Are companies making their local markets work better for the poor? A webcast of a recent event organized by the Overseas Development Institute highlighted how companies are expanding market access for the poor through new approaches in their supply and distribution chains. The meeting discussed what is being learnt from experience so far, drawing out lessons concerning the implementation, impact, and returns of these initiatives.
Speakers:
- Andy Wales, Head of Sustainable Development, SABMiller, will reflect on SABMiller's supply chain investment in India which has brought over 6,000 barley farmers into the supply chain. SAB recently assessed this and other supply chain work with small holder farmers in Africa, in terms of the social and commercial impacts, critical success factors, and areas for future action.
- David Croft, Sustainability Director, Cadbury, will speak on Cadbury's initiatives in Ghana that support cocoa producers at the base of their supply chain. He will reflect on the range of approaches adopted by Cadbury, from the Cadbury Cocoa Partnership to the recently-announced adoption of Fair Trade certification for Dairy Milk.
- Euan Wilmshurst, Stakeholder Engagement Manager, The Coca-Cola Company, will shift the focus from supply chains to distribution chains, reflecting on the Manual Distribution Centers developed in East Africa. This approach seeks to open employment opportunities for poor and less-skilled workers and offers significant potential for scaling up.
- Caroline Ashley, Overseas Development Institute, acting as respondent, will reflect on what these and other experiences suggest concerning implementation and impact of supply and distribution chain reform. (see her recent article Harnessing core business for development impact - evolving ideas and issues for action)
- Chair: Simon Maxwell, Overseas Development Institute
This event is part of the 2009 Event Series from the Overseas Development Institute, the Department for International Development and Business Action for Africa: Harnessing the Power of Business for Development Impact.
Comments