MENA-RBCF | News

Winners of the “Good Practice Competition on Responsible Business Conduct”, June 2011

The winners of the "Good Practice Competition on Responsible Business Conduct", announced in June 2011, were acknowledged for writing case stories on responsible business practices for companies operating in the Middle East and North Africa region - in the different areas of human rights, labor rights, anti-corruption, entrepreneurship, healthcare and environment. This competition was organized by GIZ, the Egyptian Corporate Responsibility Center (ECRC), the World Bank Institute (WBI), the MENA-OECD Investment Programme and the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC), on behalf of the MENA Responsible Business Conduct Forum (MENA-RBCF). It aimed to showcase good examples of responsible business practices in MENA and encourage knowledge sharing to help contribute to sustainable economic and social development. Ms. Reem Ali and Mr. Mohamed Abd El Hafiz, won the first place, for the case story of the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) and the Center for Development Services (CDS) in the field of "Labor Rights". Dr. Dalia Abd El Kader, came in the second place, for the case story of the Arab African International Bank (aaib), in the field of "Health and Environment" and Mr. Alfredo De Massis and Ms. Giovanna Campopiano, in the third position, for the case story of Italcementi Group in the field of "Educational and Vocational Training". The top winners, Ms. Reem Ali and Mr. Mohamed Abd El Hafiz, were invited to present the winning example, on the UNGC session on labor rights, of the Fifth Corporate Sustainability Conference “Enhancing Transparency and Fighting Corruption” that took place in Cairo on June 20, 2011. The CIDA funded initiative was implemented by CDS in collaboration with the Arab Contractors company. The initiatives aimed at eliminating one of the worst forms of child labor – working with metal smelting and scrap collection in the area of Shobra El Kheima in the Qalyubiya governorate in Egypt. Working with the private sector, civil society and local government, the project was able to provide 37 children, aged 15-18 the opportunity to leave their hazardous work at the smelters and develop their technical skills in the workshops of the Arab Contractors company, thereby providing them with alternative career opportunities and a safer future. In part, the children were provided with literacy classes and sessions on improving their life and social skills to help them reintegrate their communities as individuals who are now capable of determining a better future for themselves and their families. Furthermore, microloans were dispersed to the mothers of these children to provide them with incomes that can support their children’s new careers, with the drop in salaries resulting from them leaving their hazardous work at the smelters. The children are now considering starting their own businesses as young entrepreneurs, as new graduates of a prominent training program. The project is currently discussing this initiative with the children and looking into it as one of the options for sustaining the project.

S&P-EGX / ESG Index: ECRC Assessing the EGX 100 Companies 2010

The Egyptian Corporate Responsibility Center (ECRC) undertook the assessment of the EGX 100 companies for July 2010. The assessment process covers all the company's activities in corporate governance and corporate social responsibility disclosed from January 1st, 2009 till December 31st, 2009.
To view the ranks of companies and know more about S&P-EGX / ESG index, please visit the: ECRC website www.ecrc.org.eg/Index.aspx Egyptian Exchange website www.egyptse.com/English/homepage.aspx

Takaful - Call for Papers - First Annual Conference on Arab Philanthropy and Civic Engagement

