1. Delivering on the
Sustainable Development
Goals: The inclusive
business approach WBCSD issue brief – March 2016

2. The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
Opportunity for businesses to engage more deeply as a strong and positive influence on society As an engine of economic growth and employment and a source of technology and innovation, business has a critical role to play and a self-interest in contributing to delivering the SDGs 2

3. WBCSD and the SDGs agenda
WBCSD: strongly engaged in translating the SDGs’ ambitions and words into business action underpinned by business solutions
Tangible example: inclusive business – ventures that go beyond philanthropy by integrating low-income communities into companies’ value chains as customers, suppliers, retailers, and distributors
WBCSD & the SDGs 3

4. Business case – 1
Base of the economic pyramid (BoP) 3 billion people living on <US$3/day and 1.5 billion people on up to US$ 9/day
BoP accounts for more than 50% of all consumer spending in emerging markets and developing economies
US$2.3 trillion spent on food and beverages alone
44% are under age 20 61% are under age 30
4.5 billion people at the BOP spend US$5 trillion in aggregate
1.7 billion people live in congested urban environments 2.8 billion people live in vast rural areas

5. Business case – 2 It encourages innovation It’s a competitive
From marketing to transportation to
product design, inclusive businesses find innovative approaches to serve BoP customers.
It’s a
competitive
advantage
Inclusive
businesses are early-movers into untapped BoP markets. They enhance their brand value and license to operate by building their reputation as a business partner of choice.
It’s a supply chain strategy
Sourcing materials locally from small-scale producers, inclusive businesses build stronger and more productive suppliers and secure access to local resources.
It expands the labor pool
Inclusive businesses have higher access to appropriately skilled and more cost-effective employees. Better wages and more secure livelihoods contribute to local economies.

6. Inclusive business linkages to SDGs – 1

7. Inclusive business linkages to SDGs – 2

8. Inclusive business linkages to SDGs – 3

9. Solutions, but also barriers...
Internal
Opportunity costs of investment for venturing into new market segments
Strategic and operational misalignment, risk-aversion and lack of leadership support
Capabilities or implementation capacities
External
Inappropriate policy and regulatory frameworks
Scarce availability of BoP market information
Lack of knowledge and information of BoP consumers
Mismatch in skills of BoP labor force
Low access to financial services and resources for investments and consumers

10. WBCSD and inclusive business
Advocate business perspectives
Illustrate best practices & lessons learned
Develop toolkits & training programs
Identify & broker opportunities

11. WBCSD also seeks to leverage partnerships and policies for action at scale

12. Download the issue brief at: