Economic Growth

Every quarter Whole Planet Foundation aggregates field metrics from our microfinance partners who are disbursing and collecting microcredit loans to people living in poverty.

To enable their efforts to do good for others, charities also need to manage the commercial, structural and strategic aspects of their organisation well. For that, they need an expertise they may not necessarily have among staff members.

Tetra Tech, Inc. (NASDAQ: TTEK) announced today that the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) awarded the Company a $650 million, multiple-award contract to develop innovative solutions to address land rights challenges around the world. Secure property rights provide a foundation for sustainable natural resource management, access to water resources, economic growth, and improved food security.

It would be difficult to think of a field that is more old-power than the arts.

Closely connected with this old-power/new-power dynamic is the way that technology has been embraced in these organizations (or not). Traditional performing arts institutions are lagging behind other kinds of groups when it comes to embracing interactive technology in their performances, particularly methods that empower their audiences.

We tried a new-power approach to philanthropy at American Express with our Partners in Preservation program, which we sponsor with the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

After 11 years, this partnership has awarded nearly $20 million in preservation funding to 250 diverse historic sites in 20 National Parks, fourteen different cities, and 12 Main Street communities.

As part of Whole Planet Foundation’s annual due diligence visits to our microfinance partners around the globe, we observe the presence or absence of “responsible finance indicators” which shed light on how our partners are serving the world’s poorest people. Many of our microfinance partners use or develop strategies to inform their work, ensuring they are reaching their target populations with the services they need most.

We have long known that our Living Progress plan is the right thing for a responsible company to do. But we now have increasing evidence that our sustainability credentials contribute to our business objectives and deliver value to our shareholders. This trend is reflected in the burgeoning growth of the sustainability investment sector.

Dell is teaming with the Canadian-based non-profit IMPACT to provide women in the Democratic Republic of Congo with business education focused on investing their savings into new entrepreneurship opportunities in their communities.

In our 2017 Sustainability Report, we demonstrate how our unwavering commitment to safe, responsible and sustainable mining underpins every facet of our business. From our initial community outreach before a mine is built to our meticulous reclamation and rehabilitation practices post-closure, we strive to build lasting, mutually-beneficial relationships, drive innovation, improve safety performance and minimize our environmental footprint. Brent Bergeron, Executive Vice President, Corporate Affairs and Sustainability, reflects on 2017’s developments and initiatives, and how we are generating enduring value for and with local communities.

Teck has released its second annual Economic Contribution Report, providing information about the economic benefits generated by its activities, including payments to suppliers, employee wages and benefits, and payments to governments. The report builds on Teck’s commitment to transparency and voluntary disclosure.

UN Sustainable Development Goals give companies and investors a unique chance to create a better world. In this video, prominent members from the investor world explain why the SDGs matter when it comes to making better investment decisions.