Partnership, Innovation, Commitments and Gains of the Poor in Inclusive Business in Ghana: Multiple Case Studies

Abstract

The IB projects studied in Ghana involve partnerships and collaborations between two non-governmental organizations (NGOs) nine private firms, two commercial banks, three government agencies and two cooperative societies as well as the poor. Partners use contracts, trust-based relations and decisionmaking meetings as means of sharing responsibility and safeguarding each others stakes and resources. The poor consider trust-based relations as the most effective means of engaging them in IB projects. To gain the trust of the poor, two firms started their operation by pre-financing their suppliers, but after sustaining their businesses over time, they stopped. While some of the poor saw this as an unfortunate situation, they continued to deal with the companies because the companies provided them with market access which they were lacking. The poor willingly accepted new innovations, challenges and opportunities as a means of increasing their income and, accessing products and services that are not easily available in their communities. Some of the poor consider their engagement in IB projects as a way of contributing to their society