CSR leaders to collaborate in making of CSR Governance Framework at Bengaluru Dialogue

Bengaluru: India CSR Network, country’s largest network on CSR and sustainability, is coming out with CSR Governance Framework.

The making of CSR Governance Framework will be initiated at India CSR Dialogue Bengaluru on January 31, 2020.

The CSR leaders participating in the dialogue will discuss the outline of the document.

Apresh Mishra, Editor of India CSR Network said “Based on discussions and deliberations among the CSR leaders at the dialogue, the first draft of the framework will be open to more CSR leaders across the country to collaborate.”

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“This initiative is in collaboration and consultation with large number of CSR leaders. The Framework document after various level of consultation is expected to be ready in the first week of May and will be released at 11^th CSR Leadership Summit”, he said.

India CSR is organising Bengaluru Dialogue on ‘CSR Governance’ on January 31, 2020 in Bengaluru.

The dialogue will be moderated by Apresh Mishra of India CSR Network, Atul Sud of Perfetti Van Melle India, and Jyotsna Belliappa of Bluesky Sustainable Business.

CSR Governance

Since 2013 when CSR became a mandatory business affair, companies have been increasingly trying to go beyond the compliance and make impact with their CSR efforts by working with the employees, their families, communities, experts and the society to improve lives in ways that are good for business and for its development.

Role of governance to check transparency, accountability and assurance has increasingly become much more important as a result.

Talking points of the Dialogue:

1. CSR Governance framework – Compliance to law and beyond.

Accountability, Transparency, ethical behaviour, respect for stakeholder interests,

Discussion points :  How important are these considerations?

• Strategy: CSR strategies and plans aligned to mission and vision statements.
• Policies: CSR policies (including Codes of Conduct) and management systems; compliance with policies, commitments and regulations
• Integrating CSR into the company Code of Conduct / Ethics.

2. CSR Governance and Leadership

National Guidelines for ResponsibleBusiness Conduct recommends:

CSR Leadership categorized as Essential” and “Leadership”. While the Essential level is expected from every business that has adopted these Guidelines, the Leadership level is expected of businesses which aspire to progress to a higher level in their quest to be socially, environmentally, and ethically responsible.

Discussion Points:- How do you measure performance on these indicators.

• CSR Report: Determining overall scope of, provide input on, and recommending board adoption of CSR report.
• CSR Inspection: Review implementation and impacts of CSR Projects

3. CSR Governance and Brand Risk

• Risk Management: Monitor and oversee CSR risk and opportunity management plans; review effectiveness of CSR issue identification and management.
• Stakeholder Engagement: stakeholder views on the CSR project- feedback and engagement. To what extent will they influence your project – sphere of influence concept.