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#Future of Talks: The Future of Consumerism

 Friday, 22 October 2021 09:27

As holidays such as Black Friday and Christmas mark the peak of over-consumption throughout the year, it is difficult to remain a conscious consumer. Sustainable Consumption and Production (SDG 12) in the 2030 Agenda is about doing more and better with less. It is also about decoupling economic growth from environmental degradation, increasing resource efficiency and promoting sustainable lifestyles thereby giving nature the opportunity to regenerate.

To break the cycle of over-consumption within the linear economy, a circular approach is needed. This would entail fixing products, prolonging their life-span, and avoiding waste at all costs, making it the way forward for a healthy planet with healthy humans.

How can companies tackle the negative impacts of consumerism while running a successful business model? How can supply chains become more sustainable and transparent for consumers to trace the products they are acquiring? And what does the future of consumerism look like?

In this panel we will bring together professionals from different fields to explore these and other key questions to understand in what ways we can all become conscious consumers and what businesses are doing to clear the path.

Speakers

Fredrik Nordbø (moderator), Senior Policy Advisor, WWF

Heidi Furustøl, Executive Director, Ethical Trade Norway

Jo Egil Tobiassen, CEO, Northern Playground

Aasa Andersen, Managing Director, A-Packaging

Photo: Marteline Nystad

Schedule

Sign up now and join us on Tuesday 30th November. The event is in English and free to attend in-person or online.

17:30 – 18:00  Doors open, come mingle and get settled

18:00 – 19:15  Talk and discussion

19:15 – late  Stick around and continue the conversation

Location: Mesh Youngstorget, the newest HUB from Mesh.

Location

This event will be hosted at Mesh Youngstorget, the newest HUB from Mesh. Stick around after the event to explore the new venue and enjoy the Workbar!

The Workbar is the heart of Mesh HUBs, connecting members with each other, the greater community and the public. A place for you to meet, work, connect, be inspired, eat and drink.

Please note that having a ticket does not guarantee a seat at the main seating area. Doors open at 17:30, please arrive on time to secure your seat!

#Future of Talks: The Future of the Nordic Model

 Tuesday, 7 September 2021 09:41

The Nordics are leading innovation and spearheading the work towards the 2030 Agenda. It is argued that the Nordic Model offers an environment where value-driven innovation can flourish, meaning innovation that improves society by creating value for all stakeholders in an ethical and responsible way.

If innovation is the future, what does innovation look like “the Nordic Model way”? There are other models of innovation such as the Silicon Valley one, which worldwide entrepreneurs and policymakers alike have aspired to recreate as the perfect ecosystem for innovation. But Silicon Valley is no longer the only global paradigm for innovation. The Nordic Model offers a unique environment for socially responsible innovation that looks beyond narrow financial return.

In this panel we will bring together professionals from different fields to understand the connection between the Nordic Model and innovation, and what its future looks like.

Speakers:

Schedule

16:30-17:00 Doors open, come mingle and get settled

17:00-18:00 Talk and discussion

18:00-late Stick around and continue the conversation

Location

This event will be hosted at Mesh Youngstorget, the newest HUB from Mesh. Stick around after the event to explore the new venue and enjoy the Workbar. The Workbar is the heart of Mesh HUBs, connecting members with each other, the greater community and the public. A place for you to meet, work, connect, be inspired, eat and drink.

Having a ticket does not guarantee a seat at the main seating area. Due to covid regulations we might need to restrict the amount of attendees on the day of the event. Doors open at 16:30, please arrive on time to secure your seat.

This event will kick-start our 2021-2022 edition of the #FutureOf talk series presented by Business for Peace and MESH. The event is part of the Oslo Innovation Week 2021 – you can view the complete OIW programme here.

A look at our 2021 Spotlight Series

 Friday, 09 July 2021 15:52

The Spotlight Series offered insight and actionable ideas as to how businesses can adopt a multi-stakeholder approach to create better systems for decent work, safeguard employees’ rights and safety, build more resilient supply chains, and increase economic and social participation of youths and the most vulnerable in society.

