ABSTRACT
In recent years more business executives have expressed commitment to making a positive contribution to social development across the world. This is illustrated by new awards schemes to recognise business leadership in meeting the Millennium Development Goals, such as the 'Inclusive Business Challenge' and the World Business and Development Awards. There are numerous instances of enterprise being undertaken to deliver specific development impacts, which is often called 'social enterprise'. Projects that do not exhibit the characteristics may create some benefit, but risk causing new problems in the communities they affect, and therefore may have unintended negative consequences for both sustainable development and the performance and reputation of the organisations involved. A project of the UN Global Compact with leading business members, to advance the development of new transformational cross-sector partnerships that address systemic causes of public problems. This research and dialogue platform provides advice to UN agencies and business partners on the characteristics and challenges of third generation of partnering.
