2. Post-MDGs: What role for business? Paula Lucci – Research Fellow 16 th November 2013

3. Today… 1.MDGs What they achieved Common criticisms MDGs and private sector actors 2. Business and development Examples of impact Examples of initiatives 3. Post 2015 A different landscape So…what role for business in a new set of goals? 3

4. 1.MDGs What have the MDGs achieved for us? 4

5. 1.MDGs Common criticisms 5 Means v endsProcess Bilateral ODA from DAC donors

6. 1.MDGs Were private sector actors involved? 6 Little involvement: MDG 8:improving access to affordable essential drugs and ICT Some MNCs involved in related debates/initiatives (e.g. Business Call to Action)

7. 2.Business and development Examples of Impact 7 +- Investment and job creation, training The poor may not benefit from those jobs InnovationInnovation won’t happen in areas that do not represent a profitable market Resource mobilisation (tax/royalties) Tax avoidance Can violate minimum standards of responsible behaviour

8. 2.Business and development Examples of initiatives 8 Core business CSR Key challenge: measuring contribution Standard compliance

9. 3.Post-2015 Different landscape More emphasis on productive sectors/jobs More interest in private sector actors? More open process? But concerns over capacity to engage from different actors 9

10. 3.Post-2015: What role for business? Goal areas: 1.Economic transformation and jobs 2.Transparency and accountability agenda (e.g. under governance goal) Delivery: 3.Delivery through partnerships (e.g. leverage expertise/R&D) 10

11. Post-2015: Areas relevant for business engagement 1. Economic transformation and jobs Include ec transformation & jobs in an opening statement Use reporting on relevant goals, targets and indicators to change behaviours – E.g. a goal/target on jobs, – Optional indicators for enablers of growth 11

12. Post-2015: Areas relevant for business engagement 2. Transparency and accountability agenda Propose a separate accountability framework for businesses (building on existing frameworks,e.g.GRI) Step up work on human and natural capital method Recommend governments set mandatory reporting for large businesses as a listing requirement 12

13. Post-2015: Areas relevant for business engagement 3. Partnerships agenda Include guidance on ‘good’ partnerships, drawing on the experience and evidence to date. A streamlined UN process to assess the case for a partnership? To ensure trust is built, make it a prerequisite for (large) firms involved to disclose information (e.g. following GRI) 13

14. ODI is the UK’s leading independent think tank on international development and humanitarian issues. We aim to inspire and inform policy and practice to reduce poverty by locking together high-quality applied research and practical policy advice. The views presented here are those of the speaker, and do not necessarily represent the views of ODI or our partners. Overseas Development Institute 203 Blackfriars Road, London, SE1 8NJ T: +44 207 9220 300 www.odi.org.uk p.lucci@odi.org.uk