| |
In This Issue
Editor's Note
Increasing Impact With Effective Government Engagement
According to a recent McKinsey survey, only 27 percent of global executives said that their company is effectively engaging with relevant government stakeholders in their primary markets.
Despite this finding, company interest in partnering with governments is on the rise—a result of the growth in the role of national governments in addressing sustainability challenges, and the increasing opportunities for companies in emerging markets. This week's feature shows how companies can overcome common myths of partnering with government in order to advance corporate responsibility initiatives around the world.
And no matter what stage you are at in the public-private partnership process, a guide we created on effective collaboration with the U.S. Agency for International Development can help your company deliver greater impact.
Lastly, we turn to China—a country with a high prevalence of tuberculosis—where BSR piloted a new toolkit to help business aid government in the fight against the disease.
 |
In Depth
Overcoming the Myths of Government Partnerships
With the growing role of national governments in addressing sustainability challenges, public-private partnerships are on the rise. By moving beyond common myths about working with government, companies have the opportunity to increase the impact of their corporate responsibility initiatives.
Read more →
|
Spotlight
Peer-Education Model Raises Tuberculosis Awareness in China
By
In 1990, tuberculosis accounted for half of all deaths from infectious diseases in China. From 2001 to 2009, the country documented and treated more than 8 million cases. TB has serious business impacts including work flow disruption, productivity decline, and costs related to treatment and the replacement of workers. To address this pandemic, BSR piloted an innovative toolkit, created by the World Economic Forum's Global Health Initiative and Lilly's Multi-Drug Resistant TB Partnership, in three of our member companies' contract facilities and promoted the toolkit to an additional 15 suppliers.
Incorporating facility production schedules and the needs of a substantial rural migrant workforce, BSR developed factory-specific peer-to-peer education models to make awareness and prevention of TB both educational and entertaining. Results show that business can help fight TB by providing the following:
- Current medical information about TB
- Tools for their employees to better protect themselves from exposure
- A nondiscriminatory work environment for those who suffer from TB
For more information on how you can join this program, contact Pei Bin.
Toolbox
Partnering with USAID: A Guide for Business
BSR created a guide for the U.S. Agency for International Development that can help companies establish effective collaborations with the agency to promote sustainable development around the world. According to BSR’s research, development partnerships provide business benefits by mitigating risks, creating access to new markets, training workforces, and building relationships with key stakeholders. In addition, partnerships help legitimize a company's development efforts and can double or triple the impact of social investments.
This report provides guidance on each step of the partnership process:
- Make the internal case for partnership: Ascertain the value of a partnership and the business benefits of investing in development.
- Identify areas for strategic investment: Determine objectives, define financial commitments, create a partnership management structure, and find shared priorities.
- Build a successful partnership that delivers the greatest impact: Recommendations include joining existing programs, starting small, and being flexible.
- Prepare for the logistics of starting a partnership: Read tips on organizational structure, and gather contact details and other information to take to your first meeting.
|
|
|