Each year, Business for Peace hosts a Summit in Oslo, Norway. The Summit includes keynote presentations, debates, and roundtable discussions featuring business leaders and experts from a breadth of fields. The event serves to accelerate the Foundation’s vision to recognise, inspire and accelerate businessworthy leadership.

In 2021, due to the coronavirus pandemic, the annual Summit was not able to take place as usual. However, important, cross-sector conversations and action still needed to occur, perhaps more than ever before. In lieu of a physical Summit in 2021, the Foundation hosted a three-day, online Spotlight Series focusing on Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 8: Decent Work and Inclusive Economic Growth.

In the 2021 Business for Peace Spotlight Series, we examined our shared objective to rebuild better systems of work, looked at ways to improve visibility for marginalised groups and explored how to turn challenges into opportunities with the SDGs as a roadmap.

2021 spotlight series We heard from expert panelists and global leaders whose experience at local, national, regional and international levels all help guide the way forward. It is clear that a renewed commitment to collaboration, centered around the 2030 Agenda, is needed to tackle challenges that are too great for any of us to solve alone. Our decisions on economic recovery, climate change, and international trade and cooperation will shape decent work and economic growth for generations to come.

It is in this spirit we organised the 2021 Business for Peace Spotlight Series. By shining a light on these crucial issues, we called on the global business community to take action.

View our speakers, social media highlights, videos and programme here

Spotlight Series Recap: Words from our Managing Director Marius Døcker

 Tuesday, 01 June 2021 16:25

This week, we examined our shared objective to rebuild better systems of work, looked at ways to improve visibility for marginalised groups and explored how to turn challenges into opportunities with the SDGs as a roadmap.

Even before the pandemic, the world was not on track to achieve SDG 8 and the 2030 Agenda.

Obstacles, such as increased poverty and inequality, and a lack of trust in governments and institutions, have all magnified the impact of the pandemic and have stalled many efforts in ensuring decent work and economic growth.

By shining a light on these issues, we call on the global business community to take action.

As we conclude our Spotlight Series, there is a consensus that decent work can no longer be the exception, but the standard.

It is clear that the principles at the core of SDG 8, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, employment and decent work for everyone, cut across the 2030 Agenda, and must guide our efforts.

As Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations, Amina Mohammed, reminded us earlier today, especially in the time of COVID-19 recovery, “It is time to shift mindsets away from only short-term economic profit to long-term thinking that anticipates risks and democratizes opportunities for decent work”.

We have heard from expert panelists and global leaders whose experience at local, national, regional and international levels all help guide the way forward.

I’d like to take this opportunity to highlight some clear themes coming out of this week.

First, “leaving no one behind” and an inclusive approach to the future of work are essential. As we have recently seen, several positive global developments have occurred. One example of which is the reduction of child labour. While progress is being made, this problem is still significant: Millions children are still involved in child labor, and a substantial portion are working under dangerous conditions. Another example is the uproar of migrant workers working on stadiums for the 2022 Qatar Football World Cup. While the moral support they receive by teams threatening to forfeit the tournament is admirable, it is unfortunately just one more example of both the scale and the public relevance of this problem.

The impact of a growing population and increased globalisation brings both responsibilities and opportunities for the business sector. In the quest for sustainable employment as the world starts returning to normal after the COVID-19 pandemic, it is crucial that no one is left behind in the recovery. This will require a rights-based approach to provide access to public services as well as for social protection. Fragile and conflict-affected contexts have been hard hit, with the potential to create persistent islands of poverty and insecurity.

It is a common misconception that SDG 8 only applies to developing countries. Robotisation can create new jobs, but on the other hand can replace repetitive and often lower paid jobs, posing a risk to vulnerable employment groups. Furthermore, we know that a majority of the global workforce lack safe and secure employment, regardless of where they are from.

