ZHUL-QI’DA 25, 1429 A.H.
THURSDAY NOVEMBER 20, 2008
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CSR: A conceptual review
By Godwin Haruna
More often than not, a company constructs a borehole in a community and goes to commission it with fanfare and it ends there. Another decides to award some educational scholarships to a couple of indigent students in a community where it operates and that is where its corporate social responsibility (CSR) ends. Well intentioned as these gestures appear to be, experts on the concept of social corporate responsibility contend that the philosophy goes further than that.
Speaking to THISDAY in an interview recently, Mr. Yemi Osilaja, executive director, Hope Worldwide, declared that if properly harnessed, the concept remains a veritable tool for development to thrive in any nation. Osilaja postulated that there must a synergy between the public and the private sectors to realise the full potential of corporate social responsibility in an economy. He added that it would be wrong to use projects executed under the scheme as a marketing tool as this detracts from the main objective of the concept.
“If we are to grow, our corporate social responsibility has to be the major development impetus in the community. However, it is wrong and immoral to use CSR as a marketing tool. It has to be strictly divorced from marketing. Doing goodwill in the community is what the concept is really about,” Osilaja said.
Writing on the subject in an academic paper, some scholars stated that CSR in Nigeria would be aimed towards addressing the peculiarity of the socio-economic development challenges of the country (e.g. poverty alleviation, healthcare provision, infrastructure development, education etc) and would be informed by socio-cultural influences (e.g. communalism and charity). They distinguished this from the western context or expectation of CSR (e.g. consumer protection, fair trade, green marketing, climate change concerns, social responsible investments etc).
The scholars, Kenneth Amarshi, Bongo Adi, Chris Ogbechie and Olufemi Amao argue that the overwhelming conception of CSR as philanthropy may not be unconnected to traditional socio-cultural heritage of the indigenous firms. They contend that for different regions of Nigeria, the traditional, family or kinship pattern of production characteristic of agrarian mode of livelihood – the household economy – has been the governing order of business organisation which is still reflected in the structure of most indigenous firms.
“For CSR therefore, the kinship-network-based system of business organisation would imply that businesses first serve the interest of their network members as their primary constituency. Philanthropy, goodness to society, charity are therefore conceived within the moral economy of kin-based solidarity and reciprocity. A traditional and informal sector example of this would be the case of auto spare-parts business cluster found in Nnewi, eastern Nigeria that play crucial roles in their local community development including, provision of city-wide security. CSR as philanthropy in Nigeria could also be tied to some religious influences. Nigeria is a very theistic country. The belief in the supernatural or some spiritual realities is central to the wellbeing of an average Nigerian,” the scholars stated.
However, Osilaja maintained that the need to encourage and increase the participation of the Organized Private Sector (OPS) to the socio-economic development of Nigeria, and ultimately achieving the Millennium Development Goal (MDG) of an improved socio-economic environment by the year 2015, necessitated the conception of a lecture series by HOPE Worldwide Nigeria, on Corporate Social Responsibility. He said the first in the series took place at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja in 2006, and was delivered by Mr. John Campbell, former United States of America ambassador to Nigeria, and chaired by Prof Leslie Obiorah, former Minister of Solid Mineral Resources.
The lecture which was first of its kind in Nigeria, brought together different stakeholders in the economy. He said members of the OPS, international and local implementing agencies and government functionaries at the different levels of governance were represented. “It was an opportunity to x-ray the practice of social responsibility by the different private corporate organizations in the country. The role of government was also brought to the fore, especially as regards providing the enabling environment for CSR to thrive,” he added.
According to Osilaja, the second lecture, which is a follow up on the first, is scheduled to take place on Wednesday October 8, 2008, at the Agip Recital Hall, Muson Centre, Onikan, Lagos. The lecture which would be delivered by Mr Albert May, an international financial consultant and presently Vice-president HOPE Worldwide International Board of Trustees, would be looking at “Growing Global Power of Corporate Social Responsibility”.
