Overseas Development Institute,Department for International Development & Business Action for Africa's Blog (3)

British companies have made real progress in Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) in recent years but it is time to go further. Working and investing in developing countries is good for development and the bottom line. This was the message DFID Minister Gareth Thomas gave to more than 100 business representatives at an event at the Shell Foundation on Wednesday night (11/2/09). Gareth Thomas said the challenges of… Continue

The shift from philanthropic CSR to using core business for development impact is no longer just an idea. It is being accepted within both the development and business sectors. While the idea may sound obvious, it has considerable implications for how business is done. It contrasts with two previous ways of thinking. One was that companies could deliver their social responsibilities through corporate philanthropy or isolated CSR programmes alone. Core business delivered shareholder value, while… Continue

These are challenging times for the private sector development in developing countries. The downturn puts jobs, profits and poverty reduction goals at risk. It also questions old assumptions about the public-private division of responsibilities in delivering growth and development. Any time of intense pressure is also a time of innovation. Just as the public sector is developing its stake in supporting the private sector to keep business going, so we may have to adapt our views on how private

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