C A L L F O R P A P E R S The fields of social responsibility and philanthropy are growing rapidly in Arab countries and their communities in the Diaspora. Until recently there was a dearth of theoretical and applied research, and most scholars and professionals worked in relative isolation. The First Annual Takaful Conference is jointly organized by the Columbia University Middle East Research Center (CUMERC) and the John D. Gerhart Center for Philanthropy and Civic Engagement at the American University in Cairo, and aims to stimulate scholarly dialogue and sharing of experiences. The Conference will be held at CUMERC in Amman, Jordan from April 16 to 17, 2011. The conference aims to encourage scholars, policy‐makers and practitioners to engage in an intellectual exchange grounded in theory and practice and that promotes best practice and data‐based policy making. In addition to research presentations, roundtable sessions are planned to focus on challenges and needs for data as expressed by professionals in the philanthropy field. The conference proceedings will be circulated widely and papers will be published in a special journal issue. Abstracts (no more than one page) for papers are due by December 1st, 2010 and may address but are not limited to the following themes: • The culture of giving in the Arab context • Recent trends and drivers of institutional philanthropy in the Arab World • Emerging dynamics among states, corporations, and civic sectors • Political reform and the legal frameworks defining Arab philanthropy • Innovations in Zakat, Sadaqa, Ushur and Waqf endowments • Issues around the continuum from charity to strategic philanthropy • Assessing levels and effectiveness of giving • ‘Philanthrocapitalism’ ‐‐ concept and critiques • Youth, generations and civic engagement • Civic participation and volunteerism • Related research on Arab Diaspora communities Selected candidates will be notified by December 29th, 2010. Full papers are not expected to exceed 30 double‐spaced pages and will be due by March 15, 2011. Conference organizers will cover costs related to travel and accommodation for participating authors whose full papers are accepted. For further information or to submit abstracts, please contact: takaful2011@aucegypt.edu A conference website is under construction and will be available soon at: www.aucegypt.edu/research/gerhart/takaful and on CUMERC’s webpage www.cumerc.columbia.edu

Takaful First Annual Conference on Philanthropy and CivicEngagement April 16-17, 2011 Amman, Jordan

Winners of the "Good Practice Competition on Responsible Business Conduct"

We are glad to announce the winners of the "Good Practice Competition on Responsible Business Conduct". The winners for the year 2011 are:
1) Reem Ali and Mohamed Abd El Hafiz, who won the first position, for the case story of the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) and the Center for Development Services (CDS) in the field of "Labor Rights".
2) Dalia Abd El Kader, who won the second position, for the case story of the Arab African International Bank, in the field of "Health and Environment".
3) Alfredo De Massis and Giovanna Campopiano, who won the third position, for the case story of Italcementi Group in the field of "Educational and Vocational Training".
Winners of the first position, will present the case story on the Fifth Corporate Sustainability Forum "Enhancing Transparency and Fighting Corruption" on June 20, 2011. Winners of the second and third positions will be invited to attend a training course with EIoD and ECRC on corporate governance and corporate social responsibility during the year 2011.
As sincere thank you to all those who participated and best of luck in all future endeavors.

Discover the Principles for Social Investment (PSI)

Click here to dowload the PSI document

The Third Strategic Corporate Governance and Responsibility Forum 2011, 12-14 June 2011, Amman, Jordan

12-14 June 2011 Amman, Jordan The Corporate Governance and Responsibility Forum is a unique knowledge generating platform created to identify, address and enable development in the areas of Corporate Governance and Corporate Social Responsibility, while building an awareness of the importance of Sustainability.

MENA-OECD Task Force on Energy and WG1 on Investment Policies Meetings, 15-16 December in Paris

Spurring Growth of Renewable Energies in MENA through Private-Sector Investment, 15-16 December 2010, Paris, France The MENA-OECD Investment Programme is convening the Fourth Meeting of the Task Force on Energy and Infrastructure and the Meeting of Working Group 1 on Investment Policies and Promotion on December 15-16, 2010 at the OECD Headquarters in Paris. This is an opportunity for the Business Council to participate in and give new impetus to the work of the Energy Task Force for 2011. It is also an occasion for the Business Council to discuss challenges and opportunities in bolstering investment policies with Working Group 1.
The Energy Task Force meeting will particularly discuss: - The Position Paper to be presented the next day to Working Group 1 in Session 2. - The new mandate and the 2011 work programme for the Energy Task Force. - The question of renewable energy will be form part of the Energy Task Force’s discussion with respect to the OECD’s “Green Growth Strategy”. Working Group 1 members include investment policy makers, treaty negotiators, and representatives of investment promotion agencies from MENA and OECD countries. They meet twice a year to share their expertise and experience on a range of investment-related issues. This is the chance of the Business Council to provide input into the policy-making process of the MENA region. For more information, please visit the MENA OECD Investment Programme at www.oecd.org/mena/investment

