What We Do
Economic inequality is a driver for much of the world’s issues, and has a direct causal link to poor access to education, insufficient health-care, and increased likelihood of conflict. Small and medium businesses make up 97% of all jobs in emerging economies, meaning that supporting the success of these businesses is key in addressing some of the world’s most ingrained inequalities.
Whether we’re playing at a micro or a macro level, we design and deliver solutions that are holistic, multi-dimensional, collaborative, locally-led, and tailored for the context.
Where We Work
Impacting Lives at the Micro Level
At a micro level we work to increase the capacity and agency of entrepreneurs to run successful businesses. We design and deliver programs to support entrepreneurs who are developing market-based solutions that address social and environmental problems within their context, and who may otherwise face obstacles in accessing this kind of support. We also create local collaborations that work towards better access and inclusion to local entrepreneurial ecosystems.
Why Business?
When thinking about business, often what comes to mind is large corporations in cities, employing men in suits. But what we’ve seen through our work is that business in today’s world is nothing like that. The significant majority of businesses in the world are vibrant pillars of the community, representing prosperity, self-determination, meaningful employment and locally-led change.
It’s a woman in Fiji finding innovative ways to grow food in places with limited access to land. It’s a former refugee in Australia who knows how difficult it is to find a job in a new country, and is helping others to access meaningful employment. It’s communities in South Africa being able to choose to purchase healthy food products that are grown and produced locally. It’s the company reclaiming manufacturing jobs in Kenya. It’s an innovative idea, a new approach, a way to do things better than we ever have before, and making sure everyone is included along the way. It’s business as anything but usual.
Through our work, we hope to reframe the way business is seen and designed, communicate the deep value it has to building a better future for all, and bring people along with us on that journey. We believe this is the best contribution we can make to work towards an equitable and sustainable world.
