| Helping businesses address conflict
Much attention has been paid in recent years to the often negative impact of economic activities in zones of conflict. Our work in conflict regions around the world has shown that the private sector also has the potential to play an important role in building lasting peace. Much of our work with businesspeople has been around developing their thinking on how it is in their interest to contribute to the creation of a stable political climate in which economic development can take place.
We have been involved with the business community in Nepal since 2003, supporting their initiatives to build peace at local, national and regional levels. The National Business Initiative for Peace (NBI) is one such initiative. Made up of 14 national business organizations, the NBI aims to contribute to ‘sustainable peace in Nepal through just socio-economic growth’. The NBI is committed to non-political engagement in any ‘genuine endeavour for peace’, and rejects prejudice, intimidation, and violence. By the end of 2007 they hope to have secured the involvement of other sectors of civil society in peace initiatives led by the private sector, and will have identified topics for the peace agenda. Their commitment to transparency and inclusiveness suggests they can offer a significant contribution to the search for peace.
As part of an International Alert global research project on the role of local business in peacebuilding, we have analysed the results of discussions that we have had with the Nepali business community, from big business, small and medium enterprises, to the informal sector. The final report, Local Business, Local Peace, published in August 2006, contains a case study on Nepal, including a closer look at the NBI. It will be used to persuade decision-makers to include local business in their peacebuilding strategies.
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For more information, contact: Mais Yacoub
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Last Updated: September 2006 |
