Much has been achieved to date but there is still a long way to go; it is critical to accelerate the pace of change and to this end, business has a central role to play.
The Millennium Declaration represents the most important promise ever made to the world’s most vulnerable people. The MDG framework for accountability derived from the Declaration has generated and unprecedented level of commitment and partnership in building decent healthier lives for billions of people and in creating an environment that contributes to peace and security.
Sha Zukang, United Nations Under-Secretary – General for Economic and Social Affairs, The Millennium Development Goals Report 2010
MDGs and Mutual Benefit
Peace and security are two of the bases for economic prosperity for communities, business and society. A lack of peace and security represents a serious business risk. Business investment in the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) is therefore about a blend of business and social benefits which together provide the opportunity for mutual benefit, security and prosperity. Enlightened business have identified and acted on this opportunity and reaped business benefits whilst at the same time addressing the needs of the poorest in our global society. Done well, business is benefitting, communities are benefitting and together society is benefitting. With five years to go we have to step up the pace of change if we are to keep the promise made to millions and achieve the MDGs. Time is ticking.
The Central Role of Business
There are many ways in which business can make a positive impact on the MDGs. The most sustainable way is to develop models that are intrinsically linked to the core business functions, models, skills, expertise of the business.
At the recent MDGs Summit in New York in September, private companies, along with governments, NGOs and other actors, committed further action to accelerate the pace of change. Some of the business commitments included:
- Monster.com expanding access to job opportunities for rural youth in India through access to its internet job portal, rozgarduniya.com
- PepsiCo ensuring access to clean water for 3 million people around the world
- GlaxoSmithKline providing 200 million doeses of de-worming treatment for children
Call to Action
With five years to go to deliver on our promise, 2010 presents a sobering moment. All stakeholders are now presented with a test of their commitment and stamina, moral and financial. 2010 also presents the chance for business, in partnership with governments, NGOs and other actor and in collaboration with other businesses, to stimulate new thinking and new approaches. It also provides the opportunity for new perspectives, ways of working and opportunities for collaborative action to drive increasingly powerful and sustainable ways to support the delivery of the MDGs with business at the centre of these collaborative partnerships. The opportunity and challenge is for the world to demonstrate its commitment and accelerate action on delivering on its promises and to finding collaborative solutions to our mutual challenges, for our mutual benefit.
Contributed by
Sue Adkins
International Director and Founding Director Cause Related Marketing, Business in the Community
- Category
- Related Partners
Have your say
You must be logged in to comment. If you don’t already have one,
you can register for an account here.