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Untitled Document

 

ASEAN CSR:
A Network of CSR Practitioners in ASEAN

 

The ASEAN Foundation has catalyzed the formation of a regional network for CSR ("ASEAN CSR Network") to address the lack of regional cooperation and information on Corporate Social Responsibility and in line with the actions called for in the Blueprint for ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community (2008-2015). The Network aims to support the Blueprint for ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community, which includes as part of its strategic objectives ensuring that corporate social responsibility is incorporated in the corporate agenda and contributes towards sustainable socio-economic development in ASEAN Member States. This can be achieved through the following actions:

  • Develop a model public policy on CSR or legal instrument for reference of ASEAN Member States by 2010. (Reference may be made to ISO 26000 titled "Guidance on Social Responsibility")
  • Engage the private sector to support the activities of sectoral bodies and the ASEAN Foundation, in the field of corporate social responsibility
  • Encourage adoption and implementation of international standards on social responsibility
  • Increase awareness of Corporate Social Responsibility in ASEAN towards sustainable relations between commercial activities and communities where they are located, in particular supporting community based development.

Given this mandate, the ASEAN Foundation supported two projects implemented by the Asian Institute of Management and the League of Corporate Foundations to study the feasibility of establishing a regional network for CSR and to generate support for this purpose. In 2008, the ASEAN Foundation partnered with the Asian Institute of Management (AIM) to implement the "Network of ASEAN Corporate Foundations" project. As a part of the project, a meeting was organized in Singapore among corporate foundations, CSR practitioners and other stakeholders in conjunction with the annual AIM Asian Forum on CSR. During the meeting, there was a consensus that a regional network for CSR would be beneficial for the development of CSR in the region. A number of organizations expressed their support for the formation of the regional network by signing a Memorandum of Understanding on establishing a regional network for CSR.

Inspired by the positive response among ASEAN organizations, the ASEAN Foundation resolved to continue its efforts to catalyze the formation of a regional network for CSR. It found in CSR Europe a model that the ASEAN network could possibly be patterned after. Hence, it sought the support of the League of Corporate Foundations to develop a project that would facilitate the development of the ASEAN network by learning from the experience of CSR Europe and the existing CSR and business networks in the region. Through a series of workshops, focus group discussions and consultation meetings, a proposed framework has been developed for the formalization of the regional network.

The ASEAN Foundation then successfully held the first organizational meeting in Singapore among representatives of the ASEAN Foundation and organizations from Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore and Thailand. They agreed in principle to be the founding members of "ASEAN CSR" and to move forward in formalizing this organization with Singapore agreeing to host its secretariat. This agreement is documented in a Memorandum of Understanding expressing the commitment of each organization, namely, the Indonesia Business Links, International Chamber of Commerce-Malaysia, League of Corporate Foundations (Philippines), the CSR Club of Thai Listed Companies Association (TLCA) and the Singapore Compact for CSR to support the activities of "ASEAN CSR Network" and become its founding incorporators.

 

For more information, please contact:

ASEAN Foundation
2 Jl Sam Ratulangi, Menteng
10350 Jakarta, Indonesia
Email: secretariat@aseanfoundation.org
Tel: +62.21.3192.4833 / 4828
Fax: +62.21.3192.6078