Activities
CSR Project 2009/2010
Project will comprise of the following 2 main outputs:
Output 1. Country level CSR performance measurement system developed, through research and consultations, to assess and monitor CSR excellence in project countries.
This project component will cover the following two activities:
1. Development of a country level CSR performance measurement system
An international expert/team of experts will be recruited to work on proposals for a set of indicators to measure CSR performance at country level, a methodology to measure those indicators, and suggestions for country-level CSR monitoring mechanisms. This will include the development of a questionnaire to be used for annual/bi-annual monitoring of CSR practices at country level. The international expert/team will be responsible for:
a) Developing macro level monitoring indicators, a questionnaire to be used for CSR performance monitoring, and the explanatory methodological guide on how to use this monitoring tool;
b) Preparing a 1,5 day training for future monitoring bodies (researchers, NGOs or public authorities) introducing the indicators and methodology, as well as explaining the use of the questionnaire at a country level; and
c) Providing advice to the countries throughout the national discussion process to reach agreement on indicators and measurement/monitoring system.
The development of the methodology will be based on desk research of available experiences of measuring CSR in Europe and globally, as well as on consultations with country representatives on the specific country needs/context with a view to finding a harmonized approach to CSR performance measurement within the project region.
2. Training of country representatives on the practical application of the CSR performance measurement methodology
Training on the practical application of the CSR performance measurement methodology will be organized and delivered by international experts for a limited number of country representatives, in order to build the capacities of experts/entities within research, NGOs or public authorities that will assume the function of CSR monitors in each country. The selection of country representatives for the training will be based on country level discussions and agreement as to which institution/body is best placed to assume this function.
Output 2. Capacity of companies strengthened to assess their own CSR performance.
The following activities will be carried out under this project component:
1. Development of a company level CSR performance self-assessment tool
The same approach used for measuring CSR performance at country level (macro level), will be applied to develop a company level (micro level) CSR performance self-assessment tool. Existing experience in Project countries and other EU countries on the topic will obviously be leveraged. In addition, existing tools to assess and report on CSR performance will be leveraged (e.g. indicators proposed by Asset 4 and governance indicators). This self-assessment tool will consist of a questionnaire accompanied by a guide. It will be developed in one format for all Project countries and will be tested in each Project country. The same international expert/team of experts as for output 1 will be recruited to prepare the self-assessment questionnaire with guidelines and carry out training of trainers for a limited number of country representatives. The same approach used to measure macro level CSR performance (country level) and micro level (company level) will also provide a basis for harmonization of CSR reporting under similar criteria in Project countries.
2. Training of trainers on the use of the CSR performance self-assessment tool
A group of trainers from each Project country (representing academia, NGOs, business) will be selected based on interest and commitment, and will undergo 1,5 days of training of trainers (TOT) to be organized in one of the Project country and led by the international expert team. These trainers will later be tasked with testing the self-assessment tool in their own countries and report with descriptions of practices that will later form part of a handbook on self-assessment practices (testing will be performed with 3-5 companies in each Project country). One national expert will be charged with consolidating the country inputs into the handbook.
3. Handbook on self-assessment practices
A handbook containing the self-assessment tool, guidelines on its use and practices/lessons learnt from Project countries will be prepared, with the view to ensuring wide dissemination and use by companies in Project countries and beyond. The Global Compact networks in Project countries will be heavily involved in promoting the tool to their members and advocating for its use. The handbook will be published in hard copy and will also be put on the websites of Project applicant and partners, Project country Global Compact networks, as well as on www.acceleratingCSR.eu. It will be available in English (electronic version only) and local languages. In the future, the handbook and the self-assessment tool could be turned into a web-based system where companies could conduct self-evaluations online. In preparing the handbook, existing tools will be leveraged (e.g. CSR Implementation Guide for Business by Paul Hohnen, International Institute for Sustainable Development, 2007).
CSR Project 2006/2008
What are the main activities?
The Project activities are designed under three main components:
1. Baseline analysis of CSR status in each Project country.
2. Facilitation of multi-stakeholder dialogue on CSR.
3. Enhancing capacities of existing and future CSR stakeholders to develop and implement CSR agenda in the region.
What are the main events foreseen under the Project and when?
• Presentation of national baseline studies in each country - June, 2007
• Launch of European Synthesis Report in a regional conference in Brussels – 26 June, 2007
• National and local forums in each country – September-December, 2007
• Familiarization visit for media representatives to UK – end of 2007
• Capacity enhancement sessions and three cooperation enhancement visits to UK, Spain and Germany for national CSR champions- end of 2007/beginning of 2008
• Launch of CSR tools database – end of 2007