Resilient value chains in the Caribbean

A recent study titled “Resilient Value Chains in the Caribbean” was commissioned by IDB Invest in collaboration with Compete Caribbean Partnership Facility (CCPF). It examines five companies in the Caribbean Region that deliberately adopted and developed inclusive and sustainable business models, practices, and mindsets across their value chains, which improved their resilience to market disruptions and/or economic shocks, while contributing to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The research began with an analysis of publicly available information, coupled with surveys and interviews regarding the companies’ participation in the value chain and if and how they are continuously embedding sustainability concerns throughout value chains and operations.

The main highlights of the study were:
• Larger firms, including subsidiaries of global conglomerates, are more likely to have formal sustainability policies in place, as they are provided with support from the parent company
• Even in the absence of explicit policies, there is strong evidence that sustainability concerns are becoming increasingly important to firms of all sizes and sectors.
• Companies with sustainability practices are better able to contain the potential negative impacts of market disruptions on their value chains.
• There is an opportunity for companies to move towards more transparent practices, supported by monitoring and reporting on specific indicators.
• Companies tend advocate for ESG issues through their industry umbrella groups and direct engagement with stakeholders