Beyond the risk of unemployment or non formalised employment practices lies the challenges of forced labour. Millions of people are still trapped in various forms of ‘Modern Slavery’. This mostly occurs in industries such as agriculture, construction, domestic work, manufacturing, and mining.

In order to rebuild the trust required to advance towards decent work and economic growth, we must make laws and institutions work for people. A people-centred approach is needed to empower justice and to promote equitable outcomes. Corruption is a key threat to this trust, being both a growing driver of discontent and a challenge to sustainable employment. Weak governance is associated with lower growth, investment, and tax revenue collection — and with high inequality and social exclusion. We need to combat it through improved prevention, detection and prosecution to increase effectiveness and public trust.

Secondly, businesses must strive to create a workforce capable of adapting to changing environments. This can be achieved by focusing on programs that stimulate learning and professional development. Businesses that succeed in this area can not only help employees adapt to changing working environments, but research shows that investing in developing human capital ultimately has a positive impact on the bottom line.

Third and lastly, sustainable investing is crucial. The gap to finance SDG 8 and the other Global Goals can only be closed if the financial instruments offered to investors are trustworthy and easy to understand. Lenders must be able to assess whether an investment project is consistent with their own objectives, financial or otherwise.

If used wisely — to increase human capital, to invest sustainably and to weed out corruption and weak governance — these activities can help us transition from a global crisis to an opportunity for progress, but only if businesses are bold and in seizing this opportunity, and do so in a timely manner.

Ultimately, the challenge we face is one of leadership. We need to be bold, innovative and committed to achieve the Global Goals.

We all must assume ownership so that no one is left behind.

It is clear that a renewed commitment to collaboration, centered around the 2030 Agenda, is needed to tackle challenges that are too great for any of us to solve alone.

It is in this spirit that we organised the 2021 Business for Peace Spotlight Series and our decisions on economic recovery, climate change, and international trade and cooperation will shape decent work and economic growth for generations to come.

Through these choices, we have a unique opportunity to shape a more prosperous and peaceful world.

It’s the best investment we can make.

Announcing: Keynote Address by Amina Mohammed at Spotlight Series

Photo: United Nations

Oslo, Norway: Business for Peace is pleased to announce the addition of Amina J Mohammed, Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations, as a speaker at the 2021 Business for Peace Spotlight Series: Rethinking Systems of Decent Work, 26-28 May.

Ms Mohammed will be delivering the keynote address on 28 May at 14:05 CEST. Her remarks will be streamed globally as a part of this engaging three-day online event series which offers a transformative agenda, contributing to a global reset post COVID-19 of how the business community needs to take an active role in job creation, labour rights, social protection and poverty reduction.

Ms Mohammed first joined the United Nations in 2012 as Special Adviser to former Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon with the responsibility for post-2015 development planning. She led the process that resulted in global agreement around the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the creation of the Sustainable Development Goals.

Her career began while working on the design of schools and clinics in Nigeria. She served as an advocate focused on increasing access to education and other social services, before moving into the public sector, where she rose to the position of adviser to four successive Presidents on poverty, public sector reform, and sustainable development.

“We are pleased to welcome Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations, Amina Mohmmed, as she underscores the significance of global engagement across the Decade of Action to meet the 2030 Agenda,” said Per Saxegaard, Founder and Executive Chair, Business for Peace, “Her words will set an inspiring tone as we continue to build back better in the wake of a pandemic, climate change, and economic upheaval”.

In addition to Mohammed’s keynote address the programme on 28 May includes an interview with Group CEO of Equity Group Holdings and 2020 Business for Peace Honouree, Dr James Mwangi; a two-part session focusing on the SDG Impact Standards plus a global investor roundtable including Sir Ronald Cohen to address solving global challenges through financing the SDGs; a panel debate on ESG data and governance; and a roundtable discussion on blended finance.

