The CSR - CSO Bridge -
A collaborative platform
nd
2
National Conference
2011
By:
Dr N Chatterjee
Deputy Director General
CAPART
The Situation Analysis
• India has had an impressive growth story with a vibrant
Corporate Sector
• Civil Society is emerging as a key player for enabling grass
root level interventions for social and economic progress
• Civil Society is also seeking a more professional approach in
channeling passions for fulfillment of their productive cause
• Corporates in India, with a desire to fulfill their corporate
social responsibility (CSR) are on the look out for viable
mechanisms for integration at grassroots, wherein they may
deploy their resources more effectively
• Hence the scope and background of partnerships between the
Civil society and the Corporates
Objectives of the Bridge
•
•
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To create an Institutionalized platform to facilitate lasting
links with the Industry so as to forge sustainable
partnerships between the Industry and the Voluntary
organizations through
Discussions on to assist stakeholders to accomplish their
respective missions
Spreading the platform to smaller cities and townships
Showcasing successful models and best practices
Facilitating direct linkages between the Industry and the
Voluntary sector
Assisting NGOs to connect with sustainable models for
inclusive growth
Components of the Bridge
Conference at the national and regional levels to
discuss:
• Convergence and co creation
• Convergence possibilities of existing CSR programmes
and development schemes
• Region specific need and requirements
• Guidelines to govern NGO Industry relations
• Indicators for measuring development initiatives
• Fund raising and resource mobilisation
Components ( continued)
• Exposition of development projects and showcasing
of best practices by the Civil society
• One to one interactions between the corporate and
the Civil Societies in the national and regional
platforms
Involvement of CAPART
 An autonomous body and a registered society, the
Council of Peoples’ action and Rural
Technology(CAPART) has been working with NGOs
since 1986 to promote Rural development in India.
 CAPART has supported 12000 CSOs in the area of
peoples’ action, capacity building and rural technology
with a project grant of Rs 1021 crores. It has a
database of 26000 NGOs.
Association of CII
 Confederation of Indian Industries (CII) is a non
government, not for profit industry led and industry
managed organization
 CII has been playing a pro active role in India’s
development process
 CII works to create and sustain an environment
conducive to the growth of Industry in India,
partnering industry and government alike through an
advisory and consultative process.
Progress so far
 The first National Conference was held in October
2009 at New Delhi.
 In 2010/11, four Regional Conferences have been held
in the Northern (Chandigarh), Southern (Hyderabad),
Eastern (Kolkata) & Western (Indore) parts of India
 The Takeaways from these Conferences are proposed
to be discussed in this national forum where
recommendations may be made for establishing linkages
among the corporate, the public sector enterprises and
the civil society
 World wide definition of CSR
is that given by the World
Business Council for Social
Development—”Commitment of
the Corporate, ethical
behavior, contribution to
development, improving the
quality of life”
Takeaways from Regional Conferences
It has been widely recommended
 that Industry support may be useful for capacity
building of the civil society in different areas of
functioning.
 To bring about more transparency, efficiency and
effectiveness in NGO functioning, Industry may assist
NGOs so as to enable them in understanding legal
compliances, financial management and governance
structure.
 Accreditation of NGOs may be necessary to help the
Corporate to select NGOs for partnering
Takeaways from Regional conferences
 A Dashboard may be created to disseminate joint work
done by the industry and NGOs. This has already been
created in the form of a link to CAPART’s website,
namely CSO-CSR rendezvous
 ISO 26000 guidelines may be promoted as it will
provide for standardization and accreditation for the
CSR in a convergent and structured manner
 Joint examination of ways of measuring outcomes of
projects where tangible benefits may not be
immediately apparent
Takeaways from Regional Conferences
 Inclusive Growth is an important agenda
 It is important to reduce the urban rural gap
 Need to initiate partnership models
 Facilitate formation of a due diligence kit acceptable to
NGOs of all scales
Takeaways from Regional Conferences
 Need to identify partners in order to build mutual
understanding and a platform for joint analysis
 Some FAQs are:
• What kind of skills are required?
• Do the partners have the relevant skills and
experience?
• Do they have the appropriate attitude?
• Assess what internal and external resources are
required and available?
• Does it provide benefits to all involved?
Takeaways from Regional Conferences
 Stages in partnerships:
• Partnership exploration stage
• Partnership building stage
• Partnership maintenance stage
• Building and learning from Existing
partnerships
Takeaways from Regional Conferences
 Evaluating partnerships through
• Assessment of performance
• Internal agreement on what is expected from each
other
• Processes to facilitate their tracking
• Agreement between partners on the final
deliverables
Theme Specific Takeaways
 Education:
• NGO, Industry partnership may be of vital importance - for eg,
creches may be used as pre schools by NGOs
• Under the Right To Education Act, a certain percentage of
seats in reputed schools may be kept reserved for poor students
and this identification may be facilitated by NGOs
 Renewable energy:
• Industry may create awareness about the use of renewable
energy and the importance of conservation of non renewable
energy
• In solar energy, Industry may partner NGOs for generation of
solar energy and implement the same through their CSR
activities
• In bio energy, tie ups with the Renewable Energy authority of
Government and the PCRA (Petroleum Consevation Research
association) may be crucial for NGOs
Theme Specific Takeaways
 In the area of employment generation, Industry NGO
partnership will be crucial in providing training and in skill dev
of youth
 In the area of women empowerment:
• Industries may help in constructing toilets for girl
students in schools
• Train girls in skill development
 In the area of Special needs:
• NGOs may sensitize Corporate about the needs of people
with special needs
• The Corporate may introduce technology innovations as
these initiatives may cater to more than 10 ml people
with special needs
Initiatives taken in this regard
 The Ministry of Public enterprises has already made it
mandatory for the PSUs to invest in CSR as follows:
 If Net profit is less than Rs 1000 ml, 3% to 5% of
profit is to be invested
 If net profit is between, Rs 1000 ml to Rs 5000 ml,
2% to 3% is to be invested
 If net profit is Rs 5000 ml and above, 0.5% to 2% is
to be invested
Initiatives taken in this regard
 The Ministry of Corporate Affairs has brought out the
National Voluntary guidelines on Social, Environmental
and economic responsibilities of Business in July 2011.
 The Bridge has resulted in a data profile of over 100
projects from all parts of the country which showcase
the possibilities of corporate and NGOs to work
together on issues of education, health, livelihoods,
human rights and special need
And the challenge is to
facilitate sustainable
partnerships between
Corporate and Civil
Societies in mutual areas of
interest----------
THANK YOU