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Pledge
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Inclusive businesses have demonstrated that it is possible to provide goods, services, and livelihoods - on a commercially viable basis - to people often overlooked by purely profit-orientated businesses.
ESCAP is committed to mainstreaming inclusive businesses as a vital means towards creating more sustainable, inclusive, and resilient economies.
Mrs. Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana
Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations and Executive Secretary
UN ESCAP, Thailand
My Pledge
1. Policy advisory support:
ESCAP is committed to support ASEAN members in the development and adoption of policies and strategies to promote inclusive business models, including those identified in the Guidelines for the Promotion of Inclusive Business in ASEAN.
Specifically, ESCAP will support Viet Nam in designing and piloting an Inclusive Business Accreditation System, and support Thailand in completing a Landscape Study on Inclusive Business which identifies concrete actions needed for creating an enabling environment for IB promotion nationally. In addition, ESCAP will continue to produce and publish knowledge products to guide the promotion of inclusive business.
2. Inclusive and sustainable business development:
ESCAP will support firms in the development of inclusive and sustainable business models, in particular by providing business coaching services to firms seeking to develop IB models and by supporting local institutions develop their capabilities to provide such services.
In Viet Nam, ESCAP will continue to support the Agency of Enterprise Development, Ministry of Planning and Investment, provide inclusive business coaching to 10 companies in the agricultural sector seeking to develop or strengthen a business model that improves the livelihoods of the men and women smallholder farmers in their supply chains. ESCAP will also develop a toolkit for institutions seeking to provide inclusive business coaching, so that more organisations can support firms in developing impact business models.
3. Access to finance:
ESCAP will promote the establishment of financial vehicles such as fund(s) to pilot innovative financing instruments to provide access to finance for inclusive and sustainable business models.
In Viet Nam, ESCAP will provide funding for up to 10 agricultural companies seeking to strengthen their inclusive business, particularly focusing on the inclusion of women.
4. ASEAN Inclusive Business Knowledge hub/centre:
ESCAP will continue to promote intergovernmental dialogue and raise awareness about inclusive business, share information on IB policies and initiatives, facilitate events and build a community of inclusive business experts.
ESCAP will support ASEAN in promoting Inclusive business through, among others, the development of valuable resources like the IB Accreditation Manual and the IB Coaching Manual. ESCAP will also conduct research that helps make the inclusive business case for firms and for governments.
Furthermore, ESCAP will foster networking and knowledge sharing among ecosystem stakeholders, including through government – business dialogues, regional IB promotion events, and through its Community of Practice.
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