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The Expert Centre for Sustainable Business and Development
Cooperation
(ECSAD) increases the knowledge of the role and functioning of
international and local business in promoting economic growth and
sustainable development in developing countries and countries in
transition. ECSAD works for national and local governments and other
public institutions, multinational firms and other enterprises, and for
non-governmental organisations. It offers tailor made research, training
and consultancy. The researchers and consultants from ECSAD combine a
thorough knowledge of business and civil society with a sound
understanding of the complicated set of problems that many developing
countries are facing today.
; introducing a business perspective to development. The research
programme combines traditional insights in business administration,
management, economics, political science and sociology with new studies
linking firm-specific information to macro-economic data, thus enhancing
the understanding of the relation between the private sector, civil
society, globalisation and sustainable development. The studies take a
multidisciplinary approach and may have either a country perspective, or
focus on supply chains, sectors, or specific topics such as
environmental, social and health issues.
; translating cutting-edge knowledge to practical solutions and new
insights for management practice, business-civil society engagement,
policy and business development, international cooperation and
capacity-building. This applies particularly to developing countries and
countries in transition, where restructuring, reform and privatisation
processes require the transfer of knowledge and expertise, in close
collaboration with local partners to build on indigenous experience and
take into account the particular circumstances in the region/country
concerned.
; Serving as a platform for knowledge transfer, and for exchanges
between and among governments, international organisations, MNEs, SMEs,
NGOs and other stakeholders from North and South, in specific projects
or through e.g. workshops and conferences. This is an area in which
research expertise and experience in training and consulting can be
combined, thus paying attention to the opportunities of international,
regional and local partnerships, but also the dilemmas and potential
pitfalls involved. The already existing international network of the
Expert Centre is vital in the further development of this partnership
function.
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