Prakruthi is working with eight civil society organisations in Afghanistan to encourage corporate social responsibility (CSR) activities in partnership with business. In Afghanistan CSR is understood as a form of philanthropy: giving back to the community in whether it is through funding, volunteering or any kind of donation. Prakruthi is convinced that CSR relates to the actual business operations of companies: how do those operations impact on people and the environment? In its network and training program Prakruthi is cooperating with different Afghan NGOs to shift one-time philanthropic donations into a focused CSR program that can be a good first step for companies to develop a comprehensive approach to social responsibility.
Learnings from the CSR Network meeting in Delhi, India, December 2010
Mrs. Suliman: “I also learned that in the market, companies strive for a unique selling point that can separate them from the competition in the minds of consumers. CSR can play a role in building customer loyalty based on distinctive ethical values.”
Mr. Safi: “Prior to going to the meeting in India, I had very little knowledge about CSR. I was taking it only as the will of a company, to donate money on social projects. Whereas now, after the CSR session, I know that companies are indeed bound socially and ethically to deliver some services to their societies in return of what they receive from them.”
Mr. Ahmad: “I learned how the civil society sector can encourage corporations in Afghanistan to be a social responsible company. A CSR strategy should be developed by the civil society organisations in coordination with the business sector.”
