The Africa Shared Value Summit returns to Johannesburg, South Africa following the successful hosting of the inaugural summit in Sandton last year under the theme, “Profit with Purpose”.
This year, the Summit, taking place on 24 – 25 May 2018, has a sharp focus on the challenge set out by the United Nations to the nations of the world when it launched the 17 Sustainable Development Goals in 2015. The challenge has been clearly set: to achieve the SDGs by 2030.
What is Africa’s role? Can we meet the challenge?
This is the question that the 2018 Africa Shared Value Summit will attempt to answer in its second edition.
The Africa Shared Value Summit raises awareness and advocates for the success of the strategic implementation of the Shared Value business model, which brings about social change while positively impacting profit. In 2018, the Summit aims to deepen and continue the Shared Value conversation, with a focus on implementation, impact and how Shared Value may be used as a vehicle to implement and align business to the SDGs.
The Summit will bring together top thought leaders and innovators in business from across the African continent and further afield to share experiences and propose ways in which the Shared Value business can be implemented to positively impact the lives of Africans.
Facing unique challenges of inequality, political instability, economic development, fragile healthcare and strained education systems, Africa has been challenged to work towards improving the lives of its people. The Shared Value business model, which sees the business opportunity inherent in societal challenges, is the key to unlocking the continent’s full potential in the twenty-first century.
The Summit is hosted by Shift Social Development, a Shared Value consultancy which assists businesses with crafting and implementing Shared Value strategies and offers tactical support to companies making the transition to Shared Value.
“We are excited by the opportunity we have to host the Summit again this year. We are particularly humbled that Mark Kramer, a leading Shared Value scholar has agreed to be our keynote speaker,” says Tiekie Barnard, director and founder of Shift Social Development.
Mark Kramer, co-founder and MD of FSG Social Impact Advisers, will be coming from New York to give a keynote address at the Summit. He is regarded as one of the top minds in business innovation in the area of Shared Value. Kramer has led consulting engagements across all of FSG’s impact areas, with particular emphasis on philanthropic strategy for private foundations, Shared Value initiatives, strategic evaluation, and impact investing.
He will be joined on the programme by other noteworthy international business leaders, including Dr Amy Jadesimi, MD and CEO of LADOL (Nigeria), Lizeka Dlepu, Head of Sustainability and Community Relations Enel Global (South Africa) and Lucia Bakulumpagi-Wamala, CEO and Founder of Bakulu Power (Uganda).
Leading broadcaster, political analyst and author Eusebius McKaiser is set to return as programme director.
For the second year running, Absa will be the headline sponsor of the Summit. The financial institution has embraced Shared Value in its business operations both in South Africa and throughout Africa.
Other summit sponsors include Nando’s, Enel Green Power, Discovery and the World Food Programme.
For more information on the programme and speakers, and for all bookings, please visit the website: www.africasharedvaluesummit.com
