Development Co-operation Report 2016
The Sustainable Development Goals as Business Opportunities
The face of development has changed, with diverse stakeholders involved – and implicated – in what are more and more seen as global and interlinked concerns. At the same time, there is an urgent need to mobilise unprecedented resources to achieve the ambitious Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The private sector can be a powerful promotor of sustainable development. Companies provide jobs, infrastructure, innovation and social services, among others. Increasingly, investments in developing countries – even in the least developed countries – are seen as business opportunities, despite the risks involved. The public sector can leverage the private sector contribution, helping to manage risk and providing insights into effective policy and practice. Yet in order to set the right incentives, a better understanding is needed of the enabling factors, as well as the constraints, for businesses and investors interested in addressing sustainable development challenges.
The Development Co-operation Report 2016 explores the potential and challenges of investing in developing countries, in particular through social impact investment, blended finance and foreign direct investment. The report provides guidance on responsible business conduct and outlines the challenges in mobilising and measuring private finance to achieve the SDGs. Throughout the report, practical examples illustrate how business is already promoting sustainable development and inclusive growth in developing countries. Part II of the report showcases the profiles and performance of development co-operation providers, and presents DAC statistics on official and private resource flows.
Also available in: French
Austria
Austria uses its official development assistance to catalyse private investment for sustainable development, in line with the strong focus it places on private sector development in its three-year programmes for development co-operation and its Private Sector and Development Guidelines (2010). Austria focuses on private sector development to improve the business‑enabling environment in developing countries and to strengthen the market position of small and medium enterprises in partner countries while also partnering with the Austrian/EU private sector. By means of private sector engagement, Austrian Development Co-operation (ADC) intends to create income, strengthen institutions and enhance availability of public goods in partner countries. Moreover, many private sector projects aim at improving social and environmental standards along the international value/supply chain of the European company involved.
Also available in: French