The International Business Leaders Forum is an international non-profit organisation that promotes business leadership and partnerships for sustainable international development.

It was set up in 1990 by The Prince of Wales and a group of chief executives of international companies, in response to the emerging challenges of economic growth and change in the global economy.

IBLF is now supported by more than 70 of the world’s leading companies and has a track record of enabling leadership and sustainable solutions to local and global development challenges. IBLF is a UK registered charity.

IBLF is closely involved with Business Action for Africa, providing administrative support to the coalition and coordinating the work and partnerships around enterprise and employment, trade and perceptions of Africa.

governance & transparency

IBLF co-manages (with Business for Social Responsibility) the Secretariat for the Voluntary Principles on Security and Human Rights, which guide extractive and energy companies in balancing the need for safety with respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms. With the support of IBLF, participants involved in the Voluntary Principles process engage in National Task Forces - including in Nigeria - focused on raising in-country awareness about the Principles, and identifying in-country 'champions' to lead implementation efforts.

trade

IBLF coordinates Business Action for Africa's work in trade.

enterprise & employment

IBLF has worked in Zambia with a local organisation The Partnership Forum on projects which enable local farmers to sell their produce to a supermarket chain, improving yields of high quality vegetables and dramatically improving returns for the farmers.

Youth Business International is a programme of IBLF that supports young entrepreneurs in over 30 countries across the world. In Africa, it operates accredited programmes in Kenya, Nigeria and South Africa and has pilot programmes in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ghana and Zambia.

IBLF coordinates Business Action for Africa's work in enterprise.

human development

IBLF’s aim is to make the case for a business response to HIV/AIDS by demonstrating the impact of HIV/AIDS to a company bottom line. IBLF has developed practical guidance and frameworks for business to engage, and has taken a partnership approach to take action to scale. IBLF’s has written a number of publications on the business response to HIV/AIDS.

IBLF is currently exploring the possibility of a partnership with the Global Business Coalition on HIV/AIDS.

IBLF also runs a programme called the Digital Partnership, which facilitates affordable access to technology, training and the internet for learning and enterprise in developing and emerging markets. IBLF launched the initiative in South Africa in May 2001, and it has since been replicated in a number of countries, including Ethiopia.

perceptions of africa

IBLF's Crossing Borders initiative, which takes senior business leaders to business-supported projects in developing countries, has profiled Peter Brabeck-Letmathe, chief executive officer of Nestle, visiting Agbara Community High School in Nigeria to learn about HIV/AIDS education initiatives.

Crossing Borders brings business leaders face to face with local projects and shows them how businesses impact on and are impacted by the development challenges in the local communities where they operate. The programme was launched in 2005 and more visits to Africa are planned for 2006.

IBLF coordinates Business Action for Africa's work in perceptions.