Insights

Registration Open: Business Fights Poverty NYC 2019, 23 September

Timed to coincide with the UN General Assembly Week, our annual event has become a popular, high-energy gathering that brings together a select group of around 100 senior professionals from business and the international development community. Join Credit Suisse, CDC Group and Visa to explore the theme of rethinking collaboration for the SDGs.
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The Power of Purpose

Over 300 people converged on Saïd Business School last week for Business Fights Poverty Oxford 2019 to explore how to embed purpose authentically into business. Business Fights Poverty’s Zahid Torres-Rahman reflects on the power of purpose – to help us become the brightest version of ourselves, and also to get us through the darkest times.
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Why the Truth of a Brand’s Story is in the Doing

Zoë Arden has specialised in communications for her entire career. And she believes the key to developing authentic narratives is ensuring they empower people to act and drive real change.
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Can Profit and Purpose Really Go Hand in Hand?

It’s fair to say I believe that, despite all its considerable limitations, capitalism is the least bad economic system around. But I also agree strongly with Martin Wolf, who wrote a piece[1] in the Financial Times on 11th December 2018 with the view that businesses, which only pursue profits lead to dire outcomes.
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Joyeux Noel: In The Midst of War

In 1914, German soldiers faced Allied troops in the early stages of brutal trench warfare. Yet on Christmas Eve, they emerge from their trenches. They sing, trade liquor and cigarettes, play soccer and celebrate a Christmas Eve Mass. They bury their dead. They then find that they can no longer fight. Joyeux Noel attempts to capture this event.
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How Can Business Advance Gender Equality Across the Value Chain by Engaging Men as Allies?

Men have a critical role to play in achieving gender equality. What is less clear is what this might mean in practice for organisations in their approach to advance gender equality. A new Business Fights Poverty Challenge will explore how businesses and organisations are advancing gender equality within their organizations and across the value chain (spanning agriculture, supply, operations, distribution, retail and marketing), by effectively engaging men as allies for gender equality. 
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Not Just a Women’s Issue

What are some of the causes and consequences of violence against women? What role do men play? How can men unite to ensure the world is safer for everyone: women and girls, men and boys? Dr. Jackson Katz emphasizes how violent behaviour is tied to prevailing definitions of manhood and how movements to end gender inequality and violence against women benefit everyone, men and women alike.
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Managing Human Rights Risks: Embracing a More Robust Approach to Human Rights Risks in Supply Chains

Oxfam will lead a panel at Business Fights Poverty Oxford 2019 on its supermarket campaign, Behind the Barcodes, giving a platform to two influential supermarkets as well as perspectives from consumers, investors and a multi-stakeholder initiative on ethical trade. The top six UK supermarkets have already responded to the campaign. As more consumers and investors show their concern about these issues, more rapid progress will be made. ​
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Five Pillars for Embedding Purpose Authentically into Business

There is much talk about purpose, sustainability and business as “a force for good”, but is it for real or just rhetoric? ​In the build up towards BFPOx2019, Business Fights Poverty Founder, Zahid Torres-Rahman and Challenge Director Vittorio Cerulli reflect on the where the conversation around business purpose has got to, and where it needs to go next.
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PREVIEW #BFPOXFORD: Capitalism Needs You – As a Smart Influencer

I am sceptical of capitalism as it stands; anyone who had to blow the whistle on a boss for fraud will be, but I still believe that it’s the best system available to make the world work. Why? Because I believe it’s an effective system that’s being hijacked by a few really badly chosen incentives that are treated like first order principles – and that have diminished much needed governance.​
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The Improv Intrapreneur: How Learning to Let Go Could Offer Important Lessons for the Intrapreneurship Movement

“So, what do you do for a living?” For close to 15 years, I thought I had the best job in the world. “I lead Accenture Development Partnerships, the company’s ‘not-for-loss’ business”—to be empowered as an intrapreneur working within a large corporate, surrounded by a fabulous team, was a great privilege. Corporate Purpose, when genuine, can act as a lightning rod for talent.
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Purpose Goes Hungry Without Culture

Business Fights Poverty is currently asking: “How can we embed Purpose authentically into business.” But what can this look like in practice, and where do we go from here?
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Business Fights Poverty Oxford 2019 Purpose Zone: Why Should We Decide 31 Years Ahead of Time What Will Happen in 2050?

Ahead of #BFPOxford, Purpose Zone speaker Neil Gaught shares his opinion on how leaders can realign and prioritise sustainability and wellbeing to be at the core of their businesses.
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Business Fights Poverty Oxford 2019 Women’s Equality Zone Workshop: Preparing for possible new ILO regulation

CARE International UK are delighted to support the Business Fights Poverty Challenge on business and GBV and to host the Women’s Equality Zone at the Business Fights Poverty Oxford conference on 11 July 2019. ​
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Time For A Fresh Look At Inclusive Business

Tom Harrison, Technical Director, Business Innovation Facility reflects on his experiences of inclusive business and where the conversation around inclusive business is today.
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Supporting Business Solutions To Poverty

Over the past few decades, much progress has been made on a range of development challenges – including poverty reduction, preventable disease and access to education. Yet much remains to be done and the urgency of dealing with intractable, global problems that put these gains at risk has increased.
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How Can Businesses Foster an Enabling Environment that Unlocks the Potential of Social Intrapreneurs to Drive Commercial and Social Innovation?

Join us for a a live written discussion with a panel of experts to explore how businesses can foster an enabling environment that unlocks the potential of social intrapreneurs to drive commercial and social innovation.
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Ivanka Trump Could Shape African Women’s Entrepreneurship

There were mixed views in February when U.S. “First Daughter” Ivanka Trump announced her Women’s Global Development and Prosperity Initiative with US$50 million in start-up funds. Many were left to wonder: Is this a publicity stunt by the Trump administration, more of the usual one-size-fits-all U.S. foreign aid programs, or a real commitment to drive change?  
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Business Urge for a Robust New Global Law to End Violence and Harassment at Work

30 leading business networks and individual brands are calling for negotiators to deliver a new international law to end violence and harassment in the workplace that genuinely benefits business and employees world-wide.
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​Plan for the Future

In our book “All In: The Future of Business Leadership”, we argue that business can no longer be hesitant or half-hearted about embedding sustainability.  They have to go “All In!”
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