Author Archives: Oda Foldøy

Announcing: Spotlight Series on Decent Work

Thursday, 15 April 2021 12:13
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Oslo, Norway: Business for Peace is pleased to announce the launch of the 2021 Business for Peace Spotlight Series: Rethinking Systems of Decent Work, 26-28 May. This timely and engaging three-day online event series offers a transformative agenda, contributing to a global reset post COVID-19 of how the business community needs to take an active role in job creation, labour rights, social protection and poverty reduction.

 

With the UN Sustainable Development Goal 8: Decent Work and Inclusive Economic Growth setting the agenda, the Series will explore how organisations can work together to address the current needs of all stakeholders in order to tackle the many social and economic challenges arising out of the current crisis and generate innovative solutions to re-building resilient, inclusive and sustainable economies.

 

Our programme includes opening remarks from Governing Mayor of Oslo, Raymond Johansen; an interview with Nobel prize-winner Joseph Stiglitz on Stakeholder Capitalism; an interview with Sanda Ojiambo, Executive Director at the United Nations Global Compact, on how governments and businesses can “build back better” together; a Youth Workshop; a ReThinking Systems of Decent Work panel including Guy Rider, Director General, International Labour Organisation, and hearing from Oslo Business for Peace Award Honourees.

“We know what creates peace also creates a thriving economy. To ensure safe and stable societies where people can live and work with dignity we must work together to create strong, vibrant economies where everyone shares in the benefits of economic growth. Opportunities for decent work are as critical to this as a precondition for long-term value creation.”

– Per Saxegaard, Founder and Executive Chair, Business for Peace

The 2021 Business for Peace Spotlight Series: Rethinking Systems of Decent Work will take place online 26-28 May 2021. View the full programme and learn more about our speakers. Each digital event is free and open to all members of the public, but advance registration is required. Visit the Spotlight Series website to register.

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Update on our May 2021 Summit

Friday, 09 April 2021 09:03
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Due to the ongoing and unpredictable pandemic situation in Oslo, our Board of Directors has made the decision to postpone our pinnacle annual Business for Peace Summit 2021 events. We will not have an Award Ceremony or host in-person events this May.

In lieu of our usual Summit, we will be hosting a series of digital events, open to the public globally. The events will focus on Sustainable Development Goal 8: Decent Work as we talk about “A Vision for Inclusive Growth”. We will have talks on Rethinking Systems of Decent Work, The Hidden Workforce, Resilient Supply Chains, and more.

We are committed to driving the SDG agenda forward and connecting business leaders with government officials, academics, NGOs, and members of civil society. We look forward to lively, thoughtful, and productive discussions online in May.

Further information and registration details for our spring events will be released soon. We hope you stay safe and healthy, and we look forward to meeting again in-person in Oslo in the future.

We will have a grand celebration of the 2020 Oslo Business for Peace Award Honourees at Oslo City Hall once it is safe to travel.

 

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Guide to the Ghana SDG Investor Map

Friday, 19 March 2021 10:28
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Key takeaways from our impact facilitation event and how the results impact investments across the country

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What are the SDG Investor Maps?

Developed by SDG Impact, the SDG Investor Maps are tools that are focused on mobilising capital flow across the Global South.

Championed by the United Nations Development Programme, their objective is to provide localised insight into sectors and market conditions that advance the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The Investor Maps ultimately serve as a guide to realising economic growth, promoting social reform, fostering environmental conservancy and building more transparent and resilient economies.

In partnership with the United Nations Development Programme Ghana, the Ministry of Finance Ghana and the International Chamber of Commerce Ghana, we recently held an online impact facilitation event focusing on the country results for Ghana. Take a look at the key takeaways below.

 

Key takeaways

1. The eight-step methodology behind the Maps identifies viable Investment Opportunity Areas (IOAs) and business models, supported by actionable data to guide investor decision-making.

