How can cross-sector collaboration drive sustainable development?

Live discussion: Join our panel of experts on Thursday 21 March 1-3pm (GMT) to explore how new models of partnership can make a positive impact in developing countries.

Hannah Gould

A combination of factors means convergence is becoming increasingly important, and in the development sector where the focus rests heavily on impact, some surprising cross-sector alliances are emerging. The collaboration between Oxfam and Unilever is one example of an interesting partnership between a business and NGO working towards joint objectives.

Unilever gave Oxfam access to one of its Vietnam factories where Oxfam carried out an in-depth review between 2011 - 2012 revealing poor labour practices. In its bid to be transparent Unilever agreed that Oxfam could publish the report and invited the NGO to return to the factory in two years time to review its progress.

Poverty and inequity remain serious challenges for sustainable development and public, private and not-for-profit organisations are responding with new models of partnership. Business or charity – who does more to reduce poverty? What really matters is outcome and impact.

The impact of multi-national corporations in developing countries is hotly debated. One argument is that their presence is beneficial; creating jobs, lifting people from poverty, generating tax revenues and injecting wealth into local economies. However, while big businesses can create thousands of jobs, as was found in the instance of Unilever's Cu Chi factory, these jobs can be in poor conditions, bringing no positive change to employees and their communities.

Equally, while NGOs endeavour to fight for human rights and environmental issues and hold business accountable, their own impact is often limited in terms of money, resources and scale.

It makes sense that the different sectors pair up to share skill sets, ideas and leverage but business and NGOs have history and putting the past behind them to work together was always going to raise some tricky issues. How do you overcome organisational clashes? Who leads in change management? What are the funding challenges? How do you measure success? And does the profit motive matter?

Panel

Janet Voûte joined Nestlé in 2010 and is responsible for managing its relationships with UN agencies, NGOs and other key stakeholders as well as driving the Creating Shared Value Initiative.

Gib Bulloch is the founder and executive director of Accenture Development Partnerships, a ring-fenced not-for-profit consulting group within Accenture.

Barbara Reynolds, is Save the Children's head of education for global programmes.

Zahid Torres-Rahman founding director of Business Fights Poverty and founding director of Business Action for Africa.

Further panellists to be confirmed.

Get involved

On Thursday 21 March, 1-3pm (GMT) leaders from different sectors will join us to take your questions on the mechanics, challenges and future of cross-sector alliances. To sign up for a reminder on the day, simply sign up using the form below. The discussion will take place on this page in the comments section and questions can be submitted in advance below or in an email.