B4D Pathfinder

Inclusive Business Challenge

A global toolkit for Inclusive Business has been developed by the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD). This is an easy-to-use presentation and simulation tool to help companies and stakeholders identify and implement models that profitably engage low-income populations across companies' value chains and develop affordable products and services that meet the needs of low-income populations.

The tool aims to help companies raise awareness of the role of business in development and to introduce the challenges, drivers and principles of inclusive business. It presents good practice examples, and suggests ways to integrate inclusive business into company strategy. A key feature of the tool is in the simulation activity which is designed to be used in an interactive workshop setting to identify risks and opportunities in building inclusive business.

User Guide

Download the ZIP file of the language version you would like to access by saving the ZIP file onto your computer.
Create and name a new folder on your computer.
Select all documents contained in the ZIP file and extract them all at the same time into your newly created folder.
Under the subfolder “IB Challenge_ENG”, you will now see 2 ZIP files (named “English” and “Reports”) and 1 pdf file (named START_ENG).
Extract the documents contained in the 2 abovementioned ZIP files. Proceed as follows: click on the ZIP File titled “English”, select all documents contained therein, and extract them to the subfolder “IB Challenge_ENG”. Click on the ZIP File titled “Reports”, select all documents contained therein, and extract them to the subfolder “IB Challenge_ENG”.
Open the PDF file titled “START_ENG”. This will lead you to an orange-colored interface (see image below) that will you to navigate through the different parts of the tool by clicking on the different sections. We recommend that you click first on the box titled “Facilitation guide”, which contains background and instructions on the use of this tool.

Please beware:
Due to the links with the newsflashes and sound files embedded in the presentation, it is important that users:

Keep all files in the same folder
Do not rename any of the files or folders
Do not change the slide order or remove any slides in the Simulation and Newsflash files

Measuring the performance of inclusive business
B4D Pathfinder Performance Tools

The B4D Pathfinder performance tools will drive the promotion and adoption of inclusive business by inspiring and supporting the corporate sector to identify and capture opportunities for including low income communities in their value chain.

The B4D Charter will be supported by clear principles to promote shared values. Companies will make a commitment to work to reduce poverty by incorporating low income communities into the value chain and market development, while growing profitability and upholding the principles of corporate social responsibility.

The B4D Barometer will enable a company to measure progress towards inclusive business practices across its whole value chain. Through self-assessment and reporting, the company will be able to demonstrate continuous improvement across a range of indicators. The B4D Barometer is effectively a road map that can be a powerful tool to demonstrate changes in practices and trends for any indicator of management activity. Companies can progress at rates suited to their individual political, financial, technical and cultural circumstances. Each indicator is attributed a performance level. Aggregation of scores can be reported through the B4D Barometer which enables comparison between companies and sectors.

A test model of the barometer has been developed, supported by commercial supply chain software that is capable of large-scale data capture. This version, when fully tested and piloted, will be used by large companies with complex value chains.

The B4D Toolkit provides real and virtual guidance and support to help companies use the Barometer and implement inclusive business strategies. It will be a suite of products and services.

These performance tools will be tested, refined to the needs of participating businesses, and piloted - all through a formal consultation process with leading corporate in the region. The aim is to develop a regional, self-financing, multi-stakeholder body for the promotion, governance and accreditation of inclusive business in Southern Africa through the B4D Pathfinder.

Inclusive Business is the gold standard in corporate social responsibility

The B4D Barometer measures performance against inclusive business principles while maintaining current CRS commitments. Level 1 is a state of low CSR and inclusive business. Level 4, the gold standard, means that companies have adopted best practice in inclusive business while upholding the principles of CSR. The levels reflect a changing balance between conventional CSR activities and inclusive business.

B4D Barometer is a road map that can be a powerful tool to demonstrate changes in practice