013 Ashden International Award

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17 June: The Intrapreneur Lab Hosted by Business Fights Poverty, Accenture Development Partnerships & Leadership Laboratories - New York Read More

The Intrapreneur Lab is a collaboration between Business Fights Poverty, Accenture Development Partnerships and Leadership Laboratories. The next Lab will take place from 17 to 19 June at Cornell University's Manhattan premises, New York City. The Intrapreneur Lab is a 3 day + 3 month programme that helps individuals in large companies develop profitable innovations that create social impact. The programme is open to groups of 20-30 participants with early-stage ideas from large companies.

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19 June: International CSR Summit, China Conference organised by Enterprise Asia - Macau, China Read More

Bringing together the world’s top CSR thinkers, doers, speakers and leaders, the Summit features the most stirring conversations in CSR today in deliberating new forward thinking solutions to society issues. Themed Shared Value for Profitable CSR Practices, leading CSR and sustainability figures will address current and facing complexities in developing frameworks for sustainable practices and the role of creating shared value and impact on business profitability. The event is being held in conjunction with the Asia Responsible Entrepreneurship Awards.

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24 June: How can partnerships with business increase access to safe, clean water for all? Business and the SDGs Online Discussion - Online Read More

Partnerships with business are becoming increasingly central to strategies for delivering access to safe, clean water for all. Join this written online discussion with SABMiller, ODI, 2030 Water Resources Group, WSUP and WWF, at 10-11am New York Time / 3-4pm UK Time on Wednesday 24 June.

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25 June: A Dialogue on Business Leadership for an Inclusive Economy A dialogue hosted by BSR - London Read More

Please join BSR for a morning dialogue (8:45 am-1:30 pm GMT) in London to explore how the private sector can help build a more inclusive economy through good jobs, access to essential goods and services, and investments for prosperous communities. Companies can expect to take away key lessons in how to drive change through their direct operations and supply chains and as actors in the broader economic environment. The agenda will feature an introduction to BSR’s new strategy, Business Leadership for an Inclusive Economy; panel discussions with representatives from business, civil society, and BSR; and time for networking.

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29 June: BASE III Forum International Conference hosted by the Inter-American Development Bank - Mexico City Read More

The BASE International Forum, 29 June - 1 July in Mexico City, will bring together leaders who are promoting and developing market-based business models that provide quality goods and services to the base of the pyramid (BOP) in Latin America and the Caribbean. The BASE International Forum is organized by the IDB’s Opportunities for the Majority.

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30 June: How can we harness business to close the energy gap in Africa? Business and the SDGs Online Discussion - Online Read More

Power is routinely cited by large and small businesses as the most significant barrier to their success, adding huge costs to them and their customers. Poor infrastructure slows foreign direct investment and limits countries in their attempts to diversify their economies away from primary commodity export. Unreliable or inaccessible power has a cost that goes beyond GDP figures and business growth, impacting on healthcare and education outcomes, which in turn have long-term implications for the future prosperity of individuals and societies. Join Standard Chartered, Anglo American, ODI, Initiative for Global Development and DFID for an online written discussion on how we can harness business to close the energy gap in Africa.

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09 July: How can responsible private investment contribute to the SDGs? Business and SDGs Online Discussion - Online Read More

The key role of private investment in driving economic growth and job creation is increasingly emphasised by governments and donors. The Financing for Development Summit, taking place in Addis Ababa in mid-July and aiming to secure the means for implementing the Sustainable Development Goals, highlights the key role of private investment. At the same time, it also emphasises the need for investors to adopt principles and reporting standards for socially and environmentally responsible business, which includes good health and safety, constructive community relations, preventing pollution, protecting workers rights and biodiversity, preventing and fighting corruption, illicit financial flows and tax evasion. Join the discussion with CDC, the UK's Development Finance Institution, to explore responsible private investment contribute to the SDGs, from 10am New York Time / 3pm London Time on 9 July.

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16 July: 2nd BoP Global Network Summit Enterprise for a Sustainable World (ESW) and The University of Vermont, with the BoP Global Network Labs - Vermont Read More

With Sustainable Entrepreneurship from the Bottom Up as the theme, Enterprise for a Sustainable World (ESW) and The University of Vermont, in collaboration with the BoP Global Network Labs from around the world, are organizing the 2nd BoP Global Network Summit. The event will be held on July 16th and 17th, 2015 at the University of Vermont (UVM)’s Davis Center in Burlington, Vermont, USA.

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22 July: How Can Value Chains be Harnessed for the Sustainable Development Goals? Business and SDGs Online Discussion Read More

Businesses, by harnessing their value chains, can be powerful drivers of social, economic and environmental progress and, consequently, can play a critical role in achieving many of the draft SDGs. Join this online written discussion to explore how far we have come, and what's next to deepen scale and impact?

