From the President
IGD had a successful 2011, closing off the year with our Leadership Council meeting hosted by co-chairs Madeleine Albright and Colin Powell. The council reviewed and expressed strong support for IGD’s sharpened strategic plan for reducing global poverty by catalyzing business investment with social impact in Africa.

Already, Frontier 100 CEOs report a total of over $200 million in potential investment as a result of their involvement in the network. These investments

are catalyzing job creation and increased opportunities for thousands of African families. Frontier 100 members built relationships and shared knowledge at two Frontier 100 Forums, which were held in Cape Town in May and in New York in October, as well as through numerous smaller events, conference calls and one-on-one meetings.

Complementing the work of Frontier 100, our newest network, Development Partners, brought business leaders together with U.S. government officials to increase awareness of government initiatives, tools and resources that support private sector activity with development impact.

In 2012, we will continue to serve as a leading resource for companies interested in investing in Africa with social impact. Increased economic growth will result in employment, opportunities and improved livelihoods for millions of African citizens.

Read on below to learn about recent events and accomplishments and here’s to a great 2012!

Best regards,
Jennifer Potter, IGD President & CEO

Jennifer Potter Named Woman of Influence

Puget Sound Business Journal honored IGD President & CEO Jennifer Potter as one of 15 local Women of Influence. The award program celebrates the successes and accomplishments of women leaders. Ms. Potter was recognized for her leadership of IGD and work to reduce global poverty through increased economic growth in frontier markets.

She spoke of her work with business to reduce global poverty in an interview with Rainmakers TV.

Business-to-Business Partnerships Report

IGD and Dalberg Global Development Advisors recently released Frontier 100’s latest report, Business-to-Business Partnerships: Recommendations for Expansion Across Africa. The report highlights successful partnerships and strategies and was informed by discussions among Frontier 100 CEOs at the Frontier 100 Forum in New York, 2011. CEOs emphasized that the fundamentals of partnerships are the same in Africa as in other parts of the world, but Africa’s dynamic markets and diversity among the 54 African countries makes cross-border expansion particularly complex. Partnerships with local companies can help foreign firms, headquartered within or outside of Africa, gain on-the-ground knowledge, navigate local business climates and seize investment opportunities.

Sharing Risk in a World of Danger and Opportunities

U.S. government development agencies can expand their impact by working strategically with the private sector and strengthening development finance tools. A December, 2011 CSIS report “Sharing Risk in a World of Dangers and Opportunities” by Daniel Runde, Robert Mosbacher, Jr. and Mildred Callear makes specific recommendations on improving the coordination, flexibility and focus of U.S. government financing tools to enhance the sustainability and effectiveness of development programs. Read more here about the report and ways to encourage companies to invest alongside the U.S. government. 

Business Leaders in Action

Emmanuel Katongole is CEO of Quality Chemical Industries Ltd., the first African WHO-certified manufacturer of antiretroviral and anti-malarial drugs. He is a member of Frontier 100 and is very optimistic about Africa’s economic potential, believing that strategic investment will result in lowered production costs, increased household incomes, improved food security and overall poverty reduction. He shared his experiences building manufacturing capacity in Africa at the recent Leadership Council meeting.

Read IGD’s profile of Mr. Katongole.

Frontier 100 welcomes new members Nicola Galombic, Executive Director of Yellowwoods Ventures Investments and Thad Simons, President & CEO of Novus International, Inc.

The Leadership Council welcomes new member Joseph C. Brandt, President & CEO, ContourGlobal. 

We're Moving!

IGD's Seattle office is moving to a new space in mid-February. Our new address is 1325 4th Avenue, Seattle, WA 98101.

Newsworthy

Business Seeks to End Global Poverty
Rainmakers TV, January 3, 2012
Interview with IGD President & CEO Jennifer Potter

Jennifer Potter - PSBJ Women of Influence
Puget Sound Business Journal, November 16, 2011
Interview with IGD President & CEO Jennifer Potter

Business Partnership Strategies for Africa
Afribiz, November 7, 2011
Interview with Frontier 100 Director Jumaane Tafawa

Connect with IGD