News Archives

 

January 2010 – Expanding Successful CSR in Peru – a small company makes a big splash.

January saw a number of milestones for Comedad, a CSR initiative from Peruvian firm Comercia designed by AMGlobal.  In January, with the help of an AMG team, Comercia held a very successful Comedad event for more than 120 mothers and children – the 3^rd and most robust event to date.  Held at a Fe y Alegria primary school in Villa El Salvador, on the outskirts of Lima, the event also included new Comedad partners from the respected educational program Aprendamos Juntos, as well as nutrition specialists from the Instituto de Investiciones Nutricionales.  The event also signaled a milestone in sustainability, as a new Comedad Management Team was inaugurated, bringing more employees into the planning and delivery process and reducing the responsibilities of senior management.  In meetings with corporate leaders in Lima as well as in the press, the Comedad model is receiving rave reviews for its ability to mobilize workers and management around community outreach in a sustainable, business-oriented way.  Read more about the Comercia story in the recent edition of PODER 360 . 

 

January 2010 – AMG facilitates successful Disaster Preparedness Conference in Guatemala City

Less than one week after the tragedy in Haiti, a team from AMGlobal assisted the Pan-American Development Foundation’s (PADF) Disaster Management Alliance (DMA) , facilitating a 3-day conference on Disaster Mitigation and Preparedness that AMG had also helped to design.  Focused on the importance of developing Public Private Partnerships and alliances in all parts of the disaster lifecycle – mitigation, preparedness and response – the DMA and AMG led a dynamic series of presentations and discussions involving high-level delegates from around Central America and the Caribbean and representatives of USAID, the World Bank and Stephen Jordan, the Vice President and Executive Director of US Chamber of Commerce’s Business Civic Leadership Center.  AMG Principal Andrew Mack led a spirited two hour how-to session on Alliance building, focusing on how organizations of all kinds can create clear, action-oriented programs that get results.  The event also included the signing of formal agreements between PADF and regional disaster relief organizations, as well as lively interactions with international experts and a -- happily quite limited -- tremor that briefly shook the conference.

 

October 2009 - CSR Work in Peru - Comercia and Nutrition Outreach

Building on diagnostic and design work done earlier in 2009, AMGlobal guided a team from the Peruvian distribution company, Comercia, in the design and implementation of an innovative program reaching out to hungry communities in Lima with food and nutrition messaging. The program, called Comedad, was developed in consultation with company employees and local stakeholders, and recently completed its second event in a community on the outskirts of Lima. The approach was designed specifically for the company, and is based on Comercia's key strengths - high-protein products such as anchovies, a socially-oriented workforce and contacts in the community. The Comedad program focuses on providing nutritional education, product tasting and food giveaways to mothers and children, and is expanding to include a new partnership with a local nutritional research organization, the Instituto de Investigaciones Nutricionales. Participants have gained valuable knowledge and product sales have increased, and the company plans to launch similar outreach programs across their key markets. See Felipe's blog entry "Anchovies Never Tasted This Good " to learn more.

 

October 2009 - Facilitating PEPFAR Communication

In October AMGlobal founder Andrew Mack led a one-day retreat as facilitator for an inter-agency team of communications professionals working on PEPFAR, the US government’s multi-billion dollar international AIDS program.  The meeting brought together high-ranking communications teams from across the different agencies working on the PEPFAR initiative around the world, including representatives of PEPFAR, Peace Corps, State Dept, USAID, Dept of Defense, and CDC. The goal of the event was to build teamwork and strategy, to identify best practice in tools and approaches to issues such as preparing for World AIDS Day, and to deepen and broaden the coordination among PEPFAR partners.  AMG also helped design a coordinated communications plan and next steps for the group that based on the success of the effort now plans to meet at least 3 times each year.

June 2009 - AMGlobal's Senior Emerging Markets Associate, Felipe Custer chosen as one of Latin America's most innovative leaders 41 and under.

In March, a unique partnership between PODER magazine, the Inter American Development Bank and the America's Business Council launched the New Generation Leadership Forum (NGLF) to recognize young innovators and change-makers around the hemisphere. The group, comprised of some of the most distinguished young leaders from the Americas, includes politicians and businesspersons, artists and social entrepreneurs all 41 and under.  Custer was recognized for his work on Corporate Social Responsibility and partnerships with AMGlobal, the firm's pioneering work on CSR issues in Peru, and his work improving services for at-risk youth. 

NGLF young leaders held their first meeting at the end of March in Medellin and Bogota, where they met with numerous Colombian business and opinion leaders including President Alvaro Uribe. Plans are to convene every year in tandem with the IDB Annual Meetings to further discussions around positive change.

A story about the NGLF group and its members has recently been published in the June edition of PODER magazine and can also be found at the magazine's website. view

 

May 2009 - AMGlobal completes the first phase of a Corporate Social Responsibility program in Peru.

