Integrating CSR into mainstream business practice

24 June 2009

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For the last 2 years the Aga Khan Development Network and IBLF have worked to integrate CSR into business practice and promote civil society development in eight countries.

To support the AKDN (Aga Khan Development Network) Civil Society Programme, the Aga Khan Foundation (AKF) and the International Business Leaders Forum (IBLF) have worked with the Aga Khan Foundation for Economic Development (AKFED) Group of Companies in Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Afghanistan, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Mali and Pakistan. The aim was to develop a broader approach to corporate responsibility within the businesses and to encourage them to work more closely with AKF and the AKDN in the delivery of their corporate responsibility objectives. 

During the past 2 years the programme has:
•    Supported over 50 AKFED companies to improve their understanding of CSR and increased their capacity in CSR strategy development
•    Run 10 CSR workshops focusing on: building the business case for responsible business, developing a CSR strategy and improving stakeholder engagement
•    Developed both an on-line and off-line CSR Self Assessment Tool (CSR SAT) completed by 23 companies
•    Held one-on-one consultancies for 15 companies helping to strengthen the business case for CSR
•    Helped enable companies to effectively integrate CSR into business practice.
 

            KY Choi, CEO, KICB, Kyrgyzstan

As a result of the workshops all participating companies agreed that:

•    CSR has a wider and more strategic scope than a community / philanthropic focus and could be integrated into core business activities
•    Community engagement opportunities need to align with business goals 
•    Buy-in from senior management is critical and buy-in from other key staff and stakeholders is important.
•    Strategic communications on CSR is key to ensure that all stakeholders are engaged.

 
“We are happy with what we have learnt from IBLF, and have many ideas about how to implement CSR.”
Bahriddin Najmiddinov, Managing Director, Indigo, Tajikistan

Results

The programme has changed the mindset and attitudes towards CSR among AKFED companies, from philanthropic to strategic CSR aligned with core business.  80% of participating companies have said that their understanding of CSR has increased, particularly of the impact of CSR activities on the business, community and workplace.  Although, it will take time for them to fully integrate CSR in business practice, the project has positively influenced top managers.
 

If you would like any more information on this project, please contact Elena Korf on firstname.lastname@iblf.org