London, New York, Paris, 2 February 2012-- The World Business and
Development Awards today launched a call for nominations for successful
business initiatives that are in line with the Rio+20 UN Conference on
Sustainable Development. All organisations, regardless of size or
location, engaged in innovative business models that are delivering both
commercial success and helping improve social, economic and
environmental conditions are eligible to apply online by 25th March 2012
by downloading the form at worldbusinessawards.net/nominate.
The award ceremony will be held on 19th June, when governments
convene in Brazil at the Rio+20 Conference, closing the Business Action
for Sustainable Development Business Day.
Celebrating a decade of biennial award giving, the World Business and
Development Awards are organized by the International Business Leaders
Forum (IBLF), the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) and the United
Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in partnership this year with the
Netherlands Ministry for Foreign Affairs, the Swedish International
Development Cooperation Agency and the UN Global Compact. The Awards
demonstrate how companies can, through their core business activities,
help achieve the Millennium Development Goals -- eight internationally
agreed targets to reduce poverty and environmental degradation and
improve education, health conditions and gender equality by 2015.
"When businesses apply the full force of their core business
activities to development challenges and measure their success both by
profit and social outcomes, there is no limit to what can be achieved,"
said Clare Melford, CEO of IBLF. "We hope that the WBDA will again
stimulate businesses of all sizes and in all regions to bring forward
their best examples and so accelerate progress towards achieving the
MDGs."
The 2012 Awards will be given explicitly to companies delivering
inclusive business models: sustainable, commercially-viable business
initiatives that expand access for low-income people to goods and
services, or improve their livelihoods by engagement in value chains as
direct employees, suppliers or distributors, while also generating sales
and profit growth.
In honour of the Rio+20 host country, there will be a special category designated for Brazil-based companies.
By bringing together examples of innovative, effective business
practices, the World Business and Development Awards will also provide
leading businesses and entrepreneurs with a valuable platform for
networking and sharing experiences and promote best practices after
Rio+20. This will encourage other businesses and governments to
replicate and scale initiatives.
An international judging panel made up of representatives of the
organising partners as well as non-governmental organisations,
universities, business entities, and international institutions will
determine this year's winners. A workshop on inclusive business will
take place prior to the Awards ceremony.
In 2010, the Awards received an unprecedented 172 nominations,
representing a variety of business and commercial endeavours undertaken
by business associations, non-governmental organisations and individual
companies from more than 42 countries. Diverse in nature, the 10 winning
initiatives ranged from low-income housing in Mexico and assisting
farmers in Sierra Leone, to offering affordable maternal health services
in India.
"Past award winners have shown how companies can help boost
sustainable growth and development," said UNDP Administrator Helen
Clark. "They can be a tremendous source of innovative and sustainable
solutions which help transform people's lives for the better."
"As progress towards the Millennium Development Goals comes under
threat in the current economic climate, the Awards will highlight the
critical role of the private sector in stimulating sustainable economic
growth and development," said ICC Secretary General Jean-Guy Carrier.
UNDP Newsroom
