Publications: Inclusive Business

Oct 18, 2022

Increasing Access to Health Services Through Inclusive Digital Health

This report aims to share knowledge on how healthcare providers can embed digital health into their business models to expand access to health services among the underserved, or individuals at the base of the pyramid.

English - 16 pages | Español - 16 pages | 2022 IFC

May 27, 2020

Leveraging Inclusive Business Models to Support the Base of the Pyramid during COVID-19

The COVID-19 crisis is expected to roll back some of the progress made against global poverty over the last two decades, with the greatest impact on individuals at the base of the economic pyramid. Inclusive businesses that expand access to goods, services, and livelihoods for these individuals are responding to the crisis by reorienting and adapting their inclusive business models and operations. This note highlights seven actions that companies are taking to address needs at the base of the pyramid. We present their actions here as examples of what other businesses could do in response to the needs of those at the base of the pyramid.

Jan 17, 2018

Expanding Access to Improved Sanitation for the Poor

IFC and its client Manila Water recently completed an in-depth study of sanitation conditions, practices, and preferences among low-income households in urban and peri-urban Philippines. The summary report shows that these households face multiple challenges to improving their sanitation conditions such as costs, land ownership issues, and lack of space. The findings present both the drivers of demand and the barriers to access that low-income households face, concluding that the key to reaching these populations include technological innovation, development of new methods of financing, and close coordination between the public and private sectors.

Sep 16, 2016

Built for Change: Inclusive Business Solutions for the Base of the Pyramid

IFC presents five in-depth case studies of inclusive businesses and identifies the common strategies these companies are employing to do business with people living at the base of the pyramid. Ranging in geographies and sectors (agriculture, education, financial services, and healthcare), each company has a unique path but their shared strategies provides insights that can spark innovation among future business entrepreneurs. The case studies are based on interviews with the companies’ founders, chief executive, and senior management.

Sep 7, 2016

G20 Inclusive Business Report for the 2016 Summit

Leaders at the G20 Leaders Summit in Hangzhou, China emphasized the need for sustainable and inclusive growth, and welcomed the 2016 Inclusive Business report and the launch of the G20 Global Platform on Inclusive Business www.g20inclusivebusiness.org. The Platform is a global partnership that seeks to accelerate the adoption of inclusive business policies and programs globally.

Nov 17, 2015

G20 Inclusive Business Framework and Leaders’ Call to Action

Leaders at the G20 Leaders Summit in Turkey issued a call to action to public and private sector representatives, international organizations and civil society to advance the ability of businesses around the world to integrate low-income people into their value chains. The call highlights inclusive business’ important role in the implementation of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals aimed at ending poverty by 2030. As part of the Call to action, the G20 endorsed the G20 Inclusive Business Framework, which presents policy options for G20 and non-G20 governments, companies, and international financial institutions to promote and support inclusive business.

Feb 4, 2015

Corridors for Shared Prosperity: Spotlight on India-Africa Inclusive Business Transfer

IFC’s new study ‘Corridors for Shared Prosperity’ contributes to building a shared understanding of successful approaches and challenges in replication. It proposes a framework for systematic replication using examples of 11 Indian inclusive businesses that have been replicated across border. It analyzes the demand for inclusive business models in Africa in three high-impact focus sectors for transfer: agriculture, healthcare and renewable energy, and discusses key drivers of transfer of inclusive models from India to Africa. The study is a foundational effort to encourage systematic transfer of Indian inclusive business models, and to lay down a framework based on empirical evidence to guide such work.

Feb 4, 2015

Landscape of Inclusive Business models of Healthcare in India: Business Model Innovations

IFC’s new study ‘Landscape of Inclusive Business Models of Healthcare in India' aims to inform the healthcare ecosystem of the opportunities in the health inclusive business space and suggestions for catalyzing growth of innovative business models in the health sector. While the innovative models have shown great potential, only a few have gone to scale and thereby maximized impact. The study analyzes the ecosystem in which they operate including regulatory issues, value chains, support services, as well as enterprise-level issues. This would enable stakeholders to gauge what is needed and examine what role they can play to improve the ecosystem.

Dec 12, 2014

Impact of Efficient Irrigation Technology on Small Farmers

IFC recently commissioned a series of studies to better understand the impact that adoption of efficient irrigation technology can have on smallholders’ farming practices and livelihoods. The studies also analyzed the main factors that enable the adoption of such technology, focusing in particular on assessing the financing solutions for smallholder investments in efficient irrigation. The highlights from these studies are presented in this brochure.

