The Business for Peace Foundation
A Norwegian non-profit foundation that promotes ethical, responsible and peace-supporting business leadership.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
The Business for Peace Foundation is a Norwegian non-profit foundation headquartered in Oslo. Founded in 2007 by economist Per Leif Saxegaard, it seeks to demonstrate how private enterprise can contribute to trust, stability, social progress and peace rather than treating commercial success as separate from social responsibility. Its central idea is that business leaders can be “business-worthy”: they create economic value while also creating value for society, respect the rule of law, build constructive relationships with stakeholders and communities, and pursue longer-term outcomes instead of narrow short-term gains. The foundation’s principal public platform is the annual Oslo Business for Peace Summit, traditionally held at Oslo City Hall. The summit brings together business leaders, policymakers, researchers and civil-society figures around themes involving responsible capitalism, trade, sustainability, trust, fragile environments, climate leadership, decent work and the Sustainable Development Goals. The event generally culminates in the Oslo Business for Peace Award, which recognizes business leaders whose conduct and commitments are considered exceptional examples of ethical business leadership and contributions to peace. The award was first presented in 2009 and has typically recognized several honourees each year. It is sometimes described in public commentary as the “Nobel Prize of Business,” although it is an independent business and leadership award rather than a Nobel Prize. Award candidates are identified with the assistance of nominating partners, including the International Chamber of Commerce and organizations associated with responsible investment, development and corporate sustainability. Final selections are made by an independent committee composed of recipients of the Nobel Peace Prize or the Sveriges Riksbank Prize in Economic Sciences in Memory of Alfred Nobel. The foundation’s stated criteria emphasize three characteristics: serving as a role model, advocating ethical and socially responsible business principles, and earning the trust of affected stakeholders through business activity that benefits society as well as the enterprise. The foundation also develops and promotes the concept of business-worthy leadership through research, public discussion, events and the visibility given to its honourees. The underlying model links profitable enterprise with employment, economic development and poverty reduction, while also stressing anti-corruption, contractual and property rights, dispute resolution, employee participation, employee rights, gender equity and responsible corporate citizenship. In this framework, business leaders are potential agents of peacemaking, peacekeeping and peacebuilding because their companies influence communities, supply chains, institutions and access to opportunity. In 2013, Business for Peace partnered with the United Nations’ Business for Peace initiative, which was sponsored by then Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and connected to the UN Global Compact Ten Principles and the Sustainable Development Goals. During the COVID-19 crisis, the foundation used its international honouree network to encourage business responses to the pandemic, including a 2020 open letter signed by 24 honourees from 21 countries. In 2021, pandemic restrictions led it to replace the conventional summit with a digital Spotlight Series focused on rethinking systems of decent work. The foundation’s work therefore combines recognition, convening, advocacy and international network-building rather than the sale of conventional commercial products.
History
The Business for Peace Foundation was established in Oslo in 2007 by economist Per Leif Saxegaard. Its founding premise was that markets and companies require an ethical foundation if they are to generate durable prosperity and social stability. Rather than presenting peace as an issue belonging only to governments or international organizations, the foundation places business leaders within the broader civic system: companies create employment, shape local opportunity, influence public trust and affect relationships among communities and institutions. From its early years, the foundation developed the Oslo Business for Peace Summit as its principal convening mechanism. The summit has generally taken place at Oslo City Hall and has addressed the relationship between commerce and peace from different angles. Early themes included peace through trade, globalization and ethically aware capitalism. Later programs examined responsible business in fragile environments, shared value, sustainability, climate leadership, trust, economic imbalance and the Global Goals. Speakers and participants have included businesspeople, economists, public officials, diplomats, researchers and civil-society leaders. The Oslo Business for Peace Award became the foundation’s central recognition program in 2009. It was designed to honor leaders who combine business performance with ethical responsibility and positive social impact. The award process uses external nominating partners and an independent award committee drawn from Nobel Peace Prize and Nobel economics laureates. This structure is intended to give the award an international and cross-disciplinary character while keeping the selection separate from the foundation’s day-to-day management. Award recipients are presented with “The Just Man,” a statue created by artist Bruce Naigles. The foundation describes its preferred model of leadership as “business-worthy.” In this usage, the term means creating economic value in a way that also creates value for society. The approach does not reject profitability; instead, it treats profitability as more sustainable when companies operate within the rule of law, avoid corruption, respect contracts and property rights, resolve disputes constructively and maintain meaningful relationships with employees and communities. It also emphasizes the social effects of shareholder returns, including employment, development and poverty reduction, together with employee rights, gender equity and responsible citizenship. The foundation’s work gained a formal international connection in 2013 through a partnership with the United Nations Business for Peace initiative. That cooperation placed the foundation’s leadership and recognition activities alongside the UN Global Compact Ten Principles and the Sustainable Development Goals. The organization has also worked with the International Chamber of Commerce, the Principles for Responsible Investment, the United Nations Development Programme and the UN Global Compact in nomination or partnership-related activities. The annual award program has recognized leaders from a wide range of countries and sectors, including manufacturing, finance, food, agriculture, technology, infrastructure, social enterprise and impact investment. The foundation presents these honourees not only as award winners but also as examples for research and public discussion about how companies can contribute to peacemaking, peacekeeping and peacebuilding. The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted the normal event cycle. In 2020, a group of 24 honourees from 21 countries signed a letter urging businesses to support recovery and respond to the pandemic’s effects in the Global South. In 2021, the customary summit format was replaced by a three-day online Spotlight Series on decent work. As of 2019, Marius Døcker was identified as the foundation’s managing director. The organization remains an Oslo-based international platform centered on responsible business leadership, recognition, convening and peace-oriented economic ideas.
