+++++++++++++++++++++++++ Leaders speak out on business role in reducing poverty at WBCSD event ++++++++++++++++++++++++
Can business do business in ways that reduce poverty and save the environment? -------------------------------------------------- Can sustainable business models be made to work for nature? Can they be made to reduce poverty? Do companies have a role in addressing the global challenges such as poverty and climate change? And does society trust them to take such a role? These questions were debated on Monday 20 February 2006 at an event hosted by the WBCSD in Geneva. 250 people gathered to discuss "The Role of Business in Tomorrow's Society." -------------------------------------------------- http://www.wbcsd.org/includes/getTarget.asp?type=DocDet&id=MTgyMjM Watch this space in next month's newsletter for video interviews of participants at the debate!
+++++++++++++++++++++++++ Case in Point: Holcim +++++++++++++++++++++++++
From tension to cooperative dialogue: Holcim -------------------------------------------------- Holcim uses community advisory panels (CAPs) as a productive way to address specific issues that emerge from stakeholders in areas close to its operations. This stakeholder engagement process helps the company define suitable business opportunities for local communities. -------------------------------------------------- http://www.wbcsd.org/includes/getTarget.asp?type=DocDet&id=MTgxMTI
+++++++++++++++++++++++++ What Are We Up To? Working Group News +++++++++++++++++++++++++
From awareness-raising to advocacy and action -------------------------------------------------- Interested in Business and Development? Find out what the WBCSD and its members will focus on in 2006 and beyond. --------------------------------------------------- View our 2006 Development Action Plan at http://www.wbcsd.org/DocRoot/OfspIu5nfAQHfLB2Q4pP/development_action_plan.pdf
Launch of new WBCSD Development website --------------------------------------------------- To coincide with the launch of the WBCSD's new Development Focus Area, the Development section of the website has been completely revamped. Through daily updates, we will strive to make this platform interactive and useful for our member companies and stakeholders. --------------------------------------------------- Visit this new website section at http://www.wbcsd.org/web/development.htm
International Development Conference hosted by PricewaterhouseCoopers in London -------------------------------------------------- At the conference, held in late 2005, the WBCSD's Cécile Churet shared a panel with Kurt Hoffman (Shell Foundation), Peter White (Procter & Gamble), Will Day (UNDP) and Robert Armitage from Merck on how to scale up the private sector's contribution to public service delivery and the Millennium Development Goals. -------------------------------------------------- See the summary of the session at http://www.wbcsd.org/web/events/extract_pwc_idc_summary_24Jan06.pdf
+++++++++++++++++++++++++ Companies in the news +++++++++++++++++++++++++
Doing good and making a profit -------------------------------------------------- Financial Times, 13 February 2006 - Those opting for microfinance investments are finding that rates of return on offer rival the warm feelings generated, says Deborah Brewster. -------------------------------------------------- http://www.wbcsd.org/includes/getTarget.asp?type=DocDet&id=MTgxODk
Big business sets its sights on the poor: Observations on poverty -------------------------------------------------- By Sue Brandford, The New Statesman, 6 February 2006 - For many years the multinationals ignored the very poor, considering their incomes too small to bother about, but in recent years, with sales stagnant in other market segments, this has changed. Nestle is not the only big corporation to have realized that you can make a handy profit by selling large quantities of cheap goods to the poorest of the poor. -------------------------------------------------- http://www.newstatesman.com/Economy/200602060010
Models needed to build a future -------------------------------------------------- Financial Times, 26 January 2006 - o help harness the power of markets to give youth needed goods and services and livelihood opportunities, the United Nations Development Programme's Growing Sustainable Business initiative works with the private sector to develop business models that can stimulate local development and entrepreneurship. It is vital that these solutions are profit-seeking, with incentives that justify real private investment and where financial sustainability is embedded in the design. -------------------------------------------------- http://www.wbcsd.org/includes/getTarget.asp?type=DocDet&id=MTgyMDc
The Financial Times of 26 January 2006 also featured an article by Sarah Murray ("Hygiene factors create opportunities for private sector") on how companies such as Unilever and Tetra Pak are using innovative products and education to address health and nutrition needs of young people worldwide while also generating profits for suppliers. Gavin Neath, chairman of Unilever UK with group responsibility for corporate responsibility, stresses the importance of achieving commercial viability. "Whether it's iodised salt in Ghana or hand washing in India, these programmes are linked to brands that have a business agenda as their central proposition," he says. "We expect to get not just growth but a good return on those products - otherwise these things are simply not sustainable."
