Responsive and Responsible Leadership is the theme driving the design of the programme, initiatives and projects of the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2017

decision-makers that the more complex a system, the greater a community’s concern about its future. The weakening of multiple systems has eroded confidence at the national, regional and global levels. And, in the absence of innovative and credible steps towards their renewal, the likelihood increases of a downward spiral of the global economy fuelled by protectionism, populism and nativism.
All the while the Fourth Industrial Revolution continues to drive the convergence of technologies that blur the lines between physical, digital and biological systems. Our interdependence will not diminish, but more agile, inclusive and collaborative responses are urgently needed to address the complexity and uncertainty in people’s lives. We must hone our capacity to manage the systems that underpin our prosperity and security.
Collaborative efforts in the 20th century yielded the norms, policies and institutions that collectively served as a protective system until today. It is imperative that we again shape such systems through more inclusive development efforts. Enhanced international cooperation and earnest multicultural dialogue are critical to advancing innovations for greater societal impact. The 47th World Economic Forum Annual Meeting therefore aims to rededicate leaders from all walks of life to achieve common goals and drive new initiatives.
The emergence of a multipolar world cannot become an excuse for indecision and inaction, which is why it is imperative that leaders respond collectively with credible actions to improve the state of the world. Responsive and Responsible Leadership is the theme driving the design of the programme, initiatives and projects of the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2017. By coming together at the start of the year, we can shape the future by joining this unparalleled global effort in co-design, co-creation and collaboration. The Annual Meeting in Davos remains a global platform unmatched in engaging leaders from across business, government, international organizations, academia and civil society in peer-to-peer working sessions. The programme’s depth and breadth make it a true summit of summits.
Responsive and Responsible Leadership requires recognizing that frustration and discontent are increasing in the segments of society that are not experiencing economic development and social progress. Their situation will only become more uncertain with the onset of the Fourth Industrial Revolution and its impact on future employment. Responsive and Responsible Leadership therefore entails a deeper commitment to inclusive development and equitable growth, both nationally and globally. It also involves working rapidly to close generational divides by exercising shared stewardship of those systems that are critical to our prosperity. In the end, leaders from all walks of life at the Annual Meeting 2017 must be ready to react credibly and responsibly to societal and global concerns that have been neglected for too long.

The German development bank KfW invests USD 25 million into eco.business fund to bolster biodiversity

The eco.business Fund announced on 9 September 2016 that it has received a commitment of USD 25 million from Germany’s KfW Development Bank to promote biodiversity and climate change adaptation and mitigation in Latin America and the Caribbean. The deal marks the largest commitment to eco.business to date, and the investment has been designated for the purchase of senior shares in the fund.
The commitment from Frankfurt-based KfW is expected to allow the impact investment fund to both attract further investors and support additional projects on the ground. The eco.business Fund generally provides loans to Latin American financial institutions which on-lend that funding to end-clients for businesses and projects with a significant impact on biodiversity and climate change adaptation and mitigation.
The eco.business Fund Chairman Dr. Jens Mackensen said: “This commitment from KfW is a sign of trust in our business model. It will allow us to further expand financing to fortify and increase biodiversity-friendly business practices in Latin America and the Caribbean. As what will be the largest investment in the fund to date, KfW’s support underlines the rapid success of the fund and the projects it supports.”
About the eco.business Fund
The eco.business Fund is spearheading the preservation and promotion of biodiversity through private enterprises. In providing finance for investing in activities that conserve nature and foster biodiversity, the eco.business Fund seeks investments that yield both financial and environmental returns. The eco.business Fund provides funding mainly through local financial institutions for onlending to eligible final borrowers. Eligible final borrowers include those holding an eligible certification or those making improvements that are in line with conservation and biodiversity goals. The Fund supports sustainable operations in the sectors of agriculture, fishery, forestry and eco-tourism. The eco.business Fund leverages contributions from donors, multilateral organizations and development finance institutions with funding from private investors to maximize outreach and impact. Seed capital has been provided by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), with KfW being the main sponsor. Finance in Motion is also an investor. Operating hand-in-hand with the eco.business Fund is the eco.business Development Facility, which provides high-impact technical assistance to local lending institutions and final borrowers.
For more information, please visit www.ecobusiness.fund