The 2021 Business for Peace Spotlight Series: Rethinking Systems of Decent Work will take place online 26-28 May 2021. View the full programme and learn more about our speakers. Each digital event is free and open to all members of the public, but advance registration is required.

Spotlight Series Programme 2021

Day 1 - Wednesday 26th May

10.00 – 10.30 – Welcome and Introduction

First, hear from Per Saxegaard, Founder of Business for Peace about the 2020 Business for Peace Honourees and their work towards SDG8: Decent Work and Economic Growth. There will also be a special virtual recognition to name them as official Business for Peace Honourees. Next up, we will hear welcoming remarks that inspire the #businessworthy cause from Governing Mayor of Oslo, Raymond Johansen. Then our Managing Director of Business for Peace, Marius Døcker, will open our three-day Spotlight event series focused on Decent Work.

 

View the Welcome and Introduction here

10.45 – 12.00 – Rethinking Systems of Decent Work

The socio-economic consequences of the COVID-19 have been severe, exposing existing vulnerabilities and exacerbating inequalities on a global scale. Those with unstable incomes and little-to-no social protections have been pushed deeper into poverty. Women around the world have been left more vulnerable to job and income losses and are at higher risk of experiencing domestic violence and abuse. School disruption and the disappearance of entry level jobs, internships, and job training programmes have marginalised youth and left them with an uncertain future.

As the world rebuilds in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, hear from leading voices on how governments, private sector actors, unions, and civil society organisations can unite to overcome challenges and re-establish better systems for decent work.

Speakers: 

Moderator – Fiona Reynolds, CEO, Principles for Responsible Investment

Paul Polman, Co-founder and Chair at IMAGINE

Guy Ryder, Director General, International Labour Organisation

Felicitas Pantoja, CEO & Founder, Coffee for Peace

Roger Bjørnstad, Chief Economist, The Norwegian Confederation of Trade Unions (LO)

View “Rethinking Systems of Decent Work” here

15.00 – 16.00 – Stakeholder Capitalism in the Post-Pandemic World: Conversation with Joseph Stiglitz

The current pandemic has shone a light on the importance of stakeholder capitalism and the difference between how our economies have worked in the past versus how we need them to work going forward. The actions of companies toward their stakeholders has come under additional scrutiny. While many companies have prioritised employee safety, community protection, and customer safety, others have only focused on their bottom-lines. 

Research has shown that serving all stakeholders is an ethical good that can be a source of competitive advantage, however, the businessworthy concept remains an ideal rather than an operational goal for many.

Speakers: 

Joseph E. Stiglitz, Nobel-Prize winning Economist and Professor at Columbia University

Kjersti Løken Stavrum, CEO at Tinius Trust and President of PEN Norway

 View “Stakeholder Capitalism in the Post-Pandemic World” here

17.00 – 18.00 – Building Resilient Supply Chains

One of the biggest contributing factors to modern day slavery is a lack of supply chain visibility. According to the new Economist Intelligence Unit research report, over half of companies lack end-to-end visibility of their supply chains because they rely on a picture of supply and demand that is based only on internal data. As a result, the majority of companies are unaware of unethical or slavery practices that are occurring within their supply chains. In the process of building back better, the supply chain ethos needs to be transformed from efficiency and low-cost country sourcing, to supply chain resilience and visibility.

Speakers: 

Carrie George, VP Sustainability and Impact, Everledger

Justin Dillon, Founder of FRDM, an enterprise-grade software company

View “Building Resilient Supply Chains” here

Day 2 - Thursday 27th May

09.30 – 11.30 – Inspiring Youth Inclusion and Participation

Access to decent, productive work benefits everyone and paves the way for more prosperous societies. With the right policies in place, young people can be influential actors of economic and social progress. But if we fail to improve their prospects, especially for those the most disadvantaged, both economic and social development could be compromised locally and globally. Join us for our Youth Workshop to explore how stakeholders can ensure youths are included in high-level decision-making processes and make positive change within their communities.

