Publication database

In 2015, the ADB engaged Inclusive Business Sweden to prepare this sector study on IB models in the value chain of the textile and clothing industry in Asia, focusing on Bangladesh and Myanmar. The study focussed on mapping opportunities for developing inclusive business models across supply chains in Asia as possible new and innovative investment opportunities for leading Swedish and other international and local companies in the sector. 11 broad opportunities were identified in Bangladesh and 8 in Myanmar. Within each of the two countries, two opportunities were prioritised which were considered to be commercially viable and scalable with a great potential for positive impact. 

OECD and FAO have developed this Guidance to help enterprises observe standards of responsible business conduct and undertake due diligence along agricultural supply chains in order to ensure that their operations contribute to sustainable development. The Guidance comprises:

• A model enterprise policy outlining the standards that enterprises should observe to build responsible agricultural supply chains;
• A framework for risk-based due diligence describing the five steps that enterprises should follow to identify, assess, mitigate and account for how they address the adverse impacts of their activities;
• A description of the major risks faced by enterprises and the measures to mitigate these risks;
• Guidance for engaging with indigenous peoples.

The paper highlights critical pathways for developing a radical mind set that aligns sustainability with profit and transforms business and markets. It is a practical guide for those who recognise that the challenge is no longer how to build the business case for action, but how to evolve and deploy the business models needed to create new forms of financial and extra-financial value.

With 1.5 billion people worldwide getting access to financial services through a post office, postal networks are powerful tools to advance financial inclusion. Posts possess or can develop characteristics such as client understanding, product diversification, national outreach, rural advantage, and trust with clients that have the potential to transform postal networks into well-suited providers of insurance. Insurance is a relatively easy way for posts to diversify their sources of revenue.

This study by the Universal Postal Union (UPU) and the International Labour Organization (ILO) delves into the transformative potential of postal networks into well-suited providers of insurance. The report concludes by presenting three types of business models in which postal insurance can help advancing financial inclusion through insurance access.

This report lays down a framework that defines inclusive business, sets out recommendations to enable inclusive business, and proposes a way forward for governments, the private sector, and other stakeholders.