Theme: Shaping Public Sector CSR Strategies
In April 2002, the World Bank Group's CSR Practice initiated a 15-month exploration of how the World Bank Group might best advise governments on their public policy stance regarding corporate social responsibility or CSR.
Over the 15-month period, the Bank Group focused on different industry sectors where CSR is a necessary component, and has provided technical assistance to a number of client governments:
The CSR Practice has also commissioned a range of research, including a
baseline study on public sector roles; a
business survey on CSR, trade and investment; a cost-benefit analysis framework for CSR interventions; and research focused on the content of
CSR codes of conduct in a range of industry sectors and their comparison with international standards.
An international conference held
October 8 - 9, 2003 at the World Bank, Washington, D.C., disseminated the lessons learned from country advisory work, presented research results, explored the applicability to other countries and sectors, and related this to conference participants' own practical experience to date with public policy for CSR.
The
audience and participants consisted of representatives from the following sectors:
- Public sector policymakers (from the four countries that received technical assistance and beyond)
- Companies engaged in CSR activities
- World Bank Group staff
- Multi-lateral organizations
- International donors
- Academics and CSR researchers
- Civil society
- Media
The two key
outputs of this conference were the collection of good practice from around the world and the development of action-oriented recommendations for policy-makers. These recommendations and good practices have been compiled into a
report on CSR and the Public Sector.
CSR Conference Program
If you were unable to attend this event but are interested in receiving a copy of the delegates pack, please send your request by email or fax to Gloria Orraca-Atayi at: gorracaatayi@worldbank.org , Tel: +202-473-7646, Fax: +1-202-522-2138.
