Success depends on the surroundings - Nestle

“The success of a business is tied up with the health of the society in which it operates” , says Antonio Meloto, the chairman and founder of Gawad Kalinga (GK).

The Creating Shared Value (CSV) forum opened discussions on how businesses can help improve societies by not seeing investments in social programs as cost but as opportunities to improve. Meloto, was invited to share his insights on how corporations and NGOs can work together to alleviate poverty and share his experience on how GK is able to create shared value between businesses, government, NGOs, and residents of GK villages.

A community cannot thrive without a source of wealth, job and income for its citizens. These are provided best by businesses which in turn cannot do well in a society filled with ignorance, criminality, poverty and ill health. With the help of those who can,  stronger, healthier communities like the GK villages help empower the poor because they are given a chance to can build homes, set up schools, start businesses, grow food, all the things you need for a thriving rural community. With these resources, they are more motivated to increase their income, live healthier lives, pursue an education, take care of their environment and their community.

Nestle Philippines is one of GK’s partners in building such communities. Their example should serve as an inspiration for companies to work with communities in building a stronger society that will overcome the challenges that the 21st century brings.

Cheftonio

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As consultant to major corporations, and co-author/author of several influential studies Mark Kramer, a Harvard professor and expert in philanthropy and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), persuades companies to build their business strategies that would not only bring competitive advantage but also benefit the society. To do so, companies must stop viewing society and its sectors as obstacles but as opportunities that would allow for growth and success.

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How could one measure the benefits of investing in water? The Creating Shared Value (CSV) Forum held last April encouraged businesses to see water as a business investment that has the potential for a high rate of return.

Economic benefits of investing in water can be measured in terms of “time savings” according to the Asian Development Bank (ADB) report. The two types are: 1) Gains from lower morbidity and fewer deaths; and 2) Gains from spending less time and energy to fetch water. With access to water for drinking and hygiene, a population is able to improve its lifestyle, allowing for educational and economic growth.

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Follow Nestle’s example into a healthier way to gain market share

Nestlé Philippines with the Asian Development Bank, the Philippine Business for Social Progress and the Asian Institute of Management RVR Center for Social Responsibility, organized the Creating Shared Value (CSV) Forum to encourage more companies to embrace the CSV philosophy and become agents of social progress.

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Creating Shared Value: Enhancing society and improving profits simultaneously

The idea is to change the mentality of social programs as business costs to seeing them as opportunities to increase profitability while simultaneously helping society.

With this in mind, Nestlé Philippines with the Asian Development Bank, the Philippine Business for Social Progress and the Asian Institute of Management RVR Center for Social Responsibility organized the Creating Shared Value (CSV) Forum that was held last April 23, 2010 where topics regarding the Nutrition, Water and Rural Development were discussed by experts on their respective specialization. The forum’s main speaker, a Harvard professor and social responsibility expert named Mark Kramer, urged companies and society stakeholders such as governments, NGOs and aid agencies to work together for their mutual benefit claiming that both business and society are interdependent and one cannot thrive and succeed without the help of the other.

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