How can we embed the SDGs into business?

challenge description

The challenge

Action to support the SDGs must be in businesses’ best financial interests to succeed at scale. Generically, the business case for the SDGs has been made. Companies acknowledge, that business cannot succeed in societies that fail and managing these issues proactively can help both to protect and to create business value. This Challenge will build on two recent Reports by Business Fights Poverty and the Harvard Kennedy School’s Corporate Responsibility Initiative: “Business and the SDGs – Building Blocks for Success at Scale” and “Business and the UN: Working Together Towards the Sustainable Development Goals.” In partnership with Ashridge Centre for Business and Sustainability at Hult International Business School, the Challenge will provide insights on how to successfully engage the core business and supply chain partners in the delivery of the SDGs.

The output

The Challenge will develop a toolkit to enable business managers to better understand the drivers and barriers for commercial and operational functions to engage with the SDGs, and learn from the experience of participating companies as they look to embed the SDGs more deeply into the core business and supply chain.

Download the toolkit

The timeframe

9 months, ending Q2 2017

event timeline

16 November: How should business approach embedding the SDGs into their core business? Part of the Business and SDGs Challenge - Online Read More

This discussion is part of a Challenge on Youth Employability with the UK’s Department for International Development, Pearson, De Beers and Cemex. This online discussion will inform the development of a guide for business managers. It will also feed into the Fletcher School's Annual Inclusion Forum (Inclusive Inc) happening in Boston later in the day.

JOIN THE DISCUSSION

We are a global community of people and organisations passionate about building an equitable and resilient future. We believe in the power of business to help improve the lives, livelihoods and learning opportunities of the most vulnerable people and communities. By curating purposeful collaboration, we help companies and their partners access the insights and relationships they need to unlock new opportunities for business and social impact. With our world more interconnected than ever, driving system-level change for a better future will require us to unite across traditional divides and come together in fresh and creative ways. Join us. We are Business Fights Poverty.