Exploring the Eco Enterprises Fund – A venture fund for nature

EcoEnterprises Fund provides growth capital to small businesses in rapidly expanding sectors, such as organic agriculture, (e.g. apiculture, aquaculture, biopesticides, agricultural-focused technology and food systems), aquaculture, innovative food systems, ecotourism, sustainable forestry, and wild-harvested forest products that have proven to generate solid and profitable livelihoods for rural communities who are an integral part of protecting the earth’s natural assets. Companies of this size employ the largest number of local peoples and have the capacity to create the economic engine to truly drive change. EcoEnterprises Fund fills a void in the market by offering tailored venture financing to spur performance while engaging as a strategic partner to strengthen returns and impact. Founded under the umbrella of The Nature Conservancy, EcoEnterprises Fund became an independent investment manager in 2010 with the successful launch of its second fund, EcoEnterprises Partners II, L.P., which builds on the experience and track record of the first fund, Fondo EcoEmpresas, S.A., (EcoEnterprises Fund I). Source: EcoEntrerprises Fund. Retrieved from: http://ecoenterprisesfund.com/

Deutscher CSR-Preis 2017: Die Bewerbungsfrist läuft ab

Am 15.11.2016 endet die Bewerbungsfrist für den Deutschen CSR-Preis 2017.

“Late Birds” können sich danach noch bis zum 30.11.2016 bewerben, allerdings zu erhöhten Gebühren.

Die drei besten Einreichungen je Kategorie sind Finalisten und werden für die Preisverleihung nomiert. Diese Nominierten gibt die unabhängige Jury im Februar 2017 bekannt. Die festliche Preisverleihung erfolgt im Rahmen des Deutschen CSR-Forums am Abend des 4. April 2017 im “Forum am Schlosspark” in Ludwigsburg bei Stuttgart.

Die Kategorien, in denen sich Unternehmen bewerben können:

  • “CSR-Award” – Auszeichnung je einer Person für herausragendes CSR-Engagement jeweils in Deutschland und in Europa (nur Vorschläge, keine Bewerbung möglich)
  • Biodiversitätsmanagement zum Erhalt der weltweiten biologischen Vielfalt
  • CO2-Vermeidung als Beitrag zum Klimaschutz
  • CSR in der Lieferkette
  • CSR-Kommunikation
  • Gender Diversity
  • Bürgerschaftliches Engagement in Zusammenarbeit mit dem Bundesnetzwerk Bürgerschaftliches Engagement (BBE) und
  • Sonderpreis zu “Gelungene Maßnahme zur Flüchtlingsintegration”
  • Vorbildliche Kooperation eines Unternehmens mit NGOs/NPOs
  • Wissenschaftspreis des Deutschen CSR-Forums

Die Teilnahmebedingungen und die Bewerbungsbögen finden Sie hier  

Recommended Reading: Portfolio for the Planet: Lessons from 10 Years of Impact Investing 1st Edition – by Tammy E. Newmark

Rapid growth of the global economy has accelerated the degradation of the Earth’s most important asset: the environment. Increasing poverty and challenges arising from climate change further threaten the planet’s natural systems. With a rising global population, the demand on natural resources to cover even basic human needs is intensifying – supporting businesses that promote the sustainable use of natural resources and help ensure their long-term viability is imperative. As part of a pioneering movement to harness business towards effecting environmental change, The Nature Conservancy launched EcoEnterprises Fund in 2000 to provide investment capital to grow small “eco”-businesses in Latin America. There is a compelling need for financing this niche. Companies of this size truly drive change – creating the engine for economic activity and generating livelihoods for bottom of the pyramid rural peoples which brings about positive social and conservation impacts.
EcoEnterprises Fund’s portfolio highlights twenty-three cutting-edge companies, in expanding sectors such as organic agriculture, ecotourism, sustainable forestry, and non-timber forest products which include innovative industry first-movers―from organic shrimp to biodynamic flowers, and ready-to-drink smoothies made from the latest Amazonian berry. With a successful ten-year track record, EcoEnterprises Fund has valuable learning to share – from what pitfalls to avoid when structuring investments to what types of assistance entrepreneurs in these emerging environmental sectors need most. Portfolio for the Planet translates a decade of experience into accessible lessons for both veterans and newcomers in the field: for those interested in investing in sustainable businesses, discovering novel approaches to environmental conservation, or seeing entrepreneurs pursue their dreams.
Source: EcoEnterprises Fund. Retrieved from: www.ecoenterprisesfund.com