Business partnerships

For years those who worked in development viewed business and the international capital markets system as the root of the problem for the world’s poor.

A farm manager and CARE project worker in Kenya, in the early days of the VegCARE project
A farm manager and CARE project worker in Kenya, in the early days of the VegCARE project
©CARE

But that view is changing and there is now a growing understanding of the negative effects of business on the environment and vulnerable populations – and a realisation that these negative effects have associated costs to business and society as a whole.

Finding solutions

By harnessing the core skills and technical expertise of big business, CARE believes it can begin to find lasting, sustainable solutions.

This is all about using business knowledge, expertise and dynamism and combining this with the knowledge and skills CARE has of engaging with poor communities, understanding their needs and recognising their capacity to be active participants in development solutions.

How does it work?

What began as a few small-scale microfinance schemes is now turning into a totally new model for linking corporate and social sectors.

Another partnership that is benefiting business as well as the poor is the hugely successful VegCARE in Kenya.

They began selling their produce to Vegpro, which supplies western supermarkets with exotic vegetables, and CARE farmers were producing up to 60 percent of its Asian vegetable requirement.

Now many of the aubergines and baby sweetcorn in Tesco and Sainsbury’s have been grown by CARE farmers.

Partnership models can make money for business, thereby giving business an incentive to keep projects going and make the partnership more and more successful.