Over the past months, DFGE has released checklists with simple questions to help organizations improve their CSR programs. The questions help identify potential gaps that organizations can then decide to tackle.
First, we explained how to structure the program as a whole. Then, we focused on the aspects of CSR listed in ISO 26 000: environment, labor practices, human rights. A new checklist has just been released on Community Involvement and Development.
What is Community Involvement and Development?
Though it implies some philanthropic activities, it goes beyond. The goal is to engage the local communities to collect their views and act accordingly, to partner with them so that both parties can benefit from each other. Community development usually aims at helping the community to thrive and access basic infrastructures.
To check the community outreach program, we asked four major questions:
1 – Is the program structured?
2 – Does your organization practice community involvement?
3 – Does your organization helps creating value?
4 – Does your organization resort to social investments?
Structuring a program is key to ensure its efficiency. In the case of community, it is very important to conduct an analysis to check if some communities are threatened by the organization activities.
It is also paramount to be in contact with local stakeholders. In this sense, you can know their opinions and act accordingly, you can benefit from their knowledge. Such communication is key to avoid issues, controversies.
Once engaged, you can help foster community development. Indeed, companies create income. By paying taxes, hiring local employees, contracting with local suppliers, taking part in local entrepreneuship programs, companies indirectly bring benefits to communities. A solution is also shared value, where companies address a social/environmental need of a community by also bringing economic benefit to the company.
Another way is to practice social investments. Social investments are any resources allocated to the community so that they can access basic rights: education, health, culture,. Such resources can be monetary, in-kind or even human resources/ knowledge.
To read the full checklist, please consult the press release.
If you also want to read the four recent checklists – please see
- No 1 –A checklist to easily improve sustainability programs
- No 2 –A checklist to easily improve your environmental program
- No 3 –A checklist to easily improve labor practices
- No 4 A checklist to improve respect to human rights