 

Working with a medium-sized distribution company with offices in Lima, Arequipa and several other Peruvian cities, AMGlobal developed an integrated CSR initiative based on an extensive diagnostic that included interviews with employees, management, clients and suppliers.  

Participants shared tremendous enthusiasm for the project, with nearly half of all company employees participating in interviews or online surveys about the future of the enterprise.  Based on these conversations, AMG consultants created a tailored road map for the organization to expand its CSR profile.  

In early May, AMG facilitated and attended the launch of the initiative which contains internal programs around communications, career planning and advanced training as well as external programs aimed at strengthening ties with local communities – using the company’s products as a base – in the areas of nutrition and youth development. AMG is proud to be at the forefront of this effort, on of the first of its kind in Peru, which can have value for companies of all sizes.

 

4.2.09 - AMGlobal leads seminar on Building Relationships with the Private Sector at USAID conference

As part of a multi-day conference hosted by USAID's Global Development Alliance, Andrew Mack and Felipe Custer of AMGlobal offered a seminar on the intricacies of partnering with the private sector.  Representatives from dozens of AID field offices and Headquarters attended the highly interactive session which examined how AID staff can effectively build and manage relationships with private sector partners.  The 3 hour event covered numerous challenges and opportunities - from the subtleties of ongoing, structured communication, to the transition planning and building for the long term.  Overall, the event was a resounding success, as participants rated the seminar among the most useful and engaging of the entire conference.

 

2.10-14.09 - AMGlobal initiates a Corporate Social Responsibility program for a consumer products distribution company in Peru.

AMGlobal conducted the first phase of a Corporate Social Responsibility program with a distribution company in Peru, called Comercia. As a medium-sized organization, Comercia is looking to ensure a successful future by expanding its CSR activities. AMGlobal provided a company diagnostic through numerous interviews and site visits throughout Lima and Arequipa. The process produced tremendously valuable insights on the opportunities for CSR development in emerging markets. It was also extremely well-received by all who participated.  AMGlobal hopes to expand this project in coming months and to share this knowledge with other forward-looking organizations.

10.7.08 - AMGlobal participated in CCA US-Africa Infrastructure Conference.

Business and government leaders from Africa and the US came together for the 3^rd Annual Corporate Council on Africa Infrastructure Conference in Washington.  The event, which focused on ICT, Transportation, Energy and Security issues, painted a very encouraging picture of Africa as a high growth region poised for economic take-off despite the recent economic downturn.  As part of a panel on connectivity, Andrew Mack made a presentation entitled “Africa’s Broadband Future – The Next Wave of Sustainable Connectivity,” looking at the coming flood of Broadband connectivity on the continent and the impact it should have in areas from health and education, to decentralization and trade facilitation.  Panelists and the audience of the well-attended session discussed how this new technology could provide opportunities for private investors, donors and governments seeking to improve service, especially in remote areas.   

7.15.08 - Andrew Mack speaks on ICT and development at 8th AGOA Forum. 

5.18-23.08 - AMGlobal offers Partnership Training to NGOs in Ecuador and Peru. 

As part of the Initiative for the Conservation of the Andean Amazon (ICAA), an innovative USAID project to support conservation and environmentally sustainable development, Andrew Mack delivered a series of training courses for NGOs interested in increasing alliance work with private companies.  The course, developed by AMGlobal and delivered in two parts - March in Peru, May in Ecuador - helps NGOs build and expand key skills across the partnership lifecycle, from identifying appropriate alliance partners, to working out agreements with potentially difficult partners, to alliance management.  The sessions also focused on specific opportunity areas like sustainable livelihoods (partnerships in certified produce or eco-tourism for example) and work with natural resources or construction partners.

4.25.08 – On Scrabble, Scrabulous and Economic Development – Why IP matters to the Future of Emerging Markets.

7.10.2007 -- Rwanda Leading Africa in ICT Revolution - Inter Press Agency News Service. view

6.11.2007 -- Let's Build an Africa Tech Corps - AllAfrica.com. view

6.6.2007 -- Andrew Mack, AMGlobal, Founder and Principal Speaks at the IMF Africa Business Forum. view

2.05.07 -- East African Business Week article: On "Africa's Development Compass, All Aarows Point to Rwanda." view

1.22.07 -- East African Business Week article: "The Potential of a Wimax Revolution," also featured at AllAfrica.com. view

12.05.06 -- East African Business Week article: "Emerging markets look to up internet use," also featured at AllAfrica.com.
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08.25.06 -- EWeek article: "World Cup Offers Lessons for ICANN", on what the managers of the Internet should learn from the successes -- and failures -- of teams at the world's biggest sporting event. view

01.19.06 -- Andrew Mack, panelist for Voice of America’s Africa Journal , speaking on attracting diaspora investment into Africa.

September/October 2005 Corporate Council on Africa cover story on opportunities for companies to build business in Africa through work with international donor agencies. view