Nov 18, 2014

Shared Prosperity through Inclusive Business: How Successful Companies Reach the Base of the Pyramid

This IFC report summarizes the practical lessons that we can learn from IFC’s inclusive business clients. There are lessons for each phase of the value chain – including procurement, product development, distribution and retail, and marketing and sales.  Each lesson is illustrated by a profile of an IFC client that is using that approach to reach the Base of the Pyramid (BOP) on a commercial basis.

Mar 20, 2013

The Role of the Private Sector in Expanding Health Access to the Base of the Pyramid

IFC’s purpose is to create opportunities for people to escape poverty and improve their lives by developing more outlets for inclusive and sustainable growth. To ensure equitable access to healthcare, we are committed to supporting companies that are providing health services to the poor in commercially viable ways. To this end, IFC conducted a study on how to help the private sector expand access to health services to the base of the pyramid. The study examined Brazil, China, India, Indonesia, Mexico, Nigeria and Turkey—countries with significant health markets yet large underserved populations. Three health segments were analyzed: healthcare service provision, distribution of drugs and medical equipment, and medical technology.

Oct 9, 2012

Being the Change: Inspiring the Next Generation of Inclusive Business Entrepreneurs Impacting the Base of the Pyramid

Based on interviews with 14 founders and CEOs of IFC client companies, the report identifies a number of lessons on inclusive business, including the need to balance short-term returns with long-term goals and the importance of knowledge of local conditions, needs, and capabilities. The stories also reflect the overarching optimism these leaders share about the future of inclusive business.

Jul 1, 2012

Policy Note on the Business Environment for Inclusive Business Models

This policy note analyzes survey answers from the G20 Challenge applicants on the regulatory obstacles they face in their businesses. It summarizes how public policy can support business models that include people at the base of the pyramid as producers or suppliers (focusing on agriculture) and as customers (focusing on affordable housing, health, education and basic financial services).

Jul 1, 2012

G20 Challenge on Inclusive Business Innovation

The G20 Challenge on Inclusive Business Innovation report provides an overview and highlights of the Challenge and provides profiles of each of the winners. 

Sep 22, 2011

Accelerating Inclusive Business Opportunities: Business Models that Make a Difference

IFC's newest inclusive business report, "Accelerating Inclusive Business Opportunities," identifies seven inclusive business models that expand access to goods, services, and livelihood opportunities for the world’s poorest people while generating strong financial returns. These models are helping companies turn underserved populations into dynamic consumer markets and diverse new sources of supply. 

Sep 22, 2011

Inclusive Business Models: Guide to the Inclusive Business Models in IFC's Portfolio

This new report includes a set of 31 case studies on IFC’s portfolio companies with inclusive business models. Together these companies are profitably providing goods, services, and livelihood opportunities to more than 100 million people at the base of the economic pyramid. 

Oct 20, 2010

Inclusive Business Solutions: Expanding Opportunity and Access at the Base of the Pyramid

This report highlights the successful approaches IFC clients have taken to overcome the challenges faced while starting and scaling their inclusive business models.

Apr 10, 2010

Scaling up Inclusive Business: Advancing the Knowledge and Action Agenda

This report is intended to frame key issue areas that need to be addressed to move the field of inclusive business forward – toward greater scale and effectiveness – building on the considerable momentum that already exists.

Jul 20, 2009

Developing Inclusive Business Models: A Review of Coca-Cola’s Manual Distribution Centers in Ethiopia and Tanzania

This report provides a review of how a large corporation, Coca-Cola, can proactively engage in inclusive business approaches with the aim of achieving core business benefits - such as greater competitiveness, increased market share and improved risk management - while also contributing to the achievement of international development goals. 

Mar 30, 2009

Business Linkages: Enabling Access to Markets at the Base of the Pyramid

This report summarizes the findings of the fourth Business Linkages Series event which focused on the challenges and solutions of business linkages that enable access to markets at the base of the pyramid. 

Jun 30, 2008

Supporting Entrepreneurship at the Base of the Pyramid through Business Linkages

This report summarizes the findings of the third Business Linkages Series event, which focused on supply, distribution, and sales models that foster entrepreneurship and enterprise development among those currently living in conditions of poverty.

Sep 20, 2007

Business Linkages: Lessons, Opportunities and Challenges

This publication is an example of IFC's ongoing commitment to sharing knowledge and good practices, and to partnering with key global players to address challenges and identify opportunities for linkages in developing countries.