Silk workers in China. The role of the private sector has been crucial to China's leap forward in development. Source: Flickr/adpowers
Despite the focus on the role of aid in development, it is actually the private sector that primarily drives the economic growth needed in developing countries. It is the private sector that creates jobs and wealth. And it is the private sector that is responsible for the investment, innovation and technological progress that underpin both growth and development.
ODI works on the contribution business can make to development. This includes analysis of: incentives for business to improve its development impact; the right enabling environment for business, and the promotion of partnerships between business, government and civil society. We have also focused on specific sectors, such as the development impact of the oil and gas industries, engineering, tourism, and agribusiness.
Our work on the private sector draws primarily on research from our Business and Development Performance Programme. Sector-specific research is undertaken in research areas across the Institute, including the Tourism and Protected Livelihoods and Agricultural Growth Programmes.
Business for development
Harnessing core business for development impact Publications - ODI Background Note, February 2009 Making markets work: Can you compete with the elite? Publications - ODI Opinion 123, January 2009 Returns on investment in responsible business practice: higher in a downturn? Publications - ODI Opinion 121, January 2009 Harnessing core business for development: time to shift from the why to the how Online - Blog post, January 2009 A review of ethical standards and labels: Is there a gap in the market for a new 'Good for Development' label? Publications - ODI Working Paper 297 - Executive summary, November 2008 How do ethical and fair trade schemes affect poor producers? Do we need a new 'Good for Development' label? Publications - ODI Opinion 115, November 2008 Measuring the impact of business on development Publications - ODI Opinion 101, April 2008 Is CSR just Corporates Saying the Right things? Publications - ODI Opinion 100, April 2008 Stepping up the ladder: how business can help achieve the MDGs Publications - ODI Opinion 99, April 2008 Assessing Business Development Impact: A Management Framework for Improved Economic and Socio-Economic Performance Reporting Project outputs - Report, April 2008 Is the time ripe for a 'Good for development' product label? Publications - ODI Opinion 88, October 2007 A Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Diagnosis Module for Application in Value Chain Analysis (VCA) Project outputs - Report, April 2006 The New International Benchmark Standard for Environmental and Social Performance of the Private Sector in Developing Countries: Will It Raise or Lower the Bar? Publications - ODI Opinion 66, February 2006 The business of poverty Publications - ODI Opinion 10, February 2004 World Bank / IFC Public Sector CSR Diagnostic Tool Foreign Investment Advisory Service Diagnostic Tool, December 2003
The right policy climate for business
Private sector partnerships
African Growth - Forgotten Issues Project outputs - Policy Brief (IPPG Briefing Paper) 19, March 2008 The view from Davos - Part one: Global corporate citizenship in 2008 Online - Blog post, January 2008 AIDS and the private sector: The case of South Africa Publications - ODI Briefing Paper 30, November 2007 Business engagement in humanitarian relief: key trends and policy implications Publications - HPG Background Paper, June 2007 Private financing of humanitarian action 1995-2005 Publications - HPG Background Paper, June 2007 The New Broker: Beyond Agreement. Brokering Partnerships for Development Books - Books by ODI authors, June 2007 Stakeholder Engagement: A Good Practice Handbook for Companies Doing Business in Emerging Markets IFC Good Practice Handbook, May 2007 Putting Partnerships to Work: Strategic Alliances for Development between Government, the Private Sector and Civil Society Books - Books by ODI authors, May 2004 Multi Stakeholder Partnerships Issue Paper Project outputs - Report, November 2003 The New Broker: Brokering Partnerships for Development Books - Books by ODI authors, June 2003
Sector: Energy, extractives and engineering
Oil Field Services Expenditure and Economic Growth: Prospects for Developing Countries Publications - Specialist Series - Business and Development Performance Briefing Note 10, January 2008 A planetary petroleum 'windfall' fund for carbon abatement technologies Publications - ODI Opinion 94, January 2008 Incentivising Community Content: the Interface of Community Investment Programmes with Local Content Practices in the Oil and Gas Development Sector Publications - Specialist Series - Business and Development Performance Briefing Note 9, June 2007 Reversing the Curse: Five Principles for Beating the ‘Natural Resource Curse’ Publications - Specialist Series - Business and Development Performance Briefing Note 7, March 2006 Does the Sustained Global Demand for Oil, Gas and Minerals mean that Africa can now fund its Own MDG Financing Gap? Publications - Specialist Series - Business and Development Performance Briefing Note 6, September 2005 Levers and Pulleys: Extractive Industries and Local Economic Development Publications - Specialist Series - Business and Development Performance Briefing Note 3, September 2005 Sustained Oil, Gas and Mineral windfalls mean that Africa could fund a substantial portion of its own MDG Financing Gap Publications - ODI Opinion 51, September 2005 Meeting the Social and Local Economic Performance Standards of International Project Finance Institutions: Guidance for the Extractive Industries Sector Publications - Specialist Series - Business and Development Performance Briefing Note 4, March 2005 Involving Large Contractors in Enhancing Social Performance During Construction Publications - Specialist Series - Business and Development Performance Briefing Note 2, November 2004 Modifying Project Opportunities and Risk Analysis for Enhanced Social Performance Publications - Specialist Series - Business and Development Performance Briefing Note 1, November 2004
Harnessing the power of business for development impactEvent series -
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20 October 2009