Creating competitive advantage by serving marginalised communities: UK multinationals and inclusive development in Latin America

• Grant number: 25/20380-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Post-doctor
• Start date: December 29, 2025
• End date: July 05, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Applied Social Sciences - Administration - Business Administration
• Principal Investigator: Jorge Manoel Teixeira Carneiro
• Grantee: Renan Henrique de Oliveira
• Supervisor: Axele Loetizia Antonia Giroud
• Host Institution: Escola de Administração de Empresas de São Paulo (EAESP). Fundação Getúlio Vargas (FGV). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: University of Manchester, England
• Associated to the scholarship: 22/08378-1 - Creating competitive advantage by serving marginalised communities: UK multinationals and inclusive development in Latin America, BP.PD

Abstract

The objective of this study is to explore how multinational companies from developed markets can contribute to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by meeting the needs of vulnerable populations in emerging markets, while also generating financial return expectations for their investors. In this way, this research seeks to uncover the mechanisms and actions adopted by these companies to serve vulnerable populations profitably. This project is grounded in stakeholder theory and the literature on social entrepreneurship and value creation, proposing a cross-country study in Latin America, with a specific focus on the experiences of UK-based multinationals in Brazil and Colombia. Data will be collected through focus groups and in-depth interviews with multiple actors (such as executives, NGOs, consumers, leaders of marginalized communities, and local entrepreneurs). Case comparison and pattern matching will be used to analyze the information. As a result, this project aims to inform multinationals and other stakeholders about how inclusive development can be achieved.