IBLF has long made the case that poverty will only be tackled with the full participation of the private sector.

That’s why we were delighted this week when the UK Prime Minister and the Presidents of Rwanda and Ghana called on business to do more to reduce poverty in the developing world.

IBLF has been working for nearly 20 years with global companies around the world to address poverty and help disadvantaged communities through projects. In 2003 IBLF published the Business and MDGs framework for action – the defining publication on how companies can and do contribute to development goals. Later this year we will be updating and relaunching this important guide.

Commenting on the May 6 Call to Action on the Millennium Development Goals, Adrian Hodges, managing director at IBLF said:

“Mr Brown, Mr Kufuor and Mr Kagame are right to call on business to act now. We stand little chance of achieving the Millennium Development Goals unless more companies go beyond simply philanthropic gestures, using their core business in two ways:

1. Providing access to affordable products and services – especially those that meet basic needs such as water, energy, nutrition, healthcare, housing and education; and
2. Providing access to economic opportunity – through jobs, property ownership, and access to credit, new technologies and training.”

Our President, The Prince of Wales, has played a leading role in helping companies to address poverty and improve social development. He is, for example:

1. Vocally supporting our efforts to raise the profile of cross-sector partnership (Goal 8: develop a global partnership for development)
2. Calling for a global partnership to tackle climate change, and engaging companies to support his Rainforests Project (Goal 7: ensure environmental sustainability)

At the Business Call to Action, a number of international business leaders gave examples of how their companies could help development through their core businesses:

"The remarkable growth of mobile technology has not only provided access to communications for millions but also has helped stimulate economic development in emerging markets through increasing access to basic financial services."
Arun Sarin, CEO of Vodafone, speaking at the event

An important challenge now is raising the profile of what businesses can do to alleviate poverty – to encourage other organisations to form partnerships with companies.

For this reason, IBLF, the International Chamber of Commerce and the United Nations Development Programme have launched the 2008 World Business and Development Awards.

The aim of the awards is to acknowledge the contribution that companies are making – through their core business – to help achieve the MDGs: eight goals that promote poverty reduction, education, maternal health, gender equality, and aim at combating child mortality, HIV/AIDS and other diseases.

The United Nations has devoted the year 2008 to build a renewed momentum around the MDGs, including special attention for the role of business in development through an initiative known as the Business Call to Action. The World Business and Development Awards is one of the central events of the year.

Award recipients receive worldwide recognition as leading examples of how business can contribute to the MDGs. They will be profiled in the publications and on the official websites of ICC, UNDP and IBLF. Other award partners are the Financial Times, Harvard Kennedy School Corporate Responsibility Initiative and the UK Department for International Development.

The deadline for nominations is 30 May 2008 and IBLF is encouraging as many entries as possible.

For information on the awards and how to enter, please visit www.iccwbo.org/awards