BSR Insight Articles About Economic Development

Entering Responsibly in Risky Markets: A Look at Myanmar

Chris Nolan, Associate Director, Advisory Services Jeremy Prepscius, Vice President, Asia-Pacific

Market entry in high-risk, transitional countries can often be characterized by significant and ongoing political, economic, and legal change and uncertainty, as well as profound opportunities for business. In such environments, business can contribute tangibly to a country's national development. But the stakes are high--for the company and the country. When countries are at their most vulnerable in their development trajectory, changes enacted are tenuous, and trusted, committed external partners--including business--are critical. Though companies are often tempted to rush in for fear of not "getting in at the ground level,"responsible businesses must consider the investment's social, economic, and environmental risks and opportunities even as they look at core business prospects, not as an afterthought. Short-termism is a perfect way to ensure investment booms in such a market spell doom for a country's prospects. Today, no country embodies these risks and opportunities more than Myanmar. The political and economic reforms sweeping the country have dramatically shifted its outlook and much of the world's perspective toward it, creating once unthinkable opportunities for business. While opportunities in sectors ranging from oil and gas to manufacturing, travel and tourism, information and communications technology (ICT), financial services, and agriculture may appear boundless, the risks of investing in this long-isolated nation are substantial, given the continued predominance of the military in politics and the economy, the vastly underdeveloped financial and legal/regulatory institutions, the weak rule of law and lack of an independent judiciary, endemic corruption, and poor human and labor rights records. Read more →

Posted: June 12, 2012 | Topics: Civil & Political Rights, Economic Development, Economic, Social & Cultural Rights, Human Rights

CSR in Saudi Arabia: Q&A With BSR Partner Nailah Attar

Cammie Erickson, Manager, Global Partnership Development

With support from a multiyear grant from the U.S. State Department’s Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor, BSR has worked to introduce CSR strategies to companies in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). Through this initiative, we partnered with Nailah Attar, a Saudi Arabian businesswoman and activist, to expand the CSR offerings of her ECO Consulting business, which serves both Saudi and international companies operating in the country. Read more →

Posted: February 10, 2012 | Topics: Economic Development, Governance & Accountability, Human Rights

How Business Can Support Access to Energy

The first report in the World Business Council for Sustainable Development’s (WBCSD) new Access to Energy initiative highlights how business can help expand and transform national energy systems to deliver clean, reliable, and affordable energy to poor countries—a critical development challenge. Read more →

Posted: January 24, 2012 | Topics: Economic Development, Energy

Innovative Solutions to Improving Women and Children’s Health

Elissa Goldenberg, Associate, Advisory Services

A new UN report explores how to improve women and children’s health globally. The report details what’s needed for successful development programs, outlines critical health needs, and highlights 10 innovative business models (including BSR’s HERproject) for delivering health services and products. Read more →

Posted: September 20, 2011 | Topics: Civil & Political Rights, Community Engagement & Development, Economic Development, Economic, Social & Cultural Rights, Human Rights, Women & Sustainability

Walmart CEO: ‘Holding Women Back Holds Economies Back’

Racheal Meiers (née Yeager), Director, HERproject

Last week, Walmart made a US$20 billion commitment to increase sourcing from female-owned U.S. businesses and to double the amount it sources from female-owned businesses globally by 2016. Through a broader initiative, the company will also offer women on farms and in factories training, market access, and career opportunities; provide low-income women with job-skills training and access to higher education; increase the gender diversity among its major suppliers; and grant US$100 million to organizations supporting women’s economic empowerment. Read more →

Posted: September 20, 2011 | Topics: Economic Development, Economic, Social & Cultural Rights, Strategy & Integration, Women & Sustainability