Targeting the base of the pyramid at scale: Easier said than done!

Vision 2050 of the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) plots a pathway to a world in which 9 billion people live well and within the boundaries of the planet. To deliver tangible outcomes along this pathway, here at the Council we underscore the role and the opportunity for forward-thinking companies to catalyze and scale up solutions that drive greater social inclusion and sustainable development in emerging markets.

Published: 7 Aug 2015
Author: Filippo Veglio
Type: Insight

In an article recently published in Thinkers, an Indian quarterly magazine, I shared the WBCSD's views on the scalability of inclusive business ventures targeting the base of the pyramid by expanding access to goods, services, and livelihoods in commercially viable ways.

In the article, I present our perspectives on the concept of scale, and highlight the results of the research conducted by the Council around the key internal barriers faced by multinational companies when it comes to scaling up these ventures. The work, based on in-depth conversations with leading member companies and experts in this field, does not limit itself to highlighting problems. Rather, it focused on sharing a set of proven solutions (a dozen in total) that these front-runners have adopted. While some of the examples featured are success stories, the majority are ongoing efforts of sets of ideas and practical strategies.

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