Action Forum: 11 June in Nairobi, Kenya

This interactive multi-stakeholder session will focus on exploring the critical role of business in contributing positively to sustainable development for people, communities, and the planet, while navigating an increasingly uncertain world. Companies operating in Kenya, and across East Africa play a pivotal role in driving transformative change, not only through their regional headquarters and value chains, but also by shaping economies and impacting communities at scale. With growing influence across industries, these companies have the power to lead on sustainability, embedding action into their core business strategies. The session will also introduce the work of the World Benchmarking Alliance (WBA) and discuss how evidence and insights can be used to inform, support and – when needed – challenge companies in their sustainability performance.

This interactive multi-stakeholder session will focus on exploring the critical role of business in contributing positively to sustainable development for people, communities, and the planet, while navigating an increasingly uncertain world. Companies operating in Kenya, and across East Africa play a pivotal role in driving transformative change, not only through their regional headquarters and value chains, but also by shaping economies and impacting communities at scale. With growing influence across industries, these companies have the power to lead on sustainability, embedding action into their core business strategies. The session will also introduce the work of the World Benchmarking Alliance (WBA) and discuss how evidence and insights can be used to inform, support and – when needed – challenge companies in their sustainability performance.

At the event venue

Session 3: Understanding, assessing and driving action towards a more resilient and sustainable Urban future:
We will start with a brief introduction to the WBA’s 2024 Urban Benchmark. This will be followed by an expert panel discussion focusing on different urban development stakeholders’ efforts to engage with businesses. The session will then open up into an interaction workshop on possible ways forward to work together towards a more sustainable urban future.

Session 4: What’s key to ensuring an inclusive approach to digital acceleration? This workshop will feature presentations and roundtable discussions based on the Digital Inclusion Benchmark and Ranking Digital Rights. The session will start with an introduction and overview of the methodologies and findings from WBA’s benchmarks, after which we will open a discussion on the learnings from the latest available research data, to identify linkages and opportunities for advocacy and stakeholder engagement in Africa. In the second part of the session, we will invite stakeholders to share what they consider to be the most pressing issues undermining digital rights and inclusion, in connection to the footprint and impacts of the Digital Transformation’s 200 companies and beyond. The aim of this exercise will be to foster a broader conversation about tech corporate accountability in Africa.

At the event venue