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IBLF contributes to raising global awareness of the value of inclusive business models by assisting companies in identifying opportunities and implementing projects that include poverty-stricken people, and also by participating in roundtables and workshops.
Inclusive business models include the poor as clients and customers on the demand side, and as employees, producers and business owners on the supply side, at various points in the value chain. These models build bridges between business and the poor for mutual benefits that go beyond immediate profits and higher incomes. For businesses, the gains include driving innovation, building markets and strengthening supply chains.
Business Innovation to Fight Climate Change and Poverty
Adam Leach, CEO of IBLF, chaired a workshop in December 2009 focusing on business innovations for the global South that help mitigate climate change and its impact on the poor. Participants - from Toyola, Selco, Allianz and Shell Foundation - emphasised that economic growth can and must go hand-in-hand with adaptation to climate change. The event was sponsored by the United Nations Development Programme’s (UNDP) Growing Inclusive Markets Initiative (GIM), with IBLF as one of the four co-hosts.
To watch a video of the workshop, please click here. For more in-depth analysis, you can look here and learn about more case studies addressing poverty and climate change.
Business Call to Action
IBLF is a founding member of Business Call to Action (BCtA), which seeks to accelerate progress towards the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) by encouraging companies operating or trading in emerging markets to adopt more inclusive business models. The following IBLF corporate partners have been pioneering this initiative and are contributing to the MDGs through their core business expertise: Anglo American, Cadbury Schweppes, Citi Group, Coca-Cola, Diageo, Microsoft, SABMiller, and Standard Chartered. For more information on Business Call to Action, read the brochure here.
Would you like to join them? If so, IBLF can offer help in identifying opportunities, implementing programmes and navigating the company initiative approval process. (Contact Benjy Meyer at benjy.meyer@iblf.org)
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.
Business Linkages Series roundtables
Between 2007 and 2009, IBLF worked closely with the International Finance Corporation (IFC) and Harvard Kennedy School on the Business Linkages Series roundtables. These sessions look at the challenges and opportunities for large companies to engage and do business with micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs). At the first event held in Washington in March 2007, a report titled Business Linkages: Lessons, opportunities, and challenges was published which showcased how international businesses can develop stronger relationships with MSMEs. It also included 22 case studies of companies such as Anglo American, Rio Tinto and Nestle.
The second event took place late-2007 in South Africa and focused on the challenges and opportunities for the extractive sector to engage MSMEs in its value chain. Subsequently, the June 2008 event in Rio de Janeiro and March 2009 event in Jaipur focused on engaging small businesses and Base of the Pyramid entrepreneurs into business value chains – whether as suppliers, distributors, retailers, or customers. Two reports summarising the findings from the conferences have been published. They are Supporting Entrepreneurship at the Base of the Pyramid through Business Linkages and Enabling Access to Markets at the Base of the Pyramid.
These roundtables have generated a variety of examples and good practice approaches. They have also seeded fruitful relationships, helping to cultivate what one participant has called a “constellation” of professionals who can offer mutual guidance and support in this space. Follow-up dialogues to the Business Linkages Series will be held next year.
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