A first-ever survey of leaders of Fortune 500 companies, global NGOs, investors and the media about the roles and responsibilities for business in international development reveals a mixed awareness and understanding of the Millennium Development Goals but agreement that corruption in poor countries is the greatest obstacle to companies deciding to enter these markets. 

The in-depth survey by the Corporate Social Responsibility Initiative of Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government, the Prince of Wales International Business Leaders Forum, and Edelman Public Relations was released at the UN opening session in September. According to the research, there was also general consensus on the need for innovative partnerships when doing business in developing countries, however there were differing perspectives on other key questions of priorities, roles and desired outcomes.

Key findings of the survey, entitled “Business and International Development: Opportunities, Responsibilities and Expectations,” include:

• Companies and NGOs agree on the lead role for government: poor countries should work to reduce corruption; rich countries should address trade policies and not just focus on aid.
• Companies acknowledge the value of partnership in developing markets. They recognize that NGOs contribute technical and on-the-ground expertise; there is less understanding and awareness among companies about the specific role and contribution that multi-lateral institutions offer.
• There is mixed awareness among companies of Millennium Development Goals. Companies are using different language from NGOs and multi-laterals regarding international development.
• Companies rank Africa lowest among all regions for opportunity to “advance international development and produce returns for companies”; East Asia ranked highest.
• Unilever, P&G, BP, Nike and Citigroup were cited multiple times by businesses, NGOs and media as leaders in international development.
• All respondent agree that business’ greatest contribution to developing countries is job and enterprise creation, not charity.
• Both companies and NGOs agree that media coverage on business and international development slants negative.
• NGOs are more inclined to trust companies that point to profit motive – as opposed to “corporate citizenship” – as a key driver in decision making in poor countries.
• Free local press is cited as a key factor in establishing stable markets in which companies want to invest. 

Jane Nelson, director of the Corporate Social Responsibility Initiative at Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government, noted, “Over the last ten to fifteen years, leading companies have learned the value of engaging and partnering with stakeholders around various aspects of their sustainability and ethical business strategies. It is encouraging to see that companies – and NGOs – also recognize the critical role that partnerships can play around leveraging business’ role in developing countries.”

The full report is available at: http://www.edelman.com/insights/