In 1996, men of vision — Ambassadors Andrew Young, Carlton Masters and Mr. Hamilton Jordan — joined forces to fill a particular set of needs primarily faced by enterprising U.S. multinational companies seeking to enter the emerging markets of Africa and the Caribbean. Combining their experience in international business, finance and politics as well as their substantial contacts and relationships throughout the world and especially Africa and the Caribbean, Ambassadors Young, Masters and Jordan formed GoodWorks, a private corporation, dedicated to directly linking the potential of emerging markets to the promise of commercial ventures.
The founders of GoodWorks were among the first to recognize that the lack of expert advisory services that provide international contacts and insight into the political and financial environments of African and Caribbean markets had in many instances prevented governments and corporations from tapping the economic opportunities for development and growth these regions possess.
GoodWorks entered this environment of untapped promise to offer our clients a unique combination of professional experiences, strategic business alliances and worldwide relationships. These strengths are leveraged on behalf of our clients to produce significant achievements in a variety of industries in various emerging markets. Providing support services to corporations and governments engaged in innovative strategies for a changing global economy, GoodWorks continues to play a catalytic role, linking progressive companies with fast-growing economies to create, develop and pursue profitable business opportunities that might otherwise go unrealized.
Since its formation more than ten years ago, GoodWorks has been actively engaged in efforts that foster improved standards of living, education, health and capacity building in Africa and the Caribbean. We have promoted improvements in U.S. policies toward the regions, including advocating for the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) and subsequently working with African governments to assist them in harmonizing their national policies to maximize their ability to attract U.S. private investments and gain access to U.S. markets.
GoodWorks was active in the realization of The National Summit on Africa, Washington DC, February 2000 – now the Africa Society. The Summit proclaimed that Africa Matters! It was the first U.S. nationwide debate on Africa. To help confront the challenges unique to the region, the debate called for a comprehensive National Policy Plan of Action for Africa. As a permanent institution, The Africa Society facilitates and monitors follow-up activities adopted within the Policy Plan, and continues the process of educating and informing Americans about Africa.
GoodWorks has also formed a foundation – GoodWorks International Foundation – to focus on providing assistance to and promoting initiatives that support education, social advancement, economic development and capacity building in the Africa and the Caribbean.