CSR awareness low in Nepal

Understanding among the businesses of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) concepts and best practices is quite low in Nepal and it demands a strategy for building awareness among companies, reveals a study conducted by South Asia Forum on Responsible Business's (SAFoRB) partners in Nepal, Environment Camps for Conservation Awareness (ECCA) and South Asia Watch on Trade, Economics and Environment (SAWTEE).

Presenting the synopsis of the study at "SAFoRB Corporate Social Responsibility Roundtable", Mochan Bhattarai of ECCA expressed the hope that SAFoRB would work with ECCA and SAWTEE to develop and deliver CSR awareness programmes suited to Nepal’s context. "Most of the business houses call their philanthropic activities as CSR."

The CSR Roundtable unveiled the recently concluded study on 'The State of Corporate Responsibility in Nepal', which is part of a regional CSR review being undertaken by SAFoRB.

During the programme delegates from Bangladesh, India, Nepal and Pakistan, in their respective country presentations highlighted ongoing work and shared their respective successes and lessons.

Delegates from citizen-sector organisations (CSOs) from SAARC countries, representatives from Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) and the corporate and citizen sectors took part in the roundtable here in the valley oraganised by the SAFoRB through their Nepal members ECCA and SAWTEE.

Samia Ahmed, director at the SAFoRB recounted the organisation’s progress.

“The future of business depends on its ability to respond to demands for ethical and sustainable practices," said Ambreen Waheed, chair of SAFoRB, sharing a regional review of CSR practices and emerging trends. "SAFoRB’s mandate includes providing necessary technical support to its members for building awareness, marshalling cost-effective solutions, and documenting best practices," she said, adding that they will continue to offer the widest possible range of expertise in their support.

Prachet Shrestha, chair of ECCA, concluded with a vote of thanks to the visiting delegates and guests, expressing hope that SAFoRB would continue to expand its membership in Nepal, and play its role in transforming local businesses' attitudes into responsible practices.

SAFoRB — a SAARC-wide membership organisation of citizen sector organizations working to enable civil society to engage with business coherently and effectively — was launched in November 2007. It has its secretariat in Dhaka and 15 national members across the region and regularly organises Roundtables and CSR awareness events in SAARC countries.