Catalysts for Change: Partnering for Sustainable Development in the Global South

Strategic partnerships are key to unlocking meaningful and scalable solutions in the Global South. This session showcases how the Austrian Development Agency’s Business Partnership Program supports impactful collaborations between private sector actors and local communities—creating long-term value through innovation, co-creation, and shared responsibility.

Participants will hear from partner companies about their journey from ideation to implementation: what worked, what didn’t, and how aligning business goals with development outcomes can transform both communities and markets.

• How early-stage concepts evolve into high-impact projects through public-private collaboration.

• Case studies of business models that combine commercial viability with sustainable development.

• How strategic alliances can overcome barriers and scale local impact globally.