Giving Compass' Take:

• Tony Siesfeld, writing for Monitor Institute, discusses the roles that philanthropy can play in advancing sustainable and inclusive business activities. 

• What are the most challenging aspects of implementing sustainability goals? 

• Read about what to expect of corporate social responsibility in 2019. 

For many years, economic growth in emerging markets has outpaced the development of state and civil society institutions, giving rise to political, social and environmental challenges. But where companies once viewed these challenges as issues to ameliorate through corporate philanthropy, today many of these challenges pose immediate threats to companies' expansion and long-term success. This is now the case in both the emerging and mature markets that offer the most promising growth opportunities.

That context has given rise to a new wave of growth in sustainable and inclusive business activities (SIBA). But as much as the adoption of SIBA has grown, it has long ways to go.

And, we saw five roles that philanthropy can play in accelerating sustainable and inclusive business activities:

  • Track the space, set expectations, and set guidelines for impact and performance
  • Articulate the business and social case, and develop actionable toolkits
  • Facilitate new competitive paradigms
  • Develop knowledge on structuring innovation
  • Foster the enabling environment

Read the full article about sustainability and inclusivity by Tony Siesfeld at Monitor Institute