INSIGHT TO IMPACT: HOW OUR TOOLKIT DRIVES POSITIVE CONSUMER CHANGE - PART ONE

18 December 2020

Since the 1960s, Consumers International’s toolkit has facilitated systemic change at national, regional and global levels. It has helped improve global systems, influence policy decisions, drive efficiency and innovation, and scale solutions that benefit consumers worldwide.

  • Today, our six-lever toolkit underpins an integrated approach to upholding consumer rights in
    the marketplace.
  • It drives policy and business practice built with and for consumers.
  • Member-led research, collaboration, international representation and innovation sit at the heart of our approach.


This is the first of a four-part series, which takes a deep dive into the toolkit: explaining what it is, how it works and exploring some of its many success stories.

THE CHALLENGE               

 

Today’s marketplace has opened new opportunities for consumers, with easy access to products at a click, efficiency-enhancing tools such as responsible Artificial Intelligence (AI), and ‘reliable’ influencers that can encourage others to make good and safe choices.  

At the same time, complex digital ecosystems alongside global shocks that are fast becoming the norm – tariffs, soaring prices, the climate crisis, geopolitical shifts – mean consumers increasingly lack the information, protection and empowerment they need. Interventions that address this would not only help uphold and deliver our essential needs, but bolster trust, economic growth and climate resilience.

Today’s challenges include unsafe or unaffordable food, energy and other products. In sub-Saharan Africa, 90% of people are unable to afford a healthy diet as prices of local produce often exceed imports. While globally, two billion people face energy poverty and more than 670 million are without reliable energy access.

Millions more are excluded from digital financial services or are exposed to predatory lending practices, data misuse or scams, with poor or no redress or regulatory oversight. Only 59% of countries have laws governing online protection and some are not effectively enforced.

THE  SOLUTION

Our cross-sectoral global model for change, which draws on innovation and is grounded in consumer experiences, gives consumers an active voice in shaping the future.

Each lever of our toolkit builds upon the other components to form a comprehensive integrated solution. We have leveraged our 200-strong network of Member organisations in more than 100 countries and partners in our Change Network in pursuit of these areas.

Together we focus on the top consumer issues of our time in digital consumer rights, fair finance, product safety, sustainable consumption, clean energy futures and good food for all.

It has helped us deliver real-world change, build influence and represent consumer interests in leading global and regional decision-making forums, including the United Nations Trade and Development (UNCTAD), Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and the G20. 

Research for consumer interest:

We provide trusted evidence to bolster frameworks for Members and partners to champion at national levels. Every piece of research incorporates reliable, accurate consumer insights – that’s the real time, lived experience of people in the marketplace’. 

Inclusive policy and standards development:

In our trusted role to multilateral organisations – often as the sole body representing consumer global – we shape global consultations informing policy that works for people. Our Change Network sees us bringing together actors across sectors to identify the responsibilities each has and value they can bring to shape a better world for consumers.

Community engagement:

We build communities around select issues and support our Members to open doors between decision-makers, consumers and other actors such as indigenous or farmer groups – demonstrating the horizontal nature and impact of consumer issues.

Public awareness and consumer campaigns:

We recognise the diversity of consumer groups worldwide. In our global and regional campaigns, we provide the tools and platforms which can be adapted to contexts for consumer advocates to effectively take action.

Building bridges:

This means driving conversations and actions across experts from different sectors, where each provides expertise and insight of consumer issues. We build globally, regionally and locally – connecting consumer groups to regulators in-country to bringing global policy makers together with industry.

Innovative and adaptive business models:

Innovation is one of our core values as well as part of our approach. Together with our Change Network we work to develop efficient business models and solutions across industry, consumer groups and beyond.

OUR IMPACT 

Here are a few examples of our pioneering work which has positively impacted consumers around the world. We will explore these and other success stories in-depth in parts 2 - 4 of this series.

What next?


Our unique toolkit brings together our hard-won experience, extensive global network and evidence-based advocacy in an effective cross-cutting approach that is a powerful driver of systemic change.
In Part two we dive into stories of change shaped by consumer-led research to drive inclusive policy and business practice change.