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Business Call to Action logo

Prime Minister Gordon Brown and the United Nations Development Programme’s Kemal Dervis welcomed more than 80 CEOs from some of the world’s largest companies to London on Tuesday 6 May to showcase new business initiatives to reduce poverty in the developing world. The event was also attended by President Kagame of Rwanda and President Kufuor of Ghana.

Gordon Brown described the event as: "A landmark opportunity for global business leaders to come together to develop new and innovative ways to spread growth, prosperity and opportunity across the world.”

The Business Call to Action event highlighted initiatives from more than a dozen global companies, including Citi Group, Coca Cola, Diageo, Microsoft, Reuters, Sumitomo, and Vodafone – with a view to inspiring many more to make similar promises.

Watch video messages from the companies about doing business in the developing world.

Over the next five years, the initiatives are expected to save almost half a million lives, create thousands of jobs, and benefit millions of poor people across Africa, Asia and Latin America. They are part of a concerted push to meet the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) that will enable poor people to access up-to-the-minute information, money and business expertise as well as creating new businesses and employment opportunities.

Visit the Business Call to Action website to find out more, including a blog and photos from the event, and details on all those who participated.

The Call to Action on the MDGs and the private sector

The eight MDGs agreed in 2000 set out targets that must be reached by 2015 to meet the needs of the world's poorest people.
The world is facing a development emergency – at the current rate, we will fail to achieve the MDGs.
The Business Call to Action is part of the Call to Action, a major campaign launched by Gordon Brown in July 2007. It aims to accelerate progress on the MDGs during 2008.
The UN has declared 2008 "a critical year of action" for progress on the MDGs.
The private sector is crucial to the Call to Action. To achieve the MDGs a bigger global effort is needed, and business has a vital role to play in this.

Next steps

A building site in Malawi Image courtesy of Giacomo Pirozzi/Panos Pictures

The 6 May event was a key moment on the way to the UN high-level meeting on 25 September which will bring together world leaders, civil society and the private sector. There will also be an opportunity for some companies to showcase core business initiatives at the World Business and Development Awards in New York on 24 September.

CEOs and Chairmen signed up to the Business Call to Action Declaration at the event on 6 May alongside the 21 companies who had already signed up on 31 July 2007. By signing the Declaration, CEOs and Chairmen are committing their company to take action through their core business in a transformative and scalable manner that will enhance growth and help meet the MDGs. An international process will be established to take forward the work of the Business Call to Action and track progress on initiatives.

The Business Call to Action welcomes concrete initiatives that might achieve one or more of the following:

Generate significant new employment opportunities in developing countries;

Improve the quality of supply chains, helping local businesses to diversify, and/or become internationally competitive;

Include innovations and/or technologies which make it easier for individuals and businesses to make a living.

In preparation for the 25 September UN high-level meeting, contact will be made with companies who have signed up to the Declaration. If you have further questions on becoming involved, please contact enquiries@business-call-to-action.com.

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Business is crucial to tackling poverty

Business is an engine of growth and development. It has enormous potential to change lives and livelihoods in developing countries.

Business activity can lead to increased investment, the creation of jobs, and the development of goods, technologies and innovations. These can all have a powerful influence on improving quality of life and driving down poverty.

The Business Call to Action is not about philanthropy

Packing fair trade flowers in Kenya Image courtesy of Steve Forrest/Panos Pictures

The Business Call to Action challenges companies to use their expertise to explore new business opportunities.

Whether through manufacturing, finance, telecommunications or other activities, businesses can improve their commercial success AND contribute to achieving the MDGs.

For businesses, making a profit and ‘doing the right thing’ are not mutually exclusive. Contributing to the MDGs not only helps create a safer and more prosperous world but also helps secure new markets for the future and build a more profitable business environment.

Pushing the boundaries – encouraging businesses to do more on a larger scale

A motorway under construction in India Image courtesy of Qilai Shen/Panos Pictures

Although many companies are already practicing business in a way that creates jobs and boosts prosperity in the developing world, the Business Call to Action aims to encourage companies to take it further – to invest more in more developing countries, and on a larger scale. Only by doing this can they have a greater impact on enhancing economic growth and contributing to the MDGs.

Many companies do not see the developing world as a safe environment in which to do business. The Business Call to Action proves that some of the biggest and most successful companies in the world are finding new opportunities in emerging markets such as Africa and India. The Business Call to Action aims to inspire other business leaders to reflect on their own strategies and operations and consider how they can do the same.

The Business Call to Action is not a one-off event

The Business Call to Action is part of a major campaign to accelerate progress towards meeting the MDGs by 2015. 2008 is a crucial year for businesses, governments, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), faith groups and citizens. The time has come to step up activity to meet the MDGs and ensure a safer, developed and more prosperous world.

Links

Call to Action
Millennium Development Goals
How we fight poverty: Stronger economies
How we fight poverty: Trade

Last updated: 9 May 2008