Osilaja said the basic objectives for this year’s lecture are: To emphasize a greater involvement in socio-economic development by the Organized Private Sector in Nigeria;
to educate participants on Contemporary Global Strategy for Implementing Corporate Social Responsibility activities; to evolve an indigenous strategy for CSR implementation; and to advance a multi-sectorial approach to CSR Implementation and Management.
Others are to generate strategies for achievements of the Millennium Development Goal (MDG) in the year 2015 and to showcase some organizations’ CSR activities to the audience present.
According to Osilaja, due to the importance of the lecture and its global dimensions, they are restricting participation to chief executive officers, managing directors, senior managers and decision makers of multi-national and frontline indigenous organizations in the different sectors of the economy.
He added that since the lecture is advancing a multi-sectorial strategy; there shall also be in attendance government functionaries at different levels of governance, traditional and community leaders, and the media.
“We so often hear that businessmen have no time for anything but work. Perhaps if they do have time then it's for their families and then their leisure pursuits. But do they have time to help the poor? Most of course do not have the time or perhaps the resources. We can put our expertise at the disposal of those, who have the resources, but no time to execute CSR projects,” Osilaja stated.
He said May, the vice chairman of the international charity HOPE worldwide, will address a conference in Lagos on the growing power of partnerships between business and charity. May runs a number of international property development companies. One company of his is developing the largest tourist facility in Romania. It is a project valued at over $2bn and of course is incredibly complex. He is also a partner in a major US real estate investment company. In the past, he was a managing partner at KPMG. Over many years, he has found time – almost 4 weeks a year – to voluntarily help the cause of the poor and needy throughout the world. Of course, May also raises a lot of money for charity as well. There are more and more senior businessmen that these days choose to find balance not only between work and family but also with the needs of others. Often these businessmen may never even meet the people they help but they know they will have changed and saved lives.
Originally an economist and a business consultant, Albert, a former KPMG London partner, set up his own firm Profit Finders in 2003 that has worked with prestige residential tourism developments all over the world for the last 5 years. He has a proven track record in executive, financial, marketing and sales management and is now regarded by many as a leading authority on international property market alternatives. Key to Albert’s approach on all developments is the creation of opportunities that are successful for developers and investors alike.
Albert has a keen interest in supporting the poor and serves actively as the vice-chairman of the board of HOPE wordwide, one the fastest growing international charities that brings hope and changes lives of nearly 3 million people in 68 countries.
HOPE worldwide is an international Non-Governmental Organization with global operations in Philadelphia. In Africa the organization runs community based HIV/AIDS prevention, support and training programmes with operations in 23 cities in 16 countries. Principal sites are South Africa, Nigeria, Cote D’Ivoire and Kenya. Registered in Nigeria in 1996, Osilaja said HWWN’s mission is to bring hope to vulnerable people affected by negative social circumstances including HIV and AIDS through innovative Health, Education & Children programmes that are sustainable and replicable.
“Children are the most vulnerable segment of the population and are susceptible to abuse, violence, poor health and poverty. HWWN believes in the children’s right to a sense of well-being, and a life of hope, health and happiness. We have therefore put in place programmes and are carrying out projects that promote their right and meet their need.
“African Network for Children Orphaned and at Risk (ANCHOR) is one of such programmes of HWWN aimed at giving optimum quality of life for Orphans and Vulnerable Children (OVC). The programme is helping to increase the number of OVC receiving integrated assistance - increase the coping capability of care givers, and build the capacity of stakeholders in the communities. Children benefit through counselling, structured group therapy, kids club, kids camp, support group, succession planning, food parcel, meal, vocational training, school uniforms/books, school fees, attendance at medical services, attendance at legal services income generating, shelter etc,” he stated
He said the organisation runs a holistic programme of prevention, treatment, care& support, to stem the spread of the disease and mitigate its impact on individuals, families, and communities.
Hope Worldwide operates in 14 states in the country. He added that by collaborating and entering into supportive agreements with partners desirous to help more and more of the children and highly needy families’ and the communities they serve, the management and staff work hand-in-hand with numerous community-based organizations, nongovernmental organizations, volunteers and local authorities in Nigeria to provide quality services.
*Gogwin Haruna, a public affairs commentator writes from the FCT through:goodharuna@yahoo.com
