This pledge builds upon a commitment made by The Coca-Cola Company in 2008 to the United Nations ‘Business Call to Action’ to grow the company’s Micro Distribution Centers (MDCs) in Africa.
MDCs are an independent network of entrepreneurs who distribute Coca-Cola’s beverage products to retailers, often by bicycle or pushcart. At last year’s Clinton Global Initiative, the company committed that 50% of all new MDCs would be run by women. The company is on-track to achieve both targets as part of its commitments to the UN Millennium Development Goals.
“Our experience on the great continent of Africa and the model of our existing MDC programme provides an expanded platform to empower an additional 5m women worldwide over the next 10 years,” said Kent. “We need to increase awareness that better societies can be created as a result of empowering women.”
Research conducted by the Harvard Kennedy School and engagement with local stakeholders on Coca-Cola’s MDC business in Africa indicates that women face three main barriers to success:
“Enhancing economic opportunities for women in the Coca-Cola value chain will result in increased incomes, enhanced skills in business, increased stature within the community, and improved potential for communities,” said Kent. He indicated that the company and its bottling partners – together with civil society and government partners – would work together over the next year to build a detailed plan towards meeting this goal.
Source: The Coca-Cola Company
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