Vulnerabilities and crises: what role for companies?

Over two billion people throughout the world are currently living in countries in which development is being stymied by situations that are rife with conflict and violence. Moreover, the future provides no great grounds for optimism: the proportion of regions characterised by extreme poverty – fertile ground for situations of violence – is forecast to leap from 17% at present, to almost 50% by 2030. In its 2016 Report entitled “States of Fragility”, the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) stated that 2014 was the “the second worst year in terms of fatalities since the Cold War ended.” Consequently, the growing number of both natural and man-made crises and their repercussions makes the theme of fragile countries a key focus of current concerns.