Business and MDGs

Still, the majority of private sector businesses do not collaborate in partnership with these groups. Why? What are the key issues that need to be discussed so that more businesses emerge to play a more active role in the challenge to reduce poverty across the globe.

The World Bank Institute in partnership with InWEnt- Germany’s Capacity Building International (InWEnt) is launching a learning process on this topic of Business and the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Five years on from the Millennium Declaration, the international community is closely monitoring progress towards the MDGs. This website seeks to capture the current best practices for private sector engagement in development and achieving the MDGs. It looks at the incentives for business to play an active role, and the potential of effective multi-stakeholder partnerships.

Key questions addressed include:

• What competitive advantage does business have in helping meet development goals?
• What are the incentives for businesses to engage in MDG achievement?
• How do we form more effective multi-sectoral partnerships to work toward the MDGs?
• What are the concrete steps at management and shop-floor level?
• What are the benefits in shareholder and stakeholder relations?
• What are the risks?
• In which way can businesses interact with the UN system in MDG achievement?
• What is the role and potentials of SMEs?
• We look forward to contributions from around the world as we compile reports, conference summaries, case studies, and details of initiatives being undertaken that emphasize innovative action by the private sector and fellow stakeholders.