Authors:

  • Jane Nelson

Excerpt

Book Cover for For the World's Profit

January 9, 2025, Book: Brookings Press: "This volume co-edited by Homi Kharas, Koji Makino, John W. McArthur, and Jane Nelson, argues that the world is at a key juncture for considering how the targeted pursuit of business profits can better add up to the world’s profit, broadly defined. The edited volume brings together a remarkable array of distinguished corporate, investor, government, academic, and nonprofit perspectives to reflect on the issues. The authors tackle such questions as how businesses can work more effectively with governments, financial institutions, and civil society to mitigate their own enterprise risk alongside risks to people and planet; how private resources, innovation, and networks can be mobilized to create value in solving major social and environmental challenges; and what types of accountability structures are needed to set boundaries, provide oversight, and create positive incentives for business performance. Their perspectives offer insights into how sustainability can be introduced into business practices, finance and policymaking in a way that expands market opportunities and accelerates progress toward global sustainable development."

Chapters authored by current and former M-RCBG Affiliates - 

Strengthening Small Businesses to Support Sustainable Development - Chapter 3 - Ndidi Okonkwo-Nwuneli - President and CEO of One Campaign, Former M-RCBG Senior Fellow

"In chapter 3, Ndidi Nwuneli starts her analysis of SMEs by noting that they face more hurdles in greening their activities, because of limited knowledge, talent, and funding. Consequently, only a small fraction of all SMEs have set measurable sustainability targets. Many large companies and business associations provide support, including digital platforms, that make it easier for SMEs in their value chains or locations of operation to take strategic measures to improve their sustainability."

Industry and Multisector Alliances to Achieve System-Level Impact - Chapter 5 - Jane Nelson -  Senior Research Fellow and Founding Director, Corporate Responsibility Initiative, M-RCBG. 

"In chapter 5, Jane Nelson describes ways in which companies can work together to take a systems approach to set industry standards, accelerate innovation and market development, and undertake joint policy advocacy and government engagement. She illustrates how such alliances can change systems within a sector or within a geographic space, such as a country, local area, or city."