Discovering ISO 26000

ISO 26000:2010, Guidance on social responsibility, aims to provide guidance to all types of organization in both the public and private sectors in achieving the benefits of operating in a socially responsible manner. It intends to promote common understanding in the field of social responsibility and assist organizations in contributing to sustainable development.
ISO 26000 is not a management system standard and thus, it is not intended for certification purposes or regulatory or contractual use.
The following link directs you to the brochure “ISO 26000 Social Responsibility”, to help you discover ISO 26000, why social responsibility is important, what benefits can be achieved by implementing ISO 26000 and what ISO 26000 contains.
www.iso.org/iso/discovering_iso_26000.pdf

Egypt - National CSR Framework

The Egyptian Corporate Responsibility Center (ECRC) is working on the preparation of a “National CSR Framework” which aims to identify the roles of various stakeholders - the civil society, the private sector and the government - in creating an enabling environment for responsible business practices in Egypt. This National CSR Framework is being prepared in collaboration with Mr. Graham Minter - lead expert in CSR – who visited Egypt from 27 May to 14 June 2010 to conduct a number of consultations consisting of a series of workshops and roundtables aiming to get the feedback of different stakeholders on the scope and structure of the strategy. A second round of consultations was organized in September 2010 and a third round is planned to take place in January 2011.

Uturn Africa Forums 2012

Focusing on the Extractive, Energy & Infrastructure Sectors, Uturn Africa Forums engages the region’s most influential leaders and those with interest in Africa in critical discussions designed to create partnerships, networks, knowledge and collaborative pathways to achieve effective social change and impact in the region; to work towards a cohesive operational framework for the continent and set an agenda on best practices and beyond compliance requirements for sustainability investments. Please find attached document to learn more about Uturn Africa Forums 2012.

Partnership Brokers Training

Partnership Brokers Training is shaped and driven by the growing demand around the world from the public sector, business and civil society for greater competence and professionalism in building and maintaining non-traditional forms of collaboration. It provides practical skills, knowledge and insight for managing the partnering process from the earliest ‘scoping’ stage to the final ‘moving on’ phase, including the delivery of measurable benefits to all partners.
4-day skills training: Expressions of interest are now being invited – whether from international or national business, international or national-level NGOs, central or local governments, academic institutions or international agencies working in this region. The ratio of trainer / tutor to participant is 1:8 so there is ample opportunity for small group work, practical skills building sessions and rich conversations. We seek to achieve a balance of participants from each sector (corporate, civil society, government and international agencies) soonly accept a certain number from any one sector or organisation. The training will take place 23-26 January 2012. at Bibliotheca Alexandrina, Egypt. Please visit www.partnershipbrokers.org to download the application form and return it via e-mail to: info@partnershipbrokers.org by 2 December 2011. Training brochure attached.

Siemens Student Award 2011

Siemens Student Award Siemens is inviting students at universities in the Middle East to contribute their ideas for finding a solution to one of the toughest challenges of the future: How can you build sustainable cities in the desert? Imagine that a large metropolis is being built in the desert and you have been put in charge of one of the following five technical challenges: Ensure a steady, safe supply of drinking water. Provide a reliable source of energy/electricity. Set up a public health system. Establish an efficient, functioning waste management system. Why Participate? The best ideas will win attractive prizes of up to US $25,000. The ten finalists will attend the mega-event in Qatar – or be one of the 250 guests at the awards ceremony, which includes a formal after-show party. Meet the Siemens experts and gain an ideal platform for networking. How to Participate? Any student at a college or university in the Middle East can participate (see countries on slide 3) Enter on your own or in a group of up to three people. If you are entering as a group, choose one person who will coordinate and serve as a liaison to the others. Register at www.siemens.com/studentaward by 15th August 2011. Submit your idea with a short description, key benefit and abstract, and include any creative materials you want (e.g., a short video or pictures). *Please visit the above mentioned site for more details

Nestlé Prize in Creating Shared Value

Looking for funds to scale up an innovative nutrition, water or rural development project? Apply for the Nestlé Prize in Creating Shared Value and win up to CHF 500 000
Help an innovative project in the field of nutrition, water or rural development to scale up by nominating it for the Nestlé Prize in Creating Shared Value. The winner will benefit from an investment of up to CHF 500 000 (more than USD 480 000). Nominations and self-nominations are welcome until 30 June 2011. The Prize is open to individuals, governmental and non-governmental organisations, academia and small enterprises. Specific field of achievements include, but are not limited to: agriculture, including extension services and use of new technologies; food science and technology; nutrition education programmes; water management; protections of water resources, etc. Find out more and nominate a project at: www.nestle.com/CSV/CSVPrize For any inquiry, contact Nestlé at: CSVPrize@nestle.com

