Poverty Footprint

Today, the value of global business in developing countries far exceeds that of development assistance, creating an opportunity for the private sector to use its resources and influence to address global social and economic challenges. Understanding the complex relationship between industry and poverty can lead to more visible value chains, better businesses, and improved communities.The Oxfam Poverty Footprint Methodology builds a culture of measurement and transparency around social impacts and catalyzes transformative innovations to reduce poverty and foster sustainable business models.

Increasingly, corporations are finding that the success of their bottom line depends on the health and well-being of their workforce, consumer opinion, their reputation, and the global communities in which they operate. Tackling global development challenges cannot be solved by civil society and government alone, and the private sector has the opportunity to contribute valuable ideas, resources and influence toward positive change. The Oxfam Poverty Footprint Methodology aims to bring a much needed focus, energy, and process to the social side of sustainability impact measurement – doing for poverty analysis what is now common practice on environmental issues such as carbon and water. Oxfam created the Poverty Footprint in an attempt to use the scale and resources of the private sector to fill a critical gap in understanding and leveraging the role of businesses in poverty alleviation.

Each Poverty Footprint analyzes five dimensions of poverty (Standard of Living, Health and Well-Being, Diversity and Gender Equality, Empowerment, and Security and Stability) through the lens of five private sector impact areas (Macro-economy, Value Chains, Use of Natural Resources, Product Development and Marketing, and Policies and Institutions). A Poverty Footprint presents an opportunity for Oxfam and additional key stakeholders to develop an in-depth understanding of a company’s operations from the inside out, and reveals concrete steps that the company can take on to improve its business and the lives of those in poverty. This kind of collaboration is critical to devising lasting sustainable solutions to poverty in our global world.

Coca-Cola/SABMiIIer Poverty Footprint

Read, "Exploring the links between international business and poverty reduction," the output of a multi-year collaboration among The Coca-Cola Company, Oxfam America, and SABMiIIer to apply Oxfam's Poverty Footprint Methodology to the Coca-Cola/SABMiIIer value chain in Zambia and El Salvador.

Check out a webinar where Oxfam, SABMiller, and Coca-Cola discuss the collaboration and report findings, and take questions from listeners.

Read the blog: "Lifting the veil…to see your own face."

For further information, please contact Kyle Cahill at kcahill@oxfamamerica.org.

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