Speakers: 

Moderator – Andrada Dugan, Head of Urban Lab, Incubation and Open Innovation, Paris & Co

Danat Tekie, Co-Founder & Chief External Relations Officer, YSI

Kamzy Gunaratnam, Deputy Mayor of Oslo, City of Oslo

Marte Sølvsberg, Business advisor to President, Orkla AS

View “Inspiring Youth Inclusion and Participation” here

13.00 – 14.00 – The Hidden Workforce

Prior to the pandemic, a portion of the global population already within the “hidden workforce” struggled to find stable employment with decent working conditions. According to the Harvard Business Review, the hidden workforce includes individuals with employable skills who are unable to make it into the workforce, for example, immigrants and refugees, the formerly incarcerated, veterans, seniors, caregivers, and people with disabilities. These groups have been largely neglected in government policies and business hiring practices.

 Without social safety nets, they have been pushed deeper into poverty and social exclusion due to the challenges presented by the current pandemic. We’ll be joined by an expert panel including a CEO employing underserved women in Lebanon, a pioneer in the field of digital identity and a leading voice in the academic community.

Join this event for a lively talk on the process of rebuilding, stakeholders need to generate sustainable solutions to remove barriers that marginalize hidden workers and create meaningful space for them in the labour market.

Speakers:

Moderator – Knut Andersen, Global Livelihoods Manager, Norwegian Refugee Council

Alexander Betts, Professor of Forced Migration and International Affairs at the University of Oxford

Carlos Moreira, Secretary-General of the OISTE Foundation

Sarah Beydoun, CEO & Co-founder, Sarah’s Bags

Mohamed Abdullahi, Somali-Translator, Proofreader & Web researcher, Ifrika Online

View “The Hidden Workforce” here

15.00 – 16.00 – Role of Governments and Businesses in Building Back Better

The pandemic has highlighted the vulnerabilities within our social and economic systems, particularly our misguided focus on short-term economic growth and efficiency over long-term resilience and sustainability. In building back better, we need to commit to designing economic systems that reduce socio-economic inequalities and tackle global environmental emergencies such as climate change and biodiversity loss. Environmentally destructive activities and unsustainable structures that prevent upward social mobility can no longer be the norm, as we are faced with the opportunity to rebuild more resilient, sustainable, and inclusive societies.

Join us for this one-on-one interview with Sanda Ojiambo, Executive Director of the United Nations Global Compact as we discuss how governments and businesses can work together to design recovery policies anchored in the Sustainable Development Goals.

Speakers:

Sanda Ojiambo, Executive Director, United Nations Global Compact

Moderator – Rahwa Yohaness, Founder and Director, Manifold

View “Role of Governments and Businesses in Building Back Better” here

Day 3 - Friday 28th May

10.00 – 10.45 – Ensuring Financial Services for All: Leading Financial Inclusion with Dr. James Mwangi

This interview will focus on understanding the inequalities and challenges faced by unbanked populations and their opportunities for broader economic participation. During this intimate conversation, Dr James Mwangi will reflect on his career championing financial inclusion, and will discuss the role of the financial sector in meeting the SDG Agenda. As a 2020 Business for Peace Honouree, Dr Mwangi will join us in conversation to spotlight his decades-long commitment to inclusive initiatives and his business philosophy to ensure financial services for all.

Dr. Mwangi is a leading example of a business leader working towards SDG Target 8: “Universal access to banking, insurance and financial services.” In this interview, we will cover his continuous commitment to broadening banking to marginalised communities in the Global South and hear about what the future holds for inclusive banking.

