Inclusive Business Action Network: SEED shares insights on successful partnerships

Worldwide, four billion people, living at the Bottom of the Pyramid (BoP), lack access to basic goods and services. At the launch of Inclusive Business Action Network, SEED discussed green and inclusive business and partnerships as part of the solution.

Inclusive businesses are offering innovative market-based solutions to fulfil basic needs at the BoP in diverse areas, including energy, water, agriculture or waste management. While providing significant business potential they are contributing to the sustainable development in their respective countries.

The spread of such inclusive businesses will be enhanced through the newly established Inclusive Business Action Network of GIZ, supporting inclusive business to find the right support and secure partners. The Network is designed as a global platform enabling peer-learning and matchmaking among a variety of sectors and actors, such as inclusive businesses, investors, governments, donors, multilateral organisations, foundations, and other initiatives.

The SEED Initiative and its hosting partner adelphi were partners of the launch of the Inclusive Business Action Network from Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ)/ Bundesministerium für wirtschaftliche Zusammenarbeit und Entwicklung (BMZ) from 18 to 20 November 2014 in Berlin, Germany.

The SEED Initiative organised the session: Accelerating green and inclusive business: partnerships that make a difference. On the panel the SEED Award Winners and successful entrepreneurs Dominikus Collenberg of Organic Africa, and Lorna Rutto of Ecopost Kenya were joined by Ryan Little of the BMW Herbert Quandt Stiftung and André Dellevoet of the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa and AECF, both engaged in supporting inclusive business. Under the moderation of Helen Marquard, Executive Director of SEED, the experts together with the participants brainstormed to identify enablers for successful collaborations and recommendations for networks, like the IB Action Network. In addition to this session, Rainer Agster, Director Private Sector Cooperation, was invited to share SEED’s experience in another discussion on "Ecosystems for sustainable inclusive business: different approaches for support on the ground".

Four SEED Award Winners from Africa and Asia – Cocoa Project, Ecopost, JITA Bangladesh, and Organic Africa – participated in the marketplace, organized during the launch event, to present their innovative business solutions in the areas of agriculture, recycling and micro-enterprise development.

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