Why we work on Business Engagement
Businesses are the backbone of economies, providing jobs, services, and investment that can help stabilise communities, bridge divides, and drive sustainable economic development. When operating responsibly, they are essential partners in building lasting peace.
However, reaching this potential requires responsible and conflict sensitive investment and operational practices. This requires a deep knowledge of context and meaningful engagement with stakeholders. By adopting conflict-sensitive strategies and embracing transparent, collaborative dialogue, businesses and investors can strengthen resilience and sustainable growth.
Our approach to Business Engagement partnerships
We engage directly with international investors and companies working in frontier markets to develop systems for navigating complexity and meeting international standards. This work complements the Foundation’s mission-aligned investment strategy and enables investment flows to countries and communities where they have the most impact, including on social cohesion.
Within our focus regions, we support organisations that convene dialogue between businesses, communities, and governments to solve problems and influence national policy. This amplifies the voices of affected communities and builds an enabling environment for responsible business.
Our approach to working with investors and companies:
- We start with a concrete entry point, such as due diligence, security or stakeholder engagement, and undertake an initial diagnostic to support priority setting.
- We develop a tailored roadmap rooted in conflict-sensitive strategies, within regulatory and commercial constraints.
- We accompany partners over time, ensuring change is implemented and builds internal buy-in and leadership commitment.
- We leverage the right expertise when needed, while providing ongoing strategic guidance and feedback.
We help partners to:
- Understand how conflict and fragility dynamics affect business – and how business practices influence stability and trust.
- Identify and manage financial, legal, operational and reputational risks
- Integrate conflict-sensitivity throughout the business and investment value chain
- Strengthen community relations, workforce practices and security arrangements
- Measure, report and communicate progress on business resilience and social outcomes
Our approach to collective initiatives
We support non-profit partners who specialise in convening multi-stakeholder dialogue that improve policies and business practices in our focus regions and in conflict-affected and high-risk areas more broadly. For example, we support dialogue between:
- International investors working to assess conflict and social cohesion impacts in their screening and stewardship practice
- National and regional businesses, governments and communities working to address concrete challenges and strengthen policies that promote sustainable growth