Corporate Social Responsibility for Sustainable Business and Development Asia Series

Presented by the World Bank Institute, the Asian Institute of Management and the Tokyo Development Learning Center

March 17-19, 2009

Over 70 people in six locations throughout Asia took part in a new course “CSR for Sustainable Business and Development”. The course analyzed the relevance and benefits of the CSR activities and explored the connection between corporate strategy and development issues in Asia.

Under the current financial and economic crisis many companies are being forced to reconsider their business strategies in both developed and developing countries. In doing so “sustainability” issues have become ever more important. Increasingly, companies operating throughout Asia need to integrate their CSR activities into their core business strategy to remain competitive in the global economy.

The “CSR for Sustainable Business and Development” Asia Course was established jointly by the World Bank Institute, the Asian Institute of Management and the Tokyo Development Learning Center.  Both traditional and real time video-based methodologies were integrated within the course to stimulate participants’ thinking around the new role of business through high-level discussion, best practices and case studies on how effective and inclusive CSR strategies can enhance competitiveness of private corporations and, at the same time, contribute to the realization of sustainable business growth.

Lively discussion took place in real time between participants at six connecting sites including Tokyo; Manila; Hong Kong, China; Nepal; Sri Lanka and Saudi Arabia. Speakers included professors from leading academic institutions in the US, Japan and elsewhere in Asia, development experts from the World Bank and other international institutions and business practitioners.

Impact

Key objectives of this program:

• Raise awareness of,  and build capacity of private sector and other stakeholders, from the East Asia region, on the importance of CSR issues for improved competitiveness
• Stimulate high-level discussion on the role of CSR in fostering sustainable and inclusive business
• Enhance public private partnership (PPP) in the implementation of CSR initiatives
• Foster knowledge exchange and South-to-South learning between peers from the region

Day 1 - March 17, 2009

Supply Chain Management
Lecturer: Hiroshi Ishida, Professor and the Executive Director of Caux Round Table
Format: Case Presentation and discussion

• Understand international standars in supply chain management and its application in the local context;
• Gain some practical implementation idea on multi-stakeholder partnership/dialogue

Day 2 - March 18, 2009

  Environment/Climate Change
Lecturer: Professor Nereus Acosta, Asian Institute of Management
Format: Case Presentation and discussion

• Introducing environmental policies, sustainable practice, understand global standard
• Discuss linkage between environmental issues including climate change, and how it relates to corporations’ competitiveness
• Learn and understand critical component for effective PPP

Day 3 -  March 19, 2009

  Bottom of Pyramid (BOP) Business/Building Sustainable CSR Strategy
Lecturer: Djordjija Petkoski, Lead Specialist, World Bank Institute
Format: Case Presentation and discussion

• Bottom of Pyramid (BOP) Business
  • Understand the trends, importance, advantages, and critical issues of BOP;
  • Discuss strategies to get involved in the BOP business;
  • Gain knowledge on PPP

• CSR strategy—How the company can implement effective CSR strategy by aligning it with its core business strategy?

  • Debate the role that the companies can play in promoting the development, including wealth creation and the associated benefits.

 

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