The public and private sectors must show leadership, imagination and social responsibility, and must form true partnerships in order to alleviate poverty in developing countries.

Those were the key messages from speakers and participants at the second Development Policy Forum (DPF) Roundtable on 3 April, which focussed on ways that business can contribute to Europe’s aid efforts.

“What we’re facing is a crisis in leadership and imagination,” said Sean de Cleene, Vice-President of African Programmes and Business Development for Yara International ASA and Co-founder of the African Institute of Corporate Citizenship. “If we are to significantly alleviate poverty in the 21st century we need to look at the reality of the current economic challenge we face in its entirety, which to date we haven’t done. No one sector can do it on its own. We don’t need a whole lot of complicated ideas. We need to combine all of our energies to actively work together, in true partnership."

Richard Howitt MEP, Vice-Chairman of the European Parliament Committee on Human Rights and Rapporteur on Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), stressed the need for the private sector to contribute in a socially responsible way to the communities in which they conduct business.

“The social and environmental impact of any business is not neutral,” he said. “You need to screen what you do against the Millennium Development Goals and see what else you can do. Check what you are doing and who you are working with. Be a good corporate citizen in each and every developing country in which you work.”

Participants agreed that although there is need for stronger public-private partnerships, there is no one winning formula for success. Each partnership must be considered on an individual basis.

A number of private sector representatives stressed that business goals can share development goals. But the private sector will invest in development projects only if the projects operate beyond the auspices of CSR. There must be a link to the core business or the project will not survive.

This Development Policy Forum (DPF) roundtable was attended by some 140 participants from across Europe and beyond, including representatives of political authorities, members of national, European and international development organisations, commentators and business and NGO representatives.

For a list of attended discussants, please click here.