Postcard from Bishkek

The CSR week logo

We are coming to the end of CSR Week. … CSR? – Corporate Social Responsibility.

(For the record: I wrote a postcard about CSR back in 2008, which defines the term and describes my approach, (and that of the Celestial Mountains companies), to the topic.)

The idea is to hold a dozen or so activities during the week, (including seminars, “round table” discussions, presentations … and, of course, the inevitable social event) in the hope that it would create an effective dialogue about Corporate Social Responsibility between representatives of the State, the private sector, Civil Society and others. Although some of the activities were open to the public, others involved just invited guests.  Some were free of charge but others attracted a charge to help defray costs. The various activities were targeted at:

• Businessmen, (Directors and CEOs of enterprises in Kyrgyzstan, managers responsible for social issues and business development – Public Relations, Human Resources and GR), and investors;
• Representatives of the authorities and parliament;
• Representatives of non-government organizations, (NGOs), which make up civil society, such as business associations;
• academics, (researchers and other allied “experts” in CSR, – although, personally, I am not sure what that means … here, the term “expert” is bandied around quite a bit … );
• journalists and representatives of media outlets;
• coordinators of social and ecological projects;
• business consultants and
• any “other interested” parties.

It is hoped that one of the outcomes of the week  would be to raise the role and effectiveness of social investments in Kyrgyzstan leading to the formulation, and eventual implementation of CSR programs in businesses.   As part of that dialogue that participants in the various activities would have the opportunity to:

• share
• • experience on CSR activities and programmes with colleagues from various sectors;
  • information on achievements in the field of CSR;
• present
• • examples, both local and international, of best practices of CSR;
  • new ideas on innovative ways to interact with “stakeholders”;
  • the latest trends from international practice from leading international CSR experts;
• explore new ways of managing brand value and capitalization levels through the introduction of CSR principles in all areas of business;

gk.kg

One of the 23 examples of “best practice” drawn from 20 different companies, (representing Mining, the Finance sector, Fuel distribution, telecommunications, Import/export agents, manufacturing and trade, transport, tourism and media), was our website offering a portal for “good causes in Kyrgyzstan”: www.gk.kg.  I explained the background to the decision to establish the site in another postcard back in 2009.

Some of the other examples included:

• Meetings of managers to raise issues of ethical relationships with suppliers, customers and partners;
• Introduction of systems to ensure quality and food safety of products;
• Programmes to support local associations of farmers;
• Supporting microcredits and interest free credits for vulnerable sections of the population, and establishing financial support systems for students;
• Support given to charities and other such organizations , such as: schools, orphanages, old people’s homes and veterans’ organizations;
• several examples of establishing a charity;
• Helping to establish a “Charity shop”;
• Providing technical support for schools and higher education institutions and supporting student competitions; and
• Sponsoring sporting activities.

.(For the record: I am also a member of the CSR committee of the IBC.)

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The CSR Business network - the lead organisation behind the week

For the record: The week was organized by:

• The CSR Business Network - a professional association created to promote the principles of corporate social responsibility in Kyrgyzstan and Central Asia. It is a member of the UN Global Compact, and believes that business practices based on universal principles are facilitating more of sustainability, justice and formation of prosperous and wealthy societies. (They have a website which has more details: www.csr.kg);
• The Aga Khan Foundation, (AKF) - a non-religious,  non-commercial, international agency for development founded in 1967 by His Highness Aga Khan, for the development and search for innovative and sustainable ways of overcoming problematic issues in the countries of Asia and East Africa.  AKF has branches and representative offices in 19 countries – including Kyrgyzstan.  For more than 10 years it has been actively facilitating communities in high-mountain regions to overcome poverty and social disadvantages.  Initiatives of the AKF in Kyrgyzstan include a range of programs varying from early childhood development up to graduate and post-graduate education; from micro-loan activities to banking services; from support for traditional musicians to support for civil society institutions; from infrastructure development to tourism activities. (Again, they have a website where more details can be found: www.akdn.org);
• The Business Advisory Service Program, (BAS), of  the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, (EBRD) – The BAS program works with enterprises of different sizes, (micro-, small- and medium-scale businesses – MSMB), and aims to help them to improve their efficiency, by providing consultants who work on narrowly specialized projects with the aim of providing short-term recoupment of investment.  BAS also leads activities designed to help in the development of markets in order to speed up the development of stable infrastructure of the local consulting services.  Although the program is run by the EBRD, it is financed by the Swiss Government.  (Further information can be found on their website: www.basp.biz);
• The American Chamber of Commerce in Kyrgyzstan, (AmCham) – a business associtiation founded in 2005.  The members of AmCham comprise both international and local companies.  AmCham is a member of the US Chamber of Commerce, based in Washington, DC, and is a part of a global network of similar organizations in countries around the world.   (More information can be found on their website: www.amcham.kg);
• The International Business Council, (IBC) – a business association uniting more than 100 companies, both local and foreign, operating in Kyrgyzstan and representing more than a billion dollars worth of investments in the country.  As well as furthering the common interests of investors and the provision of relevant information to its members, the wider mission of IBC is to help create a favorable investment climate in Kyrgyzstan by promoting legislative initiatives and efficient business practices in collaboration with the government of the Kyrgyz Republic, local and foreign organizations.  (There is further information on the IBC website: www.ibc.kg); and
• The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) – Originally established in 1975, OSCE currently unites 56 countries, including Kyrgyzstan which has been a member since 1992.  OSCE works for prosperity and democracy in the member states through political dialogue about common values and practical actions to ensure long-term changes for a better life for citizens.  The Bishkek Centre of OSCE was established in 1998 and organizes activities in six major strategic directions: border security, the rule of law, the creation and development of effective governance systems, the development of legislation, environment protection and regional cooperation.  (Additional information can be found at their website: www.osce.org);

… together with support from the following “partner companies”:

• Kumtor Operating Company - which operates the Kumtor gold mine in the Issyk Kul oblast, and is the largest gold-mining enterprise in Central Asia which is Western-run. (More information can be found on the website of the Cenerra, the Canadian parent company: www.centerragold.com.  Also, I wrote a postcard about Kumto last year.);
• “Sky Mobile”, (Beeline) – A mobile phone operator in Kyrgyzstan based on the Bitel Company which was established in 1997. The company provides services under the united international Beeline trademark.  Throughout its 13 years, the company has has supported number of CSR projects  in education, the development of the state language, activities for socially disadvantaged members of the population as well as schemes facilitating the development and professional growth of its employees, providing them with social packages and guarantees. (Further information about the company can be found at: www. Beeline.kg);
• The International Business Leaders Forum, (IBLF) – an independent, non-commercial, organization which aims to facilitate a responsible way of acting by businesses, for stable social and economical development. (More details are availble on their websites: www.iblf.ru & www.iblf.org);
• CSRJOURNAL - an informational and analytical CSR portal in the “Newly Independent States”, (NIS), of the former Soviet Union  It provides an open platform for the demonstration of successful experiences in socially oriented and ecological programs; social investments; effective models of constructive dialogue and cooperation with the authorities, (both central and local governments). (More information about the furom can be found on their websie: www.csrjournal.com);
• ASM Consulting - a consulting company, (based in Kiev, in the Ukraine), which provides services in the field of CSR and sustainable development.  (Further information is available at: www.asmconsulting.com.ua);