+++++++++++++++++++++++++ Special Focus: Trade & Aid +++++++++++++++++++++++++
WTO Director-General Pascal Lamy: live online chat on trade issues -------------------------------------------------- The e-discussion touched on many trade issues, such as progress in the Doha Round, the development aspect of the trade talks, farm subsidies, China's role in international trade, medicine and public health, and settlement of trade disputes. -------------------------------------------------- The full transcript of Mr. Lamy's chat is available at http://www.wto.org/english/forums_e/chat_e/chat_transcript_e.doc
'Trade Has Greater Potential Than Aid to Reduce Poverty' -------------------------------------------------- Africa News, 14 February 2006 - Nigeria has been derided as a trading economy. Experts also believe that the country's adoption of a recent regional policy on Common External Tariff (CET), a subset of the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) between ECOWAS and Europe can open floodgates for a deluge of goods into Nigeria, which may swamp local substitutes. Abimbola Akosile, in an interview with Mr. Cecil Nartey, Nigeria Country Manager, Oxfam GB, examined this and other concerned issues. -------------------------------------------------- http://www.wbcsd.org/includes/getTarget.asp?type=DocDet&id=MTgxOTE
Political Governance, Corruption and the Role of Aid -------------------------------------------------- According to Hilary Benn MP, UK Secretary of State for International Development, the goal of making poverty history will not be achieved without good political governance. "Only developing countries - led by their own people and their own governments - can ultimately make the decisive changes that are needed to fight poverty." -------------------------------------------------- http://www.wbcsd.org/includes/getTarget.asp?type=DocDet&id=MTgyMDI
+++++++++++++++++++++++++ Snippets of Interest +++++++++++++++++++++++++
"A billion to gain?" - ING sponsors study on microfinance -------------------------------------------------- An increasing number of international financial institutions see microfinance both as a form of corporate social responsibility and as a new market. It is expected that in the long term, microfinance can grow into a 'mature' commercial activity. This is one of the most important conclusions of the study called 'A billion to gain?'. This study is the first to systematically map out the current activities and future plans of international financial institutions in the area of microfinance. -------------------------------------------------- Download the report at http://www.wbcsd.org/web/projects/sl/ing_a_billion_to_gain.pdf
Report by the World Economic Forum on "Building on the Monterrey Consensus: The Untapped Potential of Development Finance Institutions to Catalyze Private Investment" -------------------------------------------------- Further to the Monterrey Consensus, the World Economic Forum in partnership with the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA) and the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), organized a series of multistakeholder expert consultations during 2004-05. The focus was to take a closer look at two dimensions: (1) Harnessing public private partnerships as vehicles to extend the reach and effectiveness of development assistance and (2) Adapting multilateral development banks (MDBs) and bilateral aid agencies to the challenge of catalyzing greater domestic and foreign private investment in developing countries. -------------------------------------------------- The executive summary of the report for the MDBs segment was released last month. Access the report at http://www.weforum.org/pdf/Initiatives/Catalysing.pdf
IFC-Financial Times essay competition on 'Business and Development: The Private Path to Prosperity' -------------------------------------------------- The International Finance Corporation (IFC), in collaboration with the Financial Times, has launched the first private-sector development research paper competition for 2005-06. Papers should add to the global discussion on private sector development and economic growth by providing new and innovative analyses, perspectives, or ideas. The target audience can be economic and financial policymakers, the international financial community, or international/domestic investors. -------------------------------------------------- The submission deadline is 30 June 2006. More information: http://www.ifc.org/competition
Business in Development Challenge: Make poverty reduction your business! -------------------------------------------------- The Business in Development (BiD) Challenge is an international business plan competition for poverty reduction and profit. The BiD Challenge 2006 is offering EUR 150.000 in start-up finance for plans that combine income generating business with poverty reduction in a feasible way. -------------------------------------------------- The deadline for submissions is 20 March 2006. Find out more about the BiD Challenge at http://www.bidnetwork.org/set-26-en.html
Ethical Corporation conferences and report on "Business-NGO partnerships: How to make a partnership work...so that everyone gets what they wants" -------------------------------------------------- Ethical Corporation is organizing two conferences on the challenges and opportunities of setting up successful partnerships between business and non-governmental organizations. The first will be held on 28-29 March 2006 in London, the second in New York City on 9-10 May 2006. -------------------------------------------------- More information about these events at http://www.wbcsd.org/web/events.htm Download the report at http://www.ethicalcorp.com/nycpartnership/report.shtml
+++++++++++++++++++++++++ DISCLAIMER: The information contained in this newsletter is for information purposes only. The WBCSD does not represent or endorse the accuracy or reliability of any advice, opinion, statement or other information. NOTE: If the URLs in this email are not active hyperlinks, copy and paste the URL into the address/location box in your browser. The articles are available on the WBCSD website for 90 days only. +++++++++++++++++++++++++
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Filippo Veglio Communications Officer World Business Council for Sustainable Development 4, chemin de Conches 1231 Conches, Geneva Switzerland Phone: +41 (22) 839 31 08 E-mail: veglio@wbcsd.org Web: http://www.wbcsd.org
