A3: NextBillion gets a lot of guest articles exploring ways for business to scale and deepen impact through partnership. Some of the more intriguing approaches I’ve seen in these articles include:
A3. Ways businesses can scale impact through partnership - there are two from my perspective -
Investing in innovation - we need breakthrough solutions, but we can’t get there without experimentation and measured risk. The private sector consistently invests in developing those big risky bets that are determined to disrupt the field. We need the same in the non-profit sector - so we can design, test, and scale life changing solutions for people affected by disaster and conflict.
Dialogue - the more we get together and discuss these issues, the more we are able to identify points of collaboration and mutual interest.
HI Tiara, please email me at rudo.makoni@ambrose.edu as we want you to join our roundtable discussions on Inclusive business activities and the New Economy.
A3. At Poverty Stoplight, we’re collaborating with academia to develop products that combine their expertise in specific topics and solid evidence, with our practical experience and technological platform. For example, together with the University of California, Irvine and Everfree, we’ve created the Freedom Greenlight, a needs assessment tool that supports victims of human trafficking in defining what lasting freedom and aftercare look for them.
Localization is a big part of what the world is prioritizing, working with local government, and local technical insititutions and local implementing partners, developing solutions based on the local needs and designing along with local stakeholders. We find this sort of collaborative approach is helping engage more stakeholders to collectively find solutions.
We are excited to extend an invitation to your esteemed organization to participate in a groundbreaking research study titled “Inclusive Business Practices for Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs): Addressing Barriers and Building Capacity.” This study aims to uncover challenges faced by SMEs and explore strategies for fostering inclusivity and sustainable growth within the business landscape.
About the Study: The Inclusive Business Practices research study is an initiative to understand the unique constraints that SMEs encounter and to develop actionable insights that promote inclusive business practices. By participating, you contribute to a comprehensive understanding of the barriers preventing SMEs from reaching their full potential and the strategies that can empower them to succeed.
This research is being conducted by the Canadian Poverty Institute, a non-partisan institute based at Ambrose University in Calgary. The project is part of our ongoing work with the New Economy Roundtable, a network of private, public, and non-profit stakeholders with a shared goal of business inclusivity. This research has been approved by the Ambrose University Research Ethics Board.
Why Participate?
Influence Positive Change: Your participation will directly impact the development of strategies and recommendations that foster inclusive practices and sustainable growth for SMEs.
Share Your Expertise: Your insights as an SME owner or leader are invaluable in shaping our understanding of the challenges you face and the solutions you seek.
Networking Opportunities: Connect with other forward-thinking SMEs and experts in the field, expanding your network and potential collaborations.
Early Access to Insights: Gain exclusive access to the study’s findings and recommendations, empowering you with actionable insights for your business.
How to Participate: Participating in the study is straightforward:
Complete a Brief Survey: Share your perspectives and experiences by completing a brief online survey. This will help us tailor our research focus to your needs.
Optional Interviews: Some participants may be invited to participate in in-depth interviews to further explore specific challenges and strategies.
Access the Survey through the link and QR code below:
Confidentiality: Your privacy is of utmost importance to us. All responses will be treated with the strictest confidentiality. Your organization’s name and any identifying information will be anonymized in the study’s findings.
Get Involved: To express your interest in participating or to receive more information, please reply to this email or contact our research team at rudo.makoni@ambrose.edu, derek.cook@ambrose.edu or 780-710-8135. We will be delighted to provide you with additional details and answer any questions you may have.
Your participation in this research study contributes to the advancement of inclusive business practices, benefiting not only your organization but also the SME community at large. Thank you for your time and consideration. We look forward to your participation and collaboration in this important endeavor.
Agree on the multi-stakeholder approach, @kduffey - in emergencies but also the long-term systemic change we need to see. We’ve worked for over ten years now across ten countries in West and Central Africa - a lot of learnings from that process!
The Africa Sustainable Commodities Initiative (ASCI) is a multi-stakeholder initiative, inclusive of government, civil society, NGOs and private sector. Ten countries in West and Central Africa, accounting for 75% of Africa’s tropical forests, including the Congo Basin, have defined and committed to principles of responsible production. Initially the Africa Palm Oil Initiative, ASCI countries have developed supporting policy, built capacity among key stakeholders, implemented processes for smallholder inclusion, engaged private sector investment and more. Through national, regional and international engagement, it is an African-owned and led example of what the multi-stakeholder process can achieve.
Really appreciate your calling out of the importance of partnering with food companies to improve local supply chains. Non-export value chains remain difficult to invest in and build resilience (but contain so many of the businesses and communities that need that support), and this is one great way to improve that.
Hi Patricia - I work with the Canadian Poverty Institute at Ambrose University and would love to learn more. If you would like to connect, my email is Derek.Cook@ambrose.edu.
A3: One other promising way to leverage partnerships is by expanding/adapting private or development sector products, services or initiatives to be applied to larger, public settings, like this article explores, in the context of adapting a program to a public school setting: https://nextbillion.net/scale-government-girls-empowerment-program-public-school/. This can be a valuable way to scale impactful programs or products.
I think for business to truly scale and deepen impact, they need to recognise the different systems in which they operate and identify (in the words of Gail Bradbrook) what is theirs to fix – not only for their own operations, but for everything around it, whether that is the environment, their supply chains, communities they impact, etc.
Some examples I can offer from our own podcast series:
Thinking about food systems from a more holistic perspective.
Thinking about entrepreneurship and access also in a more wholistic way, especially for Black, People of Colour, and Indigenous entrepreneurs.
From the above examples, I can highlight the importance of
Recognising components beyond operations, but at the HUMAN and cultural level,
The importance of collaboration at different levels: from policy-makers, private sector, and even at the grassroot/hyper local level
The importance of centering the issues, not the companies themselves.
Even though this isn’t the specific constituency I connect or work with, I am struck by how central a role small holder farmers might play as they connect directly to so many of the challenges and opportunities touched on here.