Plenary
Cultivating Effective NGO-Business Partnerships
Over the past decade, nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) and corporations have partnered to achieve both commercial and social/environmental objectives. These partnerships have evolved from the basic provision of resources and funding to direct influences on each other’s internal business practices, and ultimately to joint work such as the reform of government policies. A premier example of an NGO-business partnership is the KKR-EDF Green Portfolio, the first joint initiative between a large private equity fund and nonprofit environmental group with the goal of measuring the environmental performance of US companies in KKR’s portfolio. However, NGO-business partnerships are not considered “best practices” to all, as many nongovernmental organizations see their primary responsibility as holding all parties accountable by playing “watchdog” for their particular industry.
The high-profile Plenary Session will gather all 600 conference attendees together to examine these emerging models of NGO-business partnerships from the perspective of each party involved. We will explore key motivations, risks and expectations, pros/cons of different models and requirements for lasting, effective partnerships.
Moderator: Alan M. Webber, Founder, Fast Company
Panelists: Allison Clements, Corporate Counsel, Natural Resources Defense Council, Geoffrey Heal, Paul Garrett Professor of Public Policy and Business Responsibility, Columbia Business School, Ana Paula Tavares, Deputy Director and Director of Development, Rainforest Alliance
The Social Enterprise Conference 2008 is presented by the Columbia Business School's Social Enterprise Club and the International Development Club with the support of the Social Enterprise Program, Energy Club, Microlumbia Fund and Green Business Club, and our generous sponsors. |
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