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09 September: SEED Africa Symposium Conference organised by SEED - Nairobi Read More

The SEED Africa Symposium is an international forum for sharing knowledge and experience, establishing partnerships, and developing solutions to stimulate the growth of social and eco-entrepreneurship. "Building Bridges for Impact" is the goal for this year’s Symposium, taking place from 9 to 10 September in Nairobi, Kenya. Around 500 entrepreneurs, business leaders, investors, practitioners and policy makers will examine emerging trends in the green and entrepreneurship space and look into ways of constructing new bridges to amplify the impact of social and eco-enterprises. Special attention will also be given to the role of eco-entrepreneurship in the Post-2015 agenda. Join SEED and its partners for two inspirational days to collaborate towards the promotion of a green and inclusive economy! Photo: Mobile Solar Classroom, Uganda

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24 September: Business and the SDGs: Harnessing Domestic Inclusive Business for Social Impact Part of the Business Call to Action Annual Forum - New York Read More

Some of the most innovative approaches to harnessing business for social impact have come from domestic companies and large corporates working to support domestic companies in Africa, Asia and Latin America. Speakers include: Magdy Martínez-Solimán, Assistant Administrator and Director of the Bureau for Policy and Programme Support (BPPS), UN Development Programme; Juan Sebastian Pardo Lanzetta, CEO, Credifamilia; David Croft, Global Sustainable Development Director, Diageo; Tafsir Awal, Director, Multomode Group & Lal Teer Seed; Piyush Jaju, CEO and Co-Founder, ONergy; Chair: Bhaskar Chakravorti, Executive Director of Fletcher's Institute for Business in the Global Context.

24 September: Business Call to Action Annual Forum Annual Forum, to coincide with the UN General Assembly - New York Read More

Join leaders of prominent inclusive businesses as well as senior representatives from government, bilateral donors, civil society and the United Nations to learn about innovative businesses models, engage in peer-to-peer knowledge exchange, network and establish linkages with other leaders in the field. The half day-long event will offer opportunities to showcase innovative work, engage in peer-to-peer knowledge exchange, network and establish links with other leaders in the field.

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25 September: Business and the SDGs: Building Blocks for Success at Scale Part of the SDG Business Forum, marking the launch of a report by Business Fights Poverty and Harvard Kennedy School CSRI - New York Read More

As the world comes together to formally adopt the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), leaders across sectors recognise that the challenges are too great and too systemic for any one of them to tackle alone, and that business’ contribution will be pivotal. Speakers include: Justine Greening, Secretary of State, UK Department for International Development; Jay Collins, Vice Chairman, Corporate and Investment Banking, Citi, Kate James, Chief Corporate Affairs Officer, Pearson; Kevin J Jenkins , President and Chief Executive Officer, World Vision; Lise Kingo, Executive Director, UN Global Compact; Jon Pender, Vice-President IP and Access, GSK. The event will be chaired by Jane Nelson, Director, The CSR Initiative, Harvard Kennedy School

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19 October: Building Effective Partnerships for Development A 2.5-Day Training Course by The Partnering Initiative, in association with Business Fights Poverty - Oxford Read More

Many of today’s societal, environmental, business sustainability and humanitarian challenges are so complex and interconnected that they can only be tackled by different sectors working together. To address the vital challenge of partnering capacity, The Partnering Initiative (TPI) has pioneered a range of training courses and developed a series of guidebooks to support practitioners. TPI’s 2.5-day training programme develops skills, understanding and knowledge for effective cross-sector partnering, optionally leading to a Certificate in Partnering Practice. This 2-day training course, in association with Business Fights Poverty, will take place in Oxford, UK, from 19 to 20 October 2015. For more information, click here.

19 October: The Intrapreneur Lab Hosted by Business Fights Poverty, Accenture Development Partnerships & Leadership Laboratories - Oxford Read More

The Intrapreneur Lab is a collaboration between Business Fights Poverty, Accenture Development Partnerships and Leadership Laboratories. The next Lab will take place from 19 to 21 October at Oxford University's Saïd Business School. The Intrapreneur Lab is a 3 day + 3 month programme that helps individuals in large companies develop profitable innovations that create social impact. The programme is open to groups of 20-30 participants with early-stage ideas from large companies.

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27 October: Business and the SDGs: Building Blocks for Success at Scale Panel marking the launch of a new report by Business Fights Poverty and Harvard Kennedy School CSRI - London Read More

With the Sustainable Development Goals now adopted, attention is shifting to how they will be delivered. There is growing appreciation of the role business can play. This event marks the London launch of a new report on this theme by Business Fights Poverty and the CSR Initiative at the Harvard Kennedy School. Panelists include: Winnie Byanyima, Executive Director, Oxfam International; David Croft, Global Director of Sustainability, Diageo; Liz Stuart, Research Fellow - Team Leader, SDGs, ODI; DFID (tbc) and Pearson (tbc). The event will be chaired by Graham Baxter, Business Fights Poverty. The event will take place from 5.30 to 7pm and will be followed by a reception. Registration will open from 5pm.

