Nike champions central role of women and girls in solving hunger

Nike Inc., a Strategic Partner of the World Economic Forum, recently signed on as one of the corporate champions leading the work of the World Economic Forum’s Business Alliance Against Chronic Hunger (BAACH). The Alliance is a network of companies and stakeholders working together to develop and apply practical, market-based solutions to reduce hunger – starting with a focus on one pilot district in Western Kenya.

"We are impressed by the innovative approach of this Alliance," said Maria Eitel, President of the Nike Foundation. "It is unique in that it applies business skills and market power to help hungry communities produce more food and generate sustainable income."

The Nike Foundation focuses on empowering girls as a key strategy to reduce poverty and hunger. Women and girls are central in the fight against hunger – in Africa it is they who farm, process, market and prepare most food supplies. Nike’s involvement in the Business Alliance will ensure that women and girls are central to the project’s hunger reduction efforts.

"Investing in women and girls is one of the most powerful strategies for reducing poverty and hunger," said Eitel. "Through our involvement in the Alliance, we’re supporting concrete, on-the-ground improvements and also putting this issue on the global agenda."

Nike will join other Forum member companies on the Alliance’s global Steering Board, providing strategic guidance to a coalition of 30 companies that is working with NGOs, agencies and the Government of Kenya to drive progress in the pilot district.

"Nike is an outstanding partner on these efforts," said Lisa Dreier, Associate Director for Public-Private Partnerships at the World Economic Forum. "The Foundation is highly committed and already works with many of our key partners in Kenya."

Additional Alliance champions include Unilever, Sealed Air, Nike and General Mills, who help lead the effort through the Forum's Consumer Goods industry community. Unilever and Sealed Air are both working with communities in the Alliance's pilot district to generate near-term successes, forming part of an overall district-wide business plan created by the Alliance. Progress updated will be presented to Kenyan leaders in December 2006 and to global leaders at the World Economic Forum?s Annual Meeting in January 2007.