Speakers: 

Dr James Mwangi, CEO of Equity Group Holdings

Kafui Dey, Television host at Diaspora Network

View “Ensuring Financial Services for All” here

11.30 – 12.45 – Sustainable Investing: The SDG Impact Standards in Focus

In every corner of the globe, the private sector is increasingly seeking new opportunities to make a positive impact – and to make meaningful contributions towards the achievement of the SDGs. However, many are lacking concrete guidance on how to translate intent to action – a longstanding missing link. To this end, the new UNDP SDG Impact Standards for private equity funds are a practical contribution providing a common language and a clear system for integrating the SDGs into business and investment decision-making.

In this two-part session, UNDP SDG Impact will present the new SDG Impact Standards for Private Equity Funds. Following this overview, Fabienne Michaux, Director of SDG Impact, will lead a dialogue with pivotal voices from the private equity sector. In this thought-provoking discussion, key Nordic and global investors will give their professional insights into the inputs and needs of the financial sector to implement the Standards and create measurable impact to meet the 2030 Agenda.

Speakers:

Moderator: Fabienne Michaux, Director, UNDP SDG Impact

Reynir Indahl, Managing Partner, Summa Equity

Christian Sinding, CEO and Managing Partner, EQT

Sir Ronald Cohen, The Global Steering Group for Impact Investment

View “Sustainable Investing: The SDG Impact Standards in Focus” here

14.00 – 15.00 Scaling Sustainable Finance and Economic Growth and Keynote Address by Amina Mohammed

If we are to close the financial gap towards the achievement of the SDGs, now is the time to act, align and harmonise our organisational efforts to scale sustainable finance. Leading global corporate actors agree, in order to finance the SDGs while creating sustainable economic growth (SDG 8) we need urgent action to catalyse private finance. In this panel, Idar Kreutzer, CEO of Finance Norway, will host a deep dive into purposeful corporate governance with Fani Titi, CEO of Investec, and Carine Smith Ihenacho, Chief Governance and Compliance Officer of Norges Bank Investment Management.

Measuring and reporting impact is crucial. In this conversation, our speakers will discuss how their organisations address the most enduring challenges to accelerating sustainable finance. In order to transform corporate sustainability, a larger conversation must be had to cover the collective actions needed to harmonise and collaborate between a multitude of stakeholders.

Speakers:

Amina Mohammed, Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations and Chair of the United Nations Sustainable Development Group

Moderator – Idar Kreutzer, CEO, Finance Norway

Fani Titi, CEO, Investec

Carine Smith Ihenacho, Chief Governance and Compliance Officer, Norges Bank Investment Management

View “Scaling Sustainable Finance and Economic Growth” here

15.30 – 16.15 – Roundtable: Making Blended Finance Work for the SDGs

Development finance actors today need private capital to mobilise action towards sustainable development. One approach to achieve this is blended finance, but scaling private and commercial investment towards the SDGs isn’t happening fast enough. In order to breach the estimated 2.5 trillion dollar investment gap in the SDGs in developing countries, we must make better use of blended finance mechanisms. As a flexible approach, blended finance allows organisations with different objectives to invest alongside each other while achieving their own objectives. 

To explore the roadblocks inhibiting comprehensive, blended finance initiatives and discuss solutions, this roundtable will engage leading contributors from the public and private financial sector. What does the private sector need in order to commit funds at scale, and what must donors and governments put in place to make blended finance programming more attractive for private investors? Join us to understand how public-private partnerships could create a new era of blended finance for the SDGs.

Speakers:

Moderator – Ladé Araba, Managing Director, Africa at Convergence Finance

Jean-Philippe de Schrevel, Founder & Managing Partner Bamboo Capital – SDG500

Bård Vegar Solhjell, Director General, NORAD

Lisa Kurbiel, Head of the Joint SDG Fund Secretariat, United Nations

View “Making Blended Finance Work for the SDGs” here

Announcing: Spotlight Series on Decent Work

Oslo, Norway: Business for Peace is pleased to announce the launch of the 2021 Business for Peace Spotlight Series: Rethinking Systems of Decent Work, 26-28 MayThis timely and engaging three-day online event series offers a transformative agenda, contributing to a global reset post COVID-19 of how the business community needs to take an active role in job creation, labour rights, social protection and poverty reduction.

