Executive CSR Training and Workshop with Test Audit

In Africa, most businesses know that corporate social responsibility (CSR) is integral to long-term business success, but many CSR programs are either misconstrued to mean “Corporate Philanthropy” or aren't part of a coherent portfolio—often they are unstructured, unconnected, poorly managed and have little to do with the company's business goals. The goal of all CSR activities is to create shared value for all stakeholders while delivering business results. Every organization (private or public) will benefit from a strategically planned CSR policy with a unified central vision. Therefore, the need to strategically engage all units in the complexities of our CSR work is invaluable.

This program is designed to help senior executives to understand global standards for CSR, refocus CSR and sustainability efforts in ways that benefit society and the organization. You will learn how to examine your current CSR programs with a critical eye and develop an overarching CSR strategy that creates value and achieve sustainability. By bringing greater alignment and direction to your CSR activities and identifying the right KPIs to measure results effectively, you'll become better able to maximize the value of your CSR budgets or investments for all stakeholders and for the business while building a solid foundation for sustainable business.

Program Outcome
At the end of the program, participants will be able to:

•Realistically assess current CSR and sustainability efforts and design an action plan for achieving better impact

•Design a functional CSR strategy while maintaining a broad array of activities with distinct purposes

•Prioritize budgets and investments that will incrementally improve organization's ability to deliver shared stakeholder value

•Make a strong case for an organization’s CSR strategy and report effectively on social, environmental, and business impact—internally and externally

•Adopt global best practice in communicating, reporting and reviewing CSR programs

•Improve coordination of CSR efforts across the organization

•Create positive, productive relationships with internal and external stakeholders

•Successfully engage third party CSR auditors while identifying areas for interest

•Improve bottom-line through effective CSR programs

Your Course of Study

Through presentations, small group discussions, exercises, and recent case studies from around the world, you will examine the practical approaches successful companies are using to integrate CSR strategies with the long-term needs of the business and evolve their strategies as business needs change.

As you learn from our expert team and the diverse experiences of other executives, you will learn how to maximize the shared value delivered by your CSR programs—and how to effectively measure and communicate that value.

Core topics include:

•Understanding CSR

•Examining the social and environmental impacts of your business activities to identify opportunities

•Conducting an inventory of your current CSR programs

•Creating a blueprint for change

•Redefining environmental and social benefits within three distinct areas—Philanthropy, Operational Impact, and Shared Value

•Consolidating your efforts around company goals and objectives

•Evolving your CSR activities to align with global best practices

•Building your ability to create shared value for all stakeholders

•Making the business case for your CSR strategy

Implementing Social Responsibility Program

•Training subordinates and capacity building

•Integrating CSR best practices into key business areas, disseminating policy effectively, and embedding CSR within organizational culture

•Integrating social responsibility metrics into general performance management systems

•Measuring social and business impact

•Communicating the goals and impact of CSR efforts to colleagues, shareholders, and other stakeholders

Managing Risk and Decision Making

•Evaluating complex environments and potential impacts before investing capital or making business decisions

•Identifying current vulnerabilities and predicting future pitfalls

•Preparing for crisis scenarios

•Integrating CSR initiatives in vendor and supplier agreements

•Interacting effectively with diverse internal and external stakeholders