The Sustainability Learning Forum

CSR in Africa

Editorial Team

For many years Africa is the hotspot for hunger and conflicts. But besite all these troubles ether is also a change for change and hope arising. More countries become aware of the ptential CSR has and include corporate responsibility as a fundanetla brickstone for developing citizenship. Our special illustrates variuos aspects. more[...]

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Responsible Lobbying

Dr Stephanos Anastasiadis, Royal Holloway, University of London
Dr Sigrun M. Wagner, Royal Holloway, University of London

Lobbyists paying elected representatives to place questions in the UK parliament. Arms manufacturers giving South African officials BMWs in exchange for armaments contracts. Smoke-filled back rooms featuring stuffed brown envelopes. No wonder lobbying has a bad name. But these are not images of lobbying: They depict corruption, albeit in a policymaking setting. These actions are morally suspect and usually illegal. They also contravene the UN Global Compact: Principle 10 requires the combating of corruption. In fact, lobbying is far more often about committee meetings, reports, and other unspectacular activities. Lobbying can be understood as the focused provision of relevant information, with the intention of influencing public policy or process. Corporate lobbying is not just important for companies; it helps create better public policies, and can therefore have real societal value, despite its bad press. more[...]

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Managing Corporate Legitimacy and the UN Global Compact

Dr. Dorothée Baumann-Pauly, University of Zürich
Prof. Andreas Georg Scherer, University of Zurich

Corporations can no longer easily control their public image by means of public relations and marketing. Clearly defined corporate reporting requirements, rigorous third-party monitoring processes, and multiple media resources of watchdog organizations help to shed light on actual business practices. The increased transparency with regard to corporate conduct has also enabled a larger and more diverse group of corporate stakeholders to voice opinions and formulate demands. In particular, large brand name companies in sensitive consumer goods industries (like food or textiles) are now constantly under public scrutiny. For corporations, this situation creates new management challenges. To ensure the social acceptance of their business (corporate legitimacy), heterogeneous and often contradictory stakeholder demands need to be managed. more[...]

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Massive Open Online Courses

A comprehensive list of free Masive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) offered by the best universities and entities. more[...]

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Thiessen, Ansgar

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Managing Corporate Legitimacy and the UN Global Compact

Prof. Andreas Georg Scherer, University of Zurich
Dr. Dorothée Baumann-Pauly, University of Zürich

In this article, we explain why managing legitimacy is vital for corporations and how business firms can employ strategies to maintain their legitimacy. We then discuss the organizational capacities that each legitimacy strategy implies and point out their inherent tensions. Based on the results of an empirical study, we show how two large corporations have handled these tensions and successfully introduced organizational prerequisites for managing legitimacy. In the final part of this article we elaborate on how participants of the UN Global Compact can use the initiative to strengthen their legitimacy. more[...]

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Road Safety – Fundamental Right and Everybody’s Responsibility

Natalia Gonchar, Sakhalin Energy Investment Company
Sakhalin Energy

We drive and bike, walk, and even run trying to catch the rhythm of modern life. For most of us, traffic has become an integral part of our everyday routines. We take it for granted and do not consider the road to be a source of constant danger – until suddenly a car accident happens and we are forced to reconsider … and think. Each year nearly 1.24 million people die as a result of road traffic accidents. It means that more than 3,300 are killed on the road every day. more[...]

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Road Safety – Fundamental Right and Everybody’s Responsibility

Natalia Gonchar, Sakhalin Energy Investment Company

We drive and bike, walk, and even run trying to catch the rhythm of modern life. For most of us, traffic has become an integral part of our everyday routines. We take it for granted and do not consider the road to be a source of constant danger – until suddenly a car accident happens and we are forced to reconsider … and think. Each year nearly 1.24 million people die as a result of road traffic accidents. It means that more than 3,300 are killed on the road every day. more[...]

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Comprehensive Ways of Communication on Anti-Corruption Measures and Compliance

Jenice Hartmann, Business Keeper
Business Keeper AG

Nowadays, there is agreement within companies and the public that neither corruption nor other contraventions of national and international regulations are acceptable. Corruption causes an estimated economic harm of up to $4 trillion per year; the number of unreported cases and not quantifiable social harm through the erosion of trust and the economic systems is much higher. As is publically known, companies such as Wal-Mart, Monsanto, and General Electric were strongly sanctioned by government and society for their corrupt business activities. In times of financial crisis, a sustainable business model is more important than ever to ensure the necessary social acceptance and “license to operate.” more[...]

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For a Financial Education Culture

Tita Berton, Bradesco
Banco Bradesco S.A.

Bradesco is committed to its stakeholders’ financial education and believes in social transformation through knowledge and awareness fostered by several actions. more[...]

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Ayeyarwady Bank’s Commitment to the Community

May Myat Thu, Ayeyarwady Bank
Ayeyarwady Bank

Ayeyarwady Bank commits to making the United Nations Global Compact’s Ten Principles part of its strategies and practices, focusing on fulfilling corporate social responsibility toward the communities it serves. more[...]

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Corporate Governance: The Way to Sustainable Finance

Perihan Abdel Ghaly, Arab African International Bank
Arab African International Bank

Arab African International Bank (AAIB) firmly believes that the road to impactful corporate governance entails values that achieve sustainable businesses as an end goal – AAIB seeks to maintain the balance between economic growth, profitability, and environmental, social, and governance (ESG) concerns. more[...]

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Corporate Governance: The Way to Sustainable Finance

Perihan Abdel Ghaly, Arab African International Bank
Arab African International Bank

Arab African International Bank (AAIB) firmly believes that the road to impactful corporate governance entails values that achieve sustainable businesses as an end goal – AAIB seeks to maintain the balance between economic growth, profitability, and environmental, social, and governance (ESG) concerns. more[...]

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Employee Engagement is not Enough

Elaine Cohen, Beyond Business Ltd

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The Transparency Agenda: Section 1504 and Beyond

Amy K. Lehr, Foley Hoag

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