Good Practice Competition on Responsible Business Conduct

Call for Case Stories 2011 Good Practice Competition on Responsible Business Conduct Download Competition Flyer Download Competition Download Application Form

Fifth Corporate Sustainability Forum "Enhancing Transparency and Fighting Corruption"

The “Fifth Corporate Sustainability Forum Enhancing Transparency and Fighting Corruption” is being organized by the Egyptian Institute of Directors (EIoD) in cooperation with the American University in Cairo, and with the support of WBI, UNDP, OECD, GIZ and the Global Corporate Governance Forum, in Cairo, on June 20, 2011. This important event, which is expected to attract 300 representatives from the public sector, private sector and civil society organizations in the MENA region, will reflect the most recent events in the region aiming at shaping new approaches to fight corruption, promote good governance, create job opportunities, engage with the poor and protect labor rights. This is particularly important to the corporate sector to help it better understand the business challenges and opportunities which address the increased demand for more responsible business conduct and innovative ways of job creation and engaging with the civil society and the government. Attached is the concept note and draft agenda. For registration, please visit EIoD's webiste at www.eiod.org

14th International Business Forum, Berlin 2011

14th International Business Forum, Berlin 2011 Investment Climate for Climate Investment - fostering business dynamics for in-clusive low carbon growth as part of the "Dialogue with Business about Poverty Reduction and Climate Change" The 14th International Business Forum in Berlin will focus on the role of the private sector tackling climate change and poverty. The participants get to know practical business approaches and business opportunities, analyze good practices and initiate joint activities. All participants will contribute to the process of preparing recommendations on how climate investments by the private sector can be raised and how the donor community and public institutions can support this. Programme attached.

1st UNGC Roundtable for 2011 “The Role of Business in Fighting Corruption”, 20 March 2011

The Egyptian Corporate Responsibility Center, in partnership with the Global Compact Office in New York announces the 1st United Nations Global Compact Roundtable for 2011 “The Role of Business in Fighting Corruption” on March 20th, 2011 hosted by the AUC John D. Gerhart Center for Philanthropy and Civic Engagement, Oriental Hall, American University Downtown Campus.
Agenda attached.

ECRC Examines Companies’ Roles in Advancing Society

The Egyptian Corporate Responsibility Center (ECRC), Ministry of Investment, held a meeting on 23 February 2011 with its partners from businesses, civil society organizations and UNDP representatives to discuss the role that can be done by social responsibility to serve the community, especially people affected by the recent political events, and to identify social priorities, which can be implemented in both the short and long term. A number of companies attended the meeting, including IBM, Microsoft, Olympic Group, Oriental Resorts, Price Water House Coopers (PWC), and Orascom Telecom. Representatives from Al Masry Foundation, Youth Business Association, and UNDP also attended the event. The meeting reviewed activities included in the ECRC plan for 2011, which consists of conferences, workshops, training programs and publications, which aim at private sector as well as civil society development in order to better serve the surrounding community. Read Full Article

Blended Training Program on Corporate Social Responsibility and Sustainable Competitiveness

The Egyptian Corporate Responsibility Center (ECRC) and the World Bank Institute are jointly organizing a "Blended Training Program on Corporate Social Responsibility and Sustainable Competitiveness". The program consists of three days face to face, to be held in Cairo, from 28 February 2011 to 2 March 2011 followed by an online course on WBI’s platform for one month. The program aims to provide participants with an introduction to the rationale, design and implementation of corporate social responsibility policies and programs by focusing on sustainable competitiveness and good governance. It features successful corporate examples and offers guidance to participants on how companies can be profitable and at the same contribute to sustainable social and economic development. The program is beneficial to private sector representatives as well as government and civil society actors from the MENA region who desire to establish or strengthen CSR strategies, policies or programs in their work organization. Participants who complete the course receive a certificate accredited by the World Bank Institute.
Course details and registration form attached.