The Edelman communications and public relations firm recently released "Business and International Development," a survey of what businesses are expected to contribute to international development and what their responsibilities are. The participants surveyed were anonymous, but represented leaders from the business, NGO, and media community. (25 Fortune 500 executives, 10 NGO executives, 6 journalists, 4 investment analysts).

The survey revealed the general confusion about how much and in what domains business should engage in international development(ID). I won't summarize the findings here, I'll just mention the ones that surprised me or stimulate further questions. Your thoughts and comments (from the most basic to advanced) are welcome-don't be shy!

1) All groups seemed to recognize that businesses can and should engage in activities that benefit local communities, and can do so profitably. That's an encouraging and huge change in perception. Some of the benefits listed:
-creation of jobs and enterprises "Establishing facilities and creating jobs are , in my opinion the best thing a company can do." (Financial services company)
-infrastructure-related improvements which increase access to/reduce costs of technology, nutrition, water and sanitation
-microfinancial services
-managerial expertise conferred to local NGOs, other groups, government

If necessity is the mother of all invention, then people living at the base of the pyramid should have plenty of marketable ideas. Anil Gupta, executive chairperson of the National Innovation Foundation (NIF) and the founder of the Honey Bee Network thinks so. For 16 years, he's been systematically scouting for and documenting such innovations in rural India.

I first learned about the Honey Bee Network years ago while working for the Digital Dividend program, and recently ran across an article that reintroduced me to the organization. While reading it, I was impressed by how forward-looking its strategy is in terms of unlocking the market potential of poor rural areas.