Responsible Competitiveness in Action
Responsible Competitiveness is the winning combination of policies, actions and enablers that grow sustainable markets, deliver responsible productivity and enhance accountable performance.
"Responsible Competitiveness is an essential ingredient for effective global markets. It blends forward-looking corporate strategies, innovative public policies, and a vibrant, engaged civil society. It is about creating a new generation of profitable products and business processes underpinned by rules that support societies' broader social, environmental and economic aims."
Pascal Lamy, Director General, World Trade Organisation
AccountAbility has 5 years of applied research experience on responsible competitiveness. During this time we have developed responsible competitiveness strategies for:
- Companies: our recent clients include BT, Authentix and the Co-op Group
- Sector groups in Canada, El Salvador and across Europe: our November 2006 report on how Europe's pharmaceutical, finance and ICT sectors can enhance their international competitiveness through responsible competitiveness is an example of our work
- Cities and Provinces: including a number of the UK's regional development agencies
- Sector-based strategies: many countries are advancing the competitiveness of their apparel and textile sectors by ambitious programs to improve labour and environmental standards. There is growing recognition that productivity and national brand can be enhance through these initiatives (www.mfa-forum.net). AccountAbility convenes the MFA Forum which works on the links between national competitiveness and labor standards in global supply chains.
- National Governments: we have worked with a number of governments to assess their climate change strategy and progress towards achieving a low carbon economy. We have also recently embarked on a 3-year- programme in Saudi Arabia to help achieve its ambitious goal of becoming one of the world's 10 most competitive economies by 2010
More recently, there has been growth in this field with other CSR focused organisations paying more attention to Responsible Competitiveness. For example, CSR Europe's recently launched 'Toolbox for a Competitive and Responsible Europe.' Click here for more information
This work is lead by Alex MacGillivray, and Paul Begley.
For more information or any enquiries email Cara Gallen.
