- Prince to meet business proteges
- The Prince of Wales announces Pakistan youth entrepreneurship programme
- more IBLF news
- The Business of Enterprise - Meeting the Challenge of Economic Development Through Business and Community Partnerships
- Business and Youth in the Arab World
- more IBLF publications
- Canadian Youth Business Foundation enables entrepreneurs to establish software vendor
- Thabo Mathibedi raises funds to open a hairdressers in South Africa
- more IBLF case studies
Some 90% of businesses worldwide are small, medium and micro enterprises.
Although employment in large national and international companies remains an important ingredient in the world’s economic life, advances in technology, subcontracting and outsourcing are combining to limit its growth and at the same time highlighting the importance of the SME sectors.
At the same time, large companies clearly have a business interest in participating in, supporting and encouraging vibrant local, national and international economic activity where enterprises of all shapes and sizes play complementary roles.
IBLF started its enterprise development work in 2000, following an 18 month funding commitment from the Ford Foundation. Our work focuses on encouraging and assisting large companies to establish links with small enterprises.
Social Entrepreneurs
IBLF believes that there is great potential for multinational businesses to work with social entrepreneurs - in order to help develop new products, or services and tackle development challenges.
Join our online discussion
From 26th February until the end of March IBLF, in collaboration with Socialedge (sponsored by the Skoll Foundation) is hosting an online event: Partnerships between large businesses and Social Entrepreneurs.
Recognizing that in order for Social Entrepreneurship to prosper a better understanding is needed on how to make it sustainable in the long run, the discussion is geared towards discovering what is required by Social Entrepreneurs from big businesses to be able to grow swiftly and sustainably.
Join the discussion online at:
http://www.socialedge.org/discussions/social-entrepreneurship/social-entrepreneurship-and-the-corporate-world
In July 2007, as part of its annual summer meeting in London, IBLF brought together a group of social entrepreneurs and business leaders to discuss the opportunities.
Harnessing potential - why it makes sense for your business to work with social entrepreneurs
Social entrepreneurs - vital partners for business
July 2007 eBulletin: Social entrepreneurs: how business can harness the potential
International advocacy
IBLF helps to raise international awareness of the value of business linkages, through international and local workshops.
In 2000, IBLF published a sourcebook entitled The Business of Enterprise: Meeting the challenge of economic development through business and community partnerships, and since then IBLF has taken an active role in developing the concept of enterprise development.
In 2007, IBLF worked with Harvard University and the International Finance Corporation to produce Business Linkages: Lessons, opportunities, and challenges. This report shows how international businesses can develop stronger relationships with small and medium enterprises and includes 22 case studies of companies such as Anglo American, Rio Tinto and Nestle.
In-country initiatives
IBLF has set up local initiatives in countries such as Indonesia, Vietnam and the Philippines, working with national business associations and other partners to mobilize the business community to act collectively in the support of local enterprise development. Central to this is the transfer of knowledge, skills and technology to small, medium and micro enterprises and the identification of opportunities for them to participate effectively in supply and value chains.