With the UN Sustainable Development Goal 8: Decent Work and Inclusive Economic Growth setting the agenda, the Series will explore how organisations can work together to address the current needs of all stakeholders in order to tackle the many social and economic challenges arising out of the current crisis and generate innovative solutions to re-building resilient, inclusive and sustainable economies.

Our programme includes opening remarks from Governing Mayor of Oslo, Raymond Johansen; an interview with Nobel prize-winner Joseph Stiglitz on Stakeholder Capitalism; an interview with Sanda Ojiambo, Executive Director at the United Nations Global Compact, on how governments and businesses can “build back better” together; a Youth Workshop; a ReThinking Systems of Decent Work panel including Guy Ryder, Director General, International Labour Organisation, and hearing from Oslo Business for Peace Award Honourees.

“We know what creates peace also creates a thriving economy. To ensure safe and stable societies where people can live and work with dignity we must work together to create strong, vibrant economies where everyone shares in the benefits of economic growth. Opportunities for decent work are as critical to this as a precondition for long-term value creation.”– Per Saxegaard, Founder and Executive Chair, Business for Peace

The 2021 Business for Peace Spotlight Series: Rethinking Systems of Decent Work will take place online 26-28 May 2021. View the full programme and learn more about our speakers. Each digital event is free and open to all members of the public, but advance registration is required.

Guide to the Ghana SDG Investor Map

 Friday, 19 March 2021 10:28

Key takeaways from our impact facilitation event and how the results impact investments across the country

What are the SDG Investor Maps?

Developed by SDG Impact, the SDG Investor Maps are tools that are focused on mobilising capital flow across the Global South.

Championed by the United Nations Development Programme, their objective is to provide localised insight into sectors and market conditions that advance the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The Investor Maps ultimately serve as a guide to realising economic growth, promoting social reform, fostering environmental conservancy and building more transparent and resilient economies.

In partnership with the United Nations Development Programme Ghana, the Ministry of Finance Ghana and the International Chamber of Commerce Ghana, we recently held an online impact facilitation event focusing on the country results for Ghana. Take a look at the key takeaways below.

Key takeaways

1. The eight-step methodology behind the Maps identifies viable Investment Opportunity Areas (IOAs) and business models, supported by actionable data to guide investor decision-making.

2. The Investor Maps empower investors with data and insights to drive SDG-enabling investment on a large scale. The Maps provide stakeholders with information, data and specific investment opportunities.

3. In Ghana there are five main development and investment areas that are mutually beneficial for society and investors: agriculture, infrastructure, technology and communication, healthcare, and consumer goods.

4. Within the five development areas, twelve core IOAs in Ghana have been identified: investment in affordable irrigation systems and dams, scaling aquaculture and fish breeding, scaling up storage infrastructure and logistics services for grain value chains (including, e.g. maize, rice, cassava, yam), investment in upscaling of integrated farm operations and management systems, IoT and agribusiness analytics, construction of affordable housing, road construction & maintenance, up-scaling collection and recycling of electronic waste, investments in providing and upscaling sanitation services for unserved areas, affordable mobile internet hotspots for villages / schools / rural areas, developing and up-scaling systems for digitalization of patients’ health data and inventory & supplies, upscaling drones transportation and logistic solutions (e.g. medications to remote locations), and manufacturing and distribution of improved cooking stoves.

5.The results will be made available online for all investors to access as a one-stop-shop. Stay tuned!

Ultimately, these maps are uniquely positioned to unlock private capital to finance the SDGs. Currently, there are significant investment return opportunities in Ghana for investors within a short timeframe that benefit local and global stakeholders.

Curious to learn more? Read on to better understand how the SDG Investor Maps impact investments across the country.