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02 November: Responsible Business Forum The 4th Responsible Business Forum on Sustainable Development - Singapore Read More

2015 will be a historic year for the world with a new treaty to be agreed in Paris that will limit greenhouse gas emissions and prevent global warming beyond two degrees, and the launch of new post-2015 sustainable development goals to ensure prosperity and environmental protection for future generations. Innovation and mindset shifts are critical for the systemic change we need to achieve these goals. From 2 to 4 November in Singapore, the 4th Responsible Business Forum on Sustainable Development will gather more than 600 business leaders, investors, NGOs and policy-makers from around the world to share innovations and agree on practical solutions for climate action and delivering the sustainable development goals.

10 November: Business and the United Nations Launch event for a new report by Business Fights Poverty and Harvard Kennedy School's CSR Initiative - New York Read More

The Sustainable Development Goals Fund (www.sdgfund.org) at UNDP is pleased to invite you to attend the launch of the new report “Business and the United Nations” produced by the SDG Fund’s Private Advisory Group in collaboration with Harvard Kennedy School and Business Fights Poverty. The event will take place on Tuesday, 10 November 2015 at the United Nations headquarters in New York (ECOSOC Chamber). The Report, which explores UN engagement with business from the perspective of businesses, will initiate a dialogue on how to co-create, co-design and co-invest in new modalities of sustainable development engagement between the UN, private sector, civil society and governments.

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12 November: Leadership Development that Lasts: Using Immersive In-Market Learning Programmes to Drive Business Results Webinar hosted by Emerging World -Online Read More

Increasingly we’re seeing more companies use highly immersive in-market learning programmes to drive business results. Emerging World, the host of the webinar, refers to these experiences as Corporate International Service Learning (CISL). Join this webinar of to build your understanding CISL Programmes and their impact, on 12 November 3.30-4.30 GMT. Panelists include: Matthew Farmer, Managing Director, Emerging World; Laura Hemrika, Head of Impact and Microfinance Capacity Building, Credit Suisse; Deborah Holmes, Americas Director of Corporate Responsibility, EY; Sue Gammons, PULSE Operations Manager, GSK.

18 November: Scaling Social Business in East Africa Regional Symposium led by ICS and Ka Tutandike - Kampala Read More

This Regional Symposium will take place from 18 - 20 November 2015 in Kampala, Uganda, and is hosted by ICS and Ka Tutandike Uganda in partnership with Ashoka East Africa, Kulika Uganda, Royal African Society, AGRICS Ltd. and Yunus Social Business Foundation. The event will provide insights into and potential solutions for the financial and organisational challenges that many social entrepreneurs in East Africa are facing today. Bridging the financing gap in the middle, pre- and post-investment management support and the government’s role towards a supportive social business ecosystem are among the key themes of the symposium. The programme focuses on entrepreneurs with interest in social businesses, impact investors and representatives of multinationals, government, financial institutions and non-governmental organisations. It serves as a platform to share best practices as well as common bottlenecks and challenges. A lineup of thought-provoking and interactive sessions including debates, panel discussions and workshops will create an important forum at which entrepreneurs and investors can arrive at better ways of cooperation and foster greater understanding to achieve common goals and objectives. For more information please visit www.scalingsocialbusiness.com or email [email protected]

19 November: Building Stronger Programmes: Insights from the Impact Benchmark Study of Immersive In-Market Learning Programmes Webinar hosted by Emerging World -Online Read More

Corporate International Service Learning (CISL) programmes are becoming a popular and strategic tool for companies looking to build the talent and skills of their workforce while addressing real needs in markets where they do business. The CISL Impact Benchmark Study, the most robust piece of research of its kind, has just been launched and this is your opportunity to dive deeper into the results. Join this webinar on 19 November 3.30-4.30 GMT. Panelists include: Matthew Farmer, Managing Director, Emerging World; Jennifer Farrington, Director, Social Investing, BD; Eva Halper, Director, Global Education Initiative and Global Citizens Programme, Credit Suisse; Winnie Karanu, MySkills4Afrika Global Programme Manager, Microsoft.

01 December: Business Practitioner Workshop: Embedding the Global Goals into Business Business Practitioner Workshop - London Read More

With the Sustainable Development Goals (Global Goals) now adopted, attention is shifting to how they will be delivered. All sectors now recognise that business’ contribution will be pivotal. Leading examples of sustainable business practices exist, but to achieve the Global Goals, such practices will need to move from the cutting edge to the mainstream. This business practitioner workshop is designed to help companies embed the Global Goals into their core business and social investment activities, with an emphasis on enabling action by sharing insights, approaches and practical tools from leading businesses as well as civil society organisations and initiatives.