2. The Investor Maps empower investors with data and insights to drive SDG-enabling investment on a large scale. The Maps provide stakeholders with information, data and specific investment opportunities.

3. In Ghana there are five main development and investment areas that are mutually beneficial for society and investors: agriculture, infrastructure, technology and communication, healthcare, and consumer goods.

4. Within the five development areas, twelve core IOAs in Ghana have been identified: investment in affordable irrigation systems and dams, scaling aquaculture and fish breeding, scaling up storage infrastructure and logistics services for grain value chains (including, e.g. maize, rice, cassava, yam), investment in upscaling of integrated farm operations and management systems, IoT and agribusiness analytics, construction of affordable housing, road construction & maintenance, up-scaling collection and recycling of electronic waste, investments in providing and upscaling sanitation services for unserved areas, affordable mobile internet hotspots for villages / schools / rural areas, developing and up-scaling systems for digitalization of patients’ health data and inventory & supplies, upscaling drones transportation and logistic solutions (e.g. medications to remote locations), and manufacturing and distribution of improved cooking stoves.

5.The results will be made available online for all investors to access as a one-stop-shop. Stay tuned!

Ultimately, these maps are uniquely positioned to unlock private capital to finance the SDGs. Currently, there are significant investment return opportunities in Ghana for investors within a short timeframe that benefit local and global stakeholders.

Curious to learn more? Read on to better understand how the SDG Investor Maps impact investments across the country.

 

The Investment Journey in Ghana

As Ghana continues to strengthen its advocacy for the SDGs, government and private sector cooperation is needed to encourage further investments aimed at turning global challenges into local business.

In recent years, Ghana has been a leading entry point into West Africa for well-established international businesses.These investors have come to Ghana because of the country’s stable democratic climate, strong resource pool, and known reputation for its ease of business. Here, they can invest, grow and thrive.

Investments are all about building relationships and relationships are all about trust. An investment is not a single event but is a mutual, and hopefully long-term partnership. Right now, this is Ghana’s approach to creating a strong economy while also creating social benefits for everyone in Ghana.

 

The Investment Journey in three steps

There are three key steps that we like to label as the “Investment Journey”.

The first is making the results of the Investor Maps available to the public, thus giving insight into important SDG-focused investment opportunities post COVID.

The second step involves taking a closer look at the main investment opportunity areas as laid out by the methodology of UNDP, as well as securing local stakeholder involvement. Here, roadblocks and needed policy changes to facilitate such investments are addressed.

Finally, bringing together investors and SDG entrepreneurs to usher new solutions aligned with the investment opportunity areas and the SDGs comprise the third step.

At Business for Peace, we see informed investments and committed businesses as critical in finding solutions to global challenges. With the SDG Investor Maps soon becoming a public good, it is now time for many more investors and businesses to step up to the plate to do their part.

 

Remembering Hans-Christian Gabrielsen

Friday, 12 March 2021 17:43
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We are deeply saddened by the news of Hans-Christian Gabrielsen’s passing. Gabrielsen was the leader of the Norwegian Confederation of Trade Unions (LO) and a member of Business for Peace’s Advisory Board. 

Gabrielsen was deeply committed to improving conditions for workers throughout his career. He started as a process operator in the pulp mill Tofte Industrier and later served as secretary for the United Federation of Trade Unions. Additionally, he held board positions for the Labour Party before becoming the head of LO. He was highly respected in all circles and known for building bridges to find fair solutions. The scope of his work reaches beyond Norway into Europe and beyond.

Gabrielsen was caring, generous, honest, and worked tirelessly for a better world. Business for Peace values the contribution he made towards improving workers’ rights and positive business practices. He will be sorely missed.

Our thoughts go out to his wife, daughter, family, and colleagues.

LO-leder Hans-Christian Gabrielsen fotografert i sekretariatssalen i Folkets Hus i Oslo i forbindelse med LOs digitale representantskapsmøte 16. februar 2021.

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