We have  been active in India since 1991, with a focus on business and NGO partnerships, youth business development and business community engagement strategies.

We have worked with the Confederation of Indian Industry and the Business & Community Foundation – an organisation which IBLF set up to promote partnerships – and have assisted the formation and growth of Bharatiya Yuva Shankti Trust, part of our Youth Business International network of youth entrepreneurship programmes.

We also have a strong relationship with the Barefoot College in Rajasthan - an organisation which believes that solutions to rural problems begin with the community.

IBLF has identified four key national development priorities where it believes that business can partner with local organisations to make an impact, aligned with core business competencies:

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• Education: focussing on action to reduce the school drop out rate, increase teacher support and effectiveness and improve ICT access in education, complementing recent improvements in school enrolment across India.
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• Health: focussing on action to improve sanitation and reduce the spread of communicable diseases of all forms.
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• Water access: focussing on methods for scaling rainwater harvesting and water management.
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• Finance for development: focussing on increasing access to micro-finance, credit and business infrastructure opportunities for local business development and essential community infrastructure and to support sustainable livelihoods in rural areas.

IBLF India Business Task Force

In March 2006 IBLF organised a short and intensive programme for business to review and learn how business can contribute to development in India.

The programme offered unique insights for a group of senior company executives from India and the region to learn, share and influence business thinking and strategies.

The Task Force explored the following issues:

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2. How are businesses adapting to the challenges and opportunities of growth through supply and distribution chains and local partnerships in poor rural markets?
   
   
3. How can corporate strategies move from philanthropy to sustainable finance for economic and social development?
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5. What are the business infrastructure needs of local development; and how can businesses support the IT and communications needs of rural communities?
   
   
6. What can companies do to increase attendance, reduce school drop-out rates and improve teacher effectiveness?
   
   
7. Why is water access an increasing political issue; and what can businesses do to support solutions to water scarcity such as rooftop rainwater harvesting?

The Task Force visited Mumbai, Bangalore and Jaipur and built on the success of IBLF's Tsunami Recovery Business Task Force review organised in mid 2005. It was led by Robert Davies, chief executive of IBLF, with Indian development advisers and experts.

The Task Force visit concluded with a meeting with HRH The Prince of Wales, where His Royal Highness outlined how he believed business could help tackle poverty in rural India. Read more

The Task Force was organised in association with MYRADA, Barefoot College and the Business & Community Foundation, Perot Systems and Taj Hotels Group.