- 2021
Online Spotlight Series on decent work
[1]The foundation held a three-day online event focused on rethinking systems of decent work after pandemic conditions prevented the usual summit.
- 2020
Honouree network responds to COVID-19
[1]Twenty-four honourees from 21 countries signed an open letter calling on businesses to support recovery and address pandemic effects in the Global South.
- 2019
Marius Døcker becomes managing director
[1]Marius Døcker was identified as the foundation’s managing director.
- 2013
Partnership with the UN Business for Peace initiative
[1]The foundation partnered with the United Nations initiative of the same name and connected its work with the UN Global Compact and Sustainable Development Goals.
- 2009
First Oslo Business for Peace Award
[1]The foundation presented its first annual awards to business leaders selected for ethical conduct and contributions to peace and society.
- 2007
Foundation established in Oslo
[1]Per Leif Saxegaard founded the Business for Peace Foundation to promote business leadership that combines economic value creation with ethical and social value.
Products and positioning
An international non-profit platform positioning ethical and socially responsible business leadership as a practical contributor to peace, stability and sustainable development.
International summit · 2007
Oslo Business for Peace Summit
The foundation’s annual forum convenes business leaders, policymakers, researchers and civil-society participants to discuss how trade, enterprise and investment can support trust, stability, sustainability and peace. Summit themes have included ethical capitalism, responsible business in fragile environments, shared value, climate leadership, economic imbalance and decent work. The summit traditionally takes place in Oslo City Hall and is associated with the presentation of the Oslo Business for Peace Award.
Leadership award · 2009
Oslo Business for Peace Award
An annual award recognizing business leaders who act as role models, promote ethical and socially responsible business principles, and build trust with the communities and stakeholders affected by their enterprises. Nominees are identified with partner organizations and selected by an independent committee composed of Nobel Peace Prize or Nobel economics laureates. Recipients receive The Just Man statue by artist Bruce Naigles.
Leadership concept
Business-worthy leadership framework
The foundation’s signature concept describes ethical economic value creation that also produces value for society. It encourages leaders to pursue durable, mutually beneficial relationships with employees, customers, suppliers, communities and public institutions, while respecting law, transparency, human rights and responsible governance.
Marketing campaigns
- 2020COVID-19 Business Response Letter
International · Global South
A group of 24 Business for Peace honourees representing 21 countries published an appeal encouraging companies to participate in recovery and address the health, economic and social consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Outcome. The initiative used the foundation’s international honouree network to promote a business-led response to pandemic disruption, although a quantified operational outcome was not reported in the cited material.
Brand decisions
2021
Move from physical summit to online Spotlight SeriesStrategyBackground
COVID-19 restrictions affected the organization’s ability to hold its customary in-person summit.
Action taken
The foundation organized a three-day online Spotlight Series focused on rethinking systems of decent work.
Aftermath
The digital event preserved the organization’s convening and discussion work during the pandemic period; no broader financial or attendance result is specified in the cited material.
Recent events
- 2021
Business for Peace replaces physical summit with online Spotlight Series[1]
Other
Because of COVID-19 restrictions, the organization held a three-day online series focused on rethinking systems of decent work rather than staging its usual summit format.
- 2020
Business for Peace honourees issue COVID-19 response letter[1]
Campaign
Twenty-four honourees from 21 countries signed an open letter encouraging businesses to help rebuild economies and address pandemic-related challenges, particularly in the Global South.
- 2013
Business for Peace partners with the United Nations Business for Peace initiative[1]
Other
The foundation began cooperating with the UN Business for Peace initiative, linking its work with the UN Global Compact principles and Sustainable Development Goals.
- 2009
Business for Peace Award is established[1]
Other
The foundation presented the first Oslo Business for Peace Awards, beginning its annual recognition of business leaders associated with ethical conduct and contributions to peace.
Sources2 sources
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