Pick of the Year: Inclusive Business Resources in 2011

It’s that time of year: best book of 2011? Best movie, best photo, best newcomer of the year…?

What were the highlights on inclusive business?

It’s not such a hard question to answer, because each month we pick out one highlight to be Editor’s Choice on the Practitioner Hub,hosted by the Business Innovation Facility and Innovations Against Poverty. So I already have a short-list of 12 top picks ready to draw on.

All 12 can are listed here – actually it’s 13 as Editor’s Choice started one year ago, in December 2012.

If you only have time to read one, then my recommendation has to be tailored to who you are:

• If you are engaged in agribusiness, sourcing from farmers, supplying to farmers, then pick the Vodafone report on Connected Agriculture. An insight into the vast market-shaping gains from mobile connectivity.
• If you are in any aspect of energy, there is no doubt: Power to the People. A sourcebook written to help guide investment.
• If you want to tap into Impact Investment but really are a bit unsure what it covers, then Impact Investment; An Emerging Asset Class, with data from 1100 investments, will help you work it out.
• Or is it donor programmes that entice but baffle you? Try the DCED Directory of Donor Programmes that work with Business.

And finally, if you want something that looks across the piece but will probably apply to your own inclusive business initiative too, something that avoids blah and focuses on frank challenges and new ways forward, then try either or preferably both of these:

• Is the Base of the Pyramid Really for You? Monitor’s 6 page piece in Harvard Business Review on the key features of an inclusive business approach.
• Accelerating Inclusive Business Models: Business Models that Make a Difference IFC’s categorisation and exploration of business models that underpin success in their inclusive business portfolio.

Our understanding of Inclusive Business is certainly moving on, as reflected in these last two. But the old stuff can still be powerful, and for me some key reports remain well-thumbed and still used. My pick of past reports with lasting value was posted on the Practitioner Hub at the start of 2011, but another year has not tarnished them. See Something Borrowed, Something Blue: Which resources on Inclusive Business just shouldn’t be missed?

In 2012, visit the Practitioner Hub any time to see the monthly Editor’s Choice. Be sure to sign up as a member if you’d like to get the monthly update into your inbox, announcing the latest choice plus project news. And if you have a recommendation – something truly relevant to inclusive business practitioners, business without the blah – be sure to share your views.