The Investment Journey in Ghana

As Ghana continues to strengthen its advocacy for the SDGs, government and private sector cooperation is needed to encourage further investments aimed at turning global challenges into local business.

In recent years, Ghana has been a leading entry point into West Africa for well-established international businesses.These investors have come to Ghana because of the country’s stable democratic climate, strong resource pool, and known reputation for its ease of business. Here, they can invest, grow and thrive.

Investments are all about building relationships and relationships are all about trust. An investment is not a single event but is a mutual, and hopefully long-term partnership. Right now, this is Ghana’s approach to creating a strong economy while also creating social benefits for everyone in Ghana.

The Investment Journey in three steps

There are three key steps that we like to label as the “Investment Journey”.

The first is making the results of the Investor Maps available to the public, thus giving insight into important SDG-focused investment opportunities post COVID.

The second step involves taking a closer look at the main investment opportunity areas as laid out by the methodology of UNDP, as well as securing local stakeholder involvement. Here, roadblocks and needed policy changes to facilitate such investments are addressed.

Finally, bringing together investors and SDG entrepreneurs to usher new solutions aligned with the investment opportunity areas and the SDGs comprise the third step.

At Business for Peace, we see informed investments and committed businesses as critical in finding solutions to global challenges. With the SDG Investor Maps soon becoming a public good, it is now time for many more investors and businesses to step up to the plate to do their part.

Announcing: The Future of Business

Monday, 05 October 2020 12:46

The Future of Business programme launches in Ghana

Accra, Ghana/ Oslo, Norway: Business for Peace Foundation today announced the launch of their Future of Business programme, a new global impact-driven event series focused on accelerating development towards the UN Sustainable Development Goals through investments and entrepreneurship in the Global South. In collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme and International Chamber of Commerce the launch of the programme coincides with the announcement of the For Better Business Together (4BBT) programme – an effort to promote local initiatives throughout Ghana to strengthen green and sustainable economic development within the business sector.

The Future of Business programme offers a new way for Sustainable Development Goal (SDG)-aligned investors to connect with  established businesses and entrepreneurs across the Global South. The programme begins as an event series in Ghana, Rwanda, Uganda, Kenya, and Nigeria during 2021.

The Future of Business calls for a mindset change amongst business leaders, investors, employees, and NGOs to re-evaluate how resources can be not only used but shared differently. From governments to companies alike, SDG-enabling investments will enable businesses to help solve global challenges.

The President of Ghana, H.E. Nana Akufo-Addo, was present to deliver the keynote address at the launch alongside other Ghanaian dignitaries. The Prime Minister of Norway, Erna Solberg, also addressed the audience digitally in support of the programme.

“As we continue our efforts to translate the ambitions of the SDG agenda into action, the Future of Business programme paves the way for businesses to contribute to scaling these efforts. We firmly believe that programmes such as the Future of Business can unlock solutions to global challenges by leveraging the power of entrepreneurship and collaboration,” Prime Minister Solberg commented.

Per L. Saxegaard, Founder and Executive Chairman at Business for Peace Foundation, says: “The SDG’s provide both a societal road map and a business plan for achieving a fairer, more equitable, and a sustainable world for all. The global business community has experienced first-hand the mutual interdependence with societies in which they operate. The ongoing pandemic has shown, more than ever, the need for increased collaboration and a broader mindset. The Future of Business programme seeks to connect investor and SDG-entrepreneurs with investment opportunities that creates both societal and business value.”

The Future of Business programme is made possible through generous support from the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (Norad) and United Nations Development Programme’s SDG Impact. 

For more information on the Future of Business programme, visit futureofbusiness.io

Build back better business: a call to action by our Honourees

 Tuesday, 30 June 2020 07:29

We are proud to announce that 26 Oslo Business for Peace Award winners have come together to release a joint Call to Action statement calling to build back better business in the wake of the current pandemic.

Representing over 23 countries, this Call to Action is a united voice for business leaders in diverse sectors and across the globe.