WBCSD news
The inclusive business market in the People’s Republic of China
On 13 and 14 December, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the International Poverty Reduction Center in China organized a workshop on “The Inclusive Business Market in the People’s Republic of China” in Shanghai. The workshop addressed the results of a new inclusive business market scoping study, featured inclusive business approaches identified on the ground, discussed the Chinese government’s plans to support inclusive businesses, and facilitated knowledge exchange. WBCSD was represented by Filippo Veglio, Managing Director, Social Capital, who share the Council’s insights from its work in this space in the opening session and in a panel alongside representatives from the ADB, Credit Suisse, and UOB Venture Management.
Now available in Chinese: "Delivering on the Sustainable Development Goals: The inclusive business approach"
An brief published earlier this year by WBCSD highlights how inclusive business solutions can deliver both business and societal value, in full alignment with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The issue brief is now also available in Chinese (pdf, 8 pages). It articulates the business case for targeting the base of the economic pyramid, illustrates how inclusive business solutions link up to each of the 17 SDGs, and presents an overview of common internal and external challenges faced by companies when developing and scaling these solutions.
News from around the world
Fully engaging the private sector in health systems development
Ron Ashkin, team leader on the DFID-funded Private Sector Innovation Programme for Health, argues that “health care businesses which understand that low-income people are actually the mass market — that they have been looking at things in reverse, and that the top end of the market is actually the marginal market — and develop products and services that deliver value for money to this huge segment, will thrive.”
What role for fintech in the future of microfinance?
Will digital tools make the benefits of financial access universal? Or will they simply turbocharge the industry’s worst tendencies?
Workshops & training programs
Scaling inclusive business: Webinar recording
Can inclusive businesses scale without the help of corporates? What are the challenges to working with corporates, public bodies and NGOs? Should we even be running pilots if they don't have the potential to scale from the start? On November 28, the Practitioner Hub for Inclusive Business brought together the two expert speakers Ted London and Olivier Kayser to address the scaling up challenges for inclusive business. This article also summarizes the key takeaways.
Tools & studies
A guide to inclusive business in the Fast-Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) sector
A new guide produced by the Inclusive Business Action Network (IBAN) makes the case for the FMCG Industry at the BoP and dives into the most relevant parts of the FMCG value chain as well as the organization itself and the surrounding ecosystem. Presenting lessons learned and proposing innovative approaches, the guide provides practical advice for organizations on how to develop and strengthen their inclusive business model. The guide is based on desk research, more than thirty interviews, and the analysis of over eighty case studies.
How can we scale distribution and sales networks that create opportunities in low-income markets?
A new discussion paper explores models of distribution and sales networks that strengthen micro-enterprises and expand economic opportunities for low-income people in developing countries. It highlights the key challenges in scaling these models as well as the emerging lessons from companies and partnerships that are experimenting with new solutions and/or succeeding in reaching scale.
Four ways inclusive businesses can benefit from social impact data
The Business Call to Action has documented four case studies documenting its customized approach to assisting companies in measuring the social impact and operational performance of their inclusive business ventures.
Unchartered waters: Blending value and values for social impact through the SDGs
This paper and accompanying toolkit by the Business Call to Action were designed as a practical reference for businesses to understand why and how they can embrace the journey of sustainability in the context of the SDGs, and why inclusive businesses – core business models that integrate underserved markets into companies’ value chains – can accelerate both business growth and social impact.