WBCSD news
WBCSD to participate in G20 policy dialogue in Berlin, 5 May 2017
Under the German G20 Presidency, a one-day conference on 5 May 2017 in Berlin will continue the ongoing work around the role of governments in proactively promoting inclusive business policies by engaging the private sector to accelerate the pace of addressing poverty, while creating opportunities to address social and environmental challenges and in the process aligning with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
In Berlin, Filippo Veglio, Managing Director, Social Capital at WBCSD will participate in a panel discussion focused on how inclusive business solutions can deliver both business and societal value, in full alignment with the SDGs, and share WBCSD’s perspectives in line with a recent issue brief published on this topic.
The conference is organized by the Inclusive Business Action Network (IBAN) alongside the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and International Finance Corporation (IFC).
Coca-Cola’s 5by20 initiative expands by 41% to reach 1.7 million women
The Coca-Cola Company’s 5by20 initiative continues to make strong progress toward its goal of enabling the economic empowerment of five million women entrepreneurs across its value chain by the year 2020. In March 2017, the Coca-Cola Company, announced that 5by20 expanded by 41% in 2016, reaching a cumulative total of more than 1.7 million women across 64 countries since the initiative launched in 2010.
News from around the world
ASEAN Inclusive Business Awards 2017
The 2017 edition of the ASEAN Business Awards features a special award for inclusive businesses. Outstanding business models with proven financial viability, positive impact, innovation, as well as scale and replicability can be nominated and submitted until 31 May. The winners will be announced in August, and be presented on 6 September in Manila, Philippines.
Call for proposals for the Innovations Against Poverty Fund
Innovations Against Poverty (IAP) challenges the companies to develop products, services and business models that can contribute to the fight against poverty and climate change in Cambodia, Ethiopia, Uganda and Zambia. Apply until 24 July 2017 for an advisory and non-reimbursable funding, to support innovative Inclusive Business models.
How inclusive businesses can tackle poverty in China
China has seen rapid economic development in the last decades, but much of the Base of the Pyramid population has been left behind. This article explores the examples of MinfPotato and the Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba as two solutions providing income generating opportunities to China’s vast impoverished population.
Workshops & training programs
Sustainable and Inclusive Business Conference, 26 April 2017, Nairobi, Kenya
The conference revolves around the question of responsible growth. What is needed for companies to grow in a sustainable and responsible way? Get inspiration, meet pioneers and learn about tools to speed up your journey towards inclusive growth.
Executive education program on inclusive business
Ashoka, HEC Paris and Hystra offer training on inclusive business and value to prepare corporate executives in charge of designing, launching or scaling inclusive business projects. Its format is based on experiential learning and immersion, cutting-edge academic content, insights from pioneers in the field and peer-to-peer learning, condensed into an intensive 4-6 day session. In 2017, they sessions will take place in Johannesburg, South Africa on 22-27 May, and in Calais, France on 3-6 October.
Tools & studies
Assess the maturity of your inclusive business
Building on a report they jointly released in 2016, Business Call to Action, UNDP and Deloitte developed the Inclusive Business Maturity Toolkit. This online diagnostic tool helps companies quickly place the state of their inclusive business effort in one of six categories ranging from “bystanders” to “champions”. In a second step, companies can download recommended next steps or request consultation towards creating or improving a sustainable inclusive business model.
Trends in inclusive agribusiness
While a lot is happening in inclusive agribusiness, information is scattered and specialists know little about each other’s work. Don’t miss the Practitioner Hub for Inclusive Business’s latest work on the topic, starting with a two-part news series.
The first part reviews a range of initiatives from diverse players, getting into the detail of how to make inclusive agribusiness work, from the adoption of technology, to tools for assessing impact. The second part shares how perspectives on corporate strategies, value chain partnerships, market system change, rural development support, financing, and innovation are beginning to blend. And why.
The growth of digital payment ecosystems in China
A recently released report by the Better than Cash Alliance examines two of China’s most far reaching applications. In 2016 WeChat and Alipay enabled nearly US$3 trillion in social network payments - a 20-fold increase in the past four years - unlocking economic opportunities and opening up new markets for small enterprises and connecting hundreds of millions of users with inclusive financial services.