Alliance for Corporate Social Responsibility [ACSR]

ICRI-Nepal launched “Alliance for Corporate Social Responsibility (A-CSR)” initiative on August 4, 2005 amid a colossal event represented by prominent organizations including SAATHI, CCWB, NUCACI. Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is basically an interaction between business and the social system through non-market interactions. It is a continuing commitment by business to behave ethically and contribute to economic development while improving the quality of life of the workforce, their families as well as the society at large. The term CSR is used to describe a wide range of economic, social and environmental initiatives by enterprises that go beyond legal requirements and are voluntary in nature.

Key Objective

The key objective of A-CSR initiation in Nepal and South East Asian countries is to launch and build a sustainable social force benefiting children through public, private and local partnerships.

  • To create and brand a new culture and practice of corporate social responsibility in support of Children among Nepalese business community.
  • To facilitate, manage and enable voluntary agreements between private corporations and the social sector organizations to meet the goals of corporate social responsibility as articulated in the ICRI mandate and mission.
  • To distill learning and help spread key strategies that work and the obstacles to avoid in future replication and scaling of activities within Nepal and the south Asian region.
  • To facilitate dialogue between the government and the media partners in order to enable greater impact and tangible results of the voluntary agreements.
  • To initiate a regional network and design programs with the goal of launching a South Asia spread strategy.
  • To initiate a regional network and design programs with the goal of launching a South Asia spread strategy.

Major Activities

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is all about creating a win-win situation for the society and corporate itself for the contribution they have made towards to the society. To make it happen ICRI-Nepal has been consistently trying to bring corporate and public together in a forum through various activities to benefit children. Some of the activities ICRI-Nepal has been doing are:

  • Conducting CSR workshops roundtables and interactions with business leaders.
  • Tailored training orientation delivery for the business organizations.
  • Cross Exposure visits for experience sharing and learning.
  • Assisting drafting CSR policies for business companies with special emphasis in tax incentives
  • Organizational assistance with development.

Public Private Partnership

ICRI-Nepal is committed to take ownership of CSR initiative in Nepal. In order to sensitize CSR initiative effectively in Nepal we have planned to conduct following activities in coming days

Partnership with private schools to:
  • cross subsidize schools in public sector;
  • pay for and train public school teachers;
  • pay for an afternoon meal for needy children;
  • collection and distribution of textbooks donated by students;
Private media including print, FM radio and TV for:
  • training children to become journalists;
  • enable children to develop and contribute content for children’s pages and allocated time instead of just by adults;
  • existing journalists to be sensitive to children’s issues and needs.
Manufactures of detergents and sanitation equipment for:
  • clean water in schools and homes;
  • proper waste disposal (solid and water);
  • water purification;
  • personal health and hygiene.
Construction industry and construction material manufactures for:
  • safer school buildings;
  • play grounds and open spaces, design/contribution;
Information technology (IT) firms for:
  • expansion of IT to public schools
  • free source softwares / teaching materials on CDs;
  • re-conditioned computers / parts/assembled equipment;
  • off- peak rates for connectivity

Expand current corporate awards to include a category for social efforts/ideas and enterprises. There is a past legacy to award businesses only for profit or dividend and not CSR criteria. This needs to change.

Banks and financial institutions to make available volunteers to ICRI-Nepal for: Banks and financial institutions to make available volunteers to ICRI-Nepal for:
  • financial experts to help upgrade book keeping abilities;
  • MBAs to help develop business plans/proposals;;
  • Asset management for organizations working for children and their families.

The last category is a general one where we can have several agreements with many small initiatives including contributing toys, blankets, medicine etc. to children’s hospitals, blood donations, diversion of a small percentage of sale revenue to children’s causes or events and promotional materials for and on behalf of children.

KEY ACHIEVEMENTS

Though CSR initiative is fairly new concept in Nepal, ICRI-Nepal has been successful to conduct some CSR events and activities.

A Roundtable Discussion on Celebrating CSR: ICRI-Nepal has conducted a roundtable discussion with business leaders to find the ways to give momentum to A-CSR initiatives in Nepal.

Voluntary Agreements for Corporate Social Responsibility: Over 19 companies have developed corporate social responsibility initiatives in conjunctionw ith ICRI-Nepal.

Workshop on Involvement of Private Sector in Social Field: ICRI-Nepal conducted the workshop to identify and determine the ways to involve private sectors for social cause and to draft a strategy to involve Nepali businesses in addressing the challenges faced by the children and organizations working for children in Nepal.

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