USAID, IBM Set up New Alliance for Corporate Volunteerism

The U.S. Agency for International Development and IBM has established a new program to engage private firms in development initiatives. The Alliance for International Corporate Volunteerism will send highly skilled business volunteers to developing nations to conduct community-driven economic development activities.“The growing role of business in development activities illustrates how the nature of development cooperation is changing,” said USAID Counselor James Michel. “Instead of just ‘donor’ and ‘recipient’ governments we increasingly see networks of public and private entities, governments, international organizations, corporations, foundations and others, often playing multiple roles.”