According to the ODI's blog, there should now be a shift from asking why should we harness core business for development to how. The how is what the NBMST seeks to answer and put into practice through its four pilot value chain project.
The recognition that business has a core role to play in development has been gaining significant traction recently, amongst a diverse set of stakeholders - including businesses, donors and NGOs. The ODI recently published a background note which explored the ways in which multinationals can bring about development gains through distribution networks and supply chains.