Inclusive Business Models

According to the World Bank (2019), seven out of ten people will live in cities by 2050, and there are currently 1 billion urban poor. Rural migration to urban locations leads to irregular dwellings that lack appropriate services and infrastructure to achieve economic growth, thus intensifying a vicious cycle throughout generations.

We have included our shared value programs within an umbrella platform called "Growing Platform". This innovative platform addresses the main problems inherent to poverty and inequality in vulnerable communities, such as inadequate housing, limited land ownership, lack of access to basic services, unemployment, and lack of financial inclusion, through micro-credits and other services.

The new jobs created under our Growing Platform’s initiatives, as well as the cost savings that result from access to affordable housing and services, directly reduce the proportion of men, women, and children of all ages living in poverty in all of its dimensions, contributing to SDG 1, 10, and 11 through targets 1.4, 10.1, and 11.1.

To date, our Growing Platform is only present in Latin America, yet we are continuously working towards developing shared value programs in other countries where we operate.

Patrimonio Hoy

Construyo Contigo

Yo Construyo

Construapoyo

Clean Cook Stoves

Patrimonio Hoy

Tackles the lack of affordable housing in low-income communities, enabling those with low startup capital and income to afford high-quality materials and technical assistance, contributing directly to SDG target 11.1. In 2019, 13,322 families participated in this program, through which they gain access to our company’s network of contractors, support with land ownership, a micro-credit loan with a customized financial plan; and reduce the time and cost of building a home by 30%. The program has operated in Mexico, Costa Rica, Colombia, the Dominican Republic, and Nicaragua. Its ultimate goal is to foster home safety and quality, while positively impacting partners’ health, wealth, and education. Since our launch of this groundbreaking social business model in 1998, we have reached 2.96 million participants in this underserved market.

To know more about the program and if you are interested on applying, please follow this link.

2.96 million people were positively impacted
between 1998 and 2019 by Patrimonio Hoy

Construyo Contigo

Is a flexible business model that brings our building products and solutions to low-income families living in substandard housing who require a partial subsidy and/or micro-loan in order to make home improvements or build new homes. It reduces the construction time to build a 44 m² house from 15 years to three to six months and develops skills that enable homeowners to upgrade their homes. Through partnerships with governments, our Centers for Self-Employment enable families to receive technical assistance and training regarding the production of building materials, including concrete blocks and other components that they can use to expand their homes. This model promotes job creation and self-employment, contributing directly to SDG target 11.1. In 2019, 5,594 families accessed quality affordable housing and employment through our Self-Employment Centers in Guatemala, Nicaragua and Mexico.

Construyo Contigo is an integral program comprised of the following solutions, which can be applied separately or in conjunction, depending on the community needs:

Centers for Self-Employment-CPA
Yo Construyo
Construapoyo
Community workshops

By 2019, 70,824 families have taken part on the Self Employment Centers

If you would like to learn more about the programs, how partnerships work, or have suggestions, please send an email to csr@cemex.com.

Yo Construyo

Implemented by the CEMEX-TEC de Monterrey Center, is a commercial and capability-building strategy that increases demand for our products by developing potential construction workers and masons’ technical and entrepreneurial skills to foster housing upgrades and construction. It promotes high-quality and cost-effective building, as well as the use of sustainable criteria, including energy saving and affordable clean technologies. Participants become new customers as they improve their homes and provide services to others. This strategy contributes to SDG target 4.3. The program is offered on demand through co-investment partnerships.

In 2019, 1,300 people took part in this program in Mexico with the potential to pursue entrepreneurial career paths

If you would like to learn more about the programs, how partnerships work, or have suggestions, please send an email to csr@cemex.com.

If you are interested on learning more about self-construction, please refer to our manual (only available in spanish).

Construapoyo

Is an inclusive business that enables microfinance entities and distributors from our value chain to offer financial solutions to do-it-yourself (DIY) homeowners, so they can acquire construction materials to improve their homes. Construapoyo utilizes flexible technology that allows other entities, such as private companies and governments, to provide funding for upgrading housing, including relief projects, and to deliver building materials clearly and efficiently. Operating in conjunction with our Construyo Contigo platform, through this program, we have partnered with 184,103 individuals to date since 2006, allowing for more transparent transactions that reach people in need.

If you would like to learn more about the programs, how partnerships work, or have suggestions, please send an email to csr@cemex.com.

Clean Cook Stoves

Is a business model that enables our company and social entrepreneurs to reach new markets with cleaner, healthier cooking solutions through the production and commercialization of concrete cook stoves. We partner with microfinance institutions (MFIs), governments, and local women groups. The implementation of these clean cook stoves has improved the families’ quality of life—saving time in the collection of firewood and cooking, and reducing the risk of lung diseases, eye infections, and burns by open stoves. During 2019, we installed 1,383 ecological stoves in 158 communities in Mexico.

By 2019, we had reached more than 24,000 households through this model

If you would like to learn more about the programs, how partnerships work, or have suggestions, please send an email to csr@cemex.com.