Why Sustainable Development?
A marketplace in Quibdó, Colombia, where local entrepreneurs who participate in CGSGI business development programs are able to sell their goods.
Private sector engagement in social and economic development is increasingly recognized as an enabling condition for doing business in much of the developing world. While many companies are motivated by an ethical or moral belief in doing right by the communities impacted by their operations, there is also a bottom-line awareness that the world of international business has changed, giving leading global companies the added incentive to develop a sincere and productive relationship with the local community.
To do this, the landscape of corporate responsibility is changing. More companies are moving away from – or adding to – traditional aid programs to make investments in improving the long-term economic and social development for people living in these communities.
How the Foundation Makes a Difference
Partnering with key stakeholders in the developing world, CGSGI will apply the same successful systemic approach of the Clinton Foundation’s other initiatives, including our HIV/AIDS work and sustainable development projects in Africa, to strengthen the systems that create jobs, increase incomes, close the gap between the rich and the poor, and provide people the resources to lift themselves out of poverty such as education, entrepreneurship training, and health care.
PROFILE
Carlos H. Fernández Mazzi grew up in Bolivia, where he developed a deep understanding of economic inequality. Frustrated with the waste of money in the name of poverty, he now leads a results-oriented initiative dedicated to closing the wealth gap.