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15 December: Purposeful Leadership: Human Centered Design to Fight UK Poverty London+Acumen event, in partnership with Business Fights Poverty Read More

As one of the most advanced countries in the world, the UK still faces many challenges in building a socially mobile and integrated society. Acumen typically invests in companies that have a ‘human centred design’ (HCD) approach at their core-where social entrepreneurs and community leaders use this concept to develop innovative way to tackle poverty and inequality across the world. At this event, organised by London+Acumen in partnership with Business Fights Poverty, you will be challenged to reflect on how we approach everyday inequalities in UK society, question our assumptions of how much we can accept and inspire you to think about how HCD can be used to start to tackle some of these issues.

13 January: The Unilever Global Development Award, supported by Business Fights Poverty Join the Webinar to learn more about the Award and how to apply Read More

The Unilever Global Development Award supported by Business Fights Poverty identifies those businesses that are demonstrating a positive impact on global development. Learn more about the Awards and how to apply by joining this webinar from 2 to 3pm UK time. Hear inspirational stories from previous Award winners talking about their award winning programmes and how entering the Awards have helped them in their responsible business journey. The webinar will also provide essential information about the Award, how to enter and tips for making a great Award entry.

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19 January: Strengthening micro-enterprise ecosystems: Learning from business An expert roundtable as part of the Microenterprise Challenge - London Read More

An expert roundtable, co-hosted by Business Fights Poverty, CARE International UK and SABMIller to inform the development of a “how to” framework by learning from the practical experience of leading businesses who are at the vanguard of designing, implementing and measuring programmes aimed at supporting micro-enterprises.

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17 February: A Global View of Financial Linkages A webinar hosted by SEEP - Online Read More

The State of Linkage Report (forthcoming) was recently commissioned by Barclays, CARE International, and Plan UK in order to provide, for the first time, a global mapping of linkage activity—the process through which informal savings groups are able to access products and services from formal financial service providers. The report identifies where linkage is taking place, the organizations that are currently linking to savings groups, and the kind of products and services that are being offered. Join us on February 17 to hear how leading organizations are helping to link significant numbers of savings groups, what they have learned on the journey, and their personal reflections on the state of linkage.

23 February: Building Effective Partnerships for Development A 3-Day Training Course by The Partnering Initiative, in association with Business Fights Poverty - Oxford Read More

The Partnering Initiative’s 3 day training programme, Building Effective Partnerships for Development, focuses on skills, understanding and knowledge for effective cross-sector partnering, optionally leading to a Certificate in Partnering Practice. The course balances core knowledge with highly interactive, experiential learning through role play, ‘serious games’ and peer-to-peer exchange.

24 February: Introduction to Behavioral Design in Inclusive Finance A webinar hosted by SEEP - Online Read More

This webinar will illustrate the importance of behavioral science thinking in financial product design and begin to touch on what it means to do systemic product innovation using the behavioral approach.

25 February: How can Business and the UN Work Together Towards the Sustainable Development Goals? Online Discussion with the SDG Fund and CSR Initiative at Harvard Kennedy School Read More

As people from around the world start to focus on how to implement the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)–the new ambitious vision for ending poverty and protecting our planet– they are exploring new ways of engaging and partnering with each other to achieve greater scale and systemic impact. This discussion will bring together representatives from business, the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals Fund (SDG-F), the CSR Initiative at Harvard Kennedy School and Business Fights Poverty to explore how business and the UN can work together towards the SDGs.

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09 March: Capturing BoP Markets: Corporates Venturing into Inclusive Businesses Practitioner Workshop organised by Endeva - Munich Read More

This one-day workshop explores the emerging field of corporate impact venturing, with a focus on inclusive businesses in developing countries. When corporates take an equity stake in inclusive businesses, they can gain a foothold in growing BOP markets and to tested innovations, while inclusive businesses find partners for scale up. This interactive and action-oriented workshop brings together practitioners to share their own experiences and discuss developing trends in sessions facilitated by select experts and company representatives. The workshop is co-hosted by SEED and Business Fights Poverty.

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24 March: Strengthening micro-enterprise ecosystems: Learning from business An expert roundtable as part of the Microenterprise Challenge - Washington Read More

An expert roundtable, co-hosted by Business Fights Poverty, CARE International UK, IDB, OMIN and SABMIller to inform the development of a “how to” framework by learning from the practical experience of leading businesses who are at the vanguard of designing, implementing and measuring programmes aimed at supporting micro-enterprises.

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