1. Presentation for Inclusive Business Forum, 18th February, 2016
Inclusive business networks and the role of business associations: New touches?
Richard Welford
Chairman, CSR Asia
Presentation for Inclusive Business Forum, 18th February, 2016

2. Responsible and inclusive business: Solving risks, increasing opportunities
Many social needs still need to be addressed:
Poverty and poor communities
Local economic growth
Women’s empowerment
Health challenges
Human rights
Marginalized communities
Child rights
And we must be sustainable
Environmental degradation
Water tensions and access
Disaster preparedness
Employment opportunities
And we must never separate poverty from the underlying reasons for that poverty
And…. The fact that these problems continue means that past solutions have not worked
How can we add value to both businesses and communities in dealing with these social needs in new, innovative ways?

3. Questions businesses need to answer about inclusive value chains:
Are you aware of all the risks and opportunities along your value chain for your business?
Can you move beyond first tier supply chain engagement to include the poorest people along your value chain in a way that creates shared value?
Do you currently have the capacity and resources to roll out inclusive business programs that encompass risks and develop commercially viable opportunities?
If you do find severe human rights problems in your value chain, do you know how to tackle them?
For most companies the answer to all questions is the same:

4. NO! We need new networks of cooperation
Acting alone, businesses cannot address these issues
We need new networks of cooperation

5. New touches? Some solutions?
Assessment of value chain risks and opportunities through effective stakeholder engagement, by industry
New supply chain networks of trust (increasing the benefits to the poor):
Inclusive business networks
Creating shared value
Empowerment of poor people, women and the vulnerable
Multi-stakeholder initiatives, standards, certification
Product responsibility and traceability initiatives by industry
Engaging with human rights challenges as a source of poverty

7. Conclusions: Inclusive business must be about:
Innovation
Strategic value creation
Creating shared value for businesses and society
Engaging poor people in commercial ways
Tackling human rights abuses
In the context of value chains being more complex with more risks
Working towards solutions in partnership with competitors and other stakeholders through networks and business associations
We need to move towards networks of trust where a range of stakeholders work together
We can solve the problems and it is the “right thing to do” – leading businesses recognise this – but we need to work together!

8. Thank you
Richard Welford