Throughout the countries where they operate, EF Network partners are leading the charge to assist local corporations with their understanding of social investment, and with the design, implementation and monitoring of their corporate social investment programs. This focus on corporate social responsibility (CSR) by the network aims to mobilize local sources of support for civil society and expand the pool of donors in these countries beyond international governments and foundations.
In 2004, EF launched its first CSR program, the Social Investment Initiative (SII) in Russia. This initiative aimed to help Russian companies and foundations develop and implement social and philanthropic programs. Specifically, the initiative emphasized the need for companies to shift their giving patterns from random charitable contributions to more strategic investments that affect local communities and focus on measurable and sustainable social and economic change. Recently, EF staff met with an alumna of the program who was employed at the Siberian-Urals Aluminum Company (SUAL). Since its participation in the program, SUAL has expanded its philanthropic operations and has focused them in a more strategic way, including via a partnership with the New Eurasia Foundation. In addition, many of the participants from the SII program continue to be in contact with each other. The program created a solid and sustaining network of CSR practitioners that discuss the challenges and opportunities facing them as they undertake corporate philanthropic programs.
In Ukraine, the East Europe Foundation (EEF) operates a diverse array of projects to develop corporate social responsibility practices. EEF and Expert Ukraine, a well-known business magazine, regularly organize seminars on CSR for journalists and editors in targeted regions across the country. In 2007, EEF launched the Ukraine CSR Bulletin, a weekly electronic newsletter that delivers information on CSR events and accomplishments to over 4,000 subscribers throughout Ukraine and other countries in Ukrainian, Russian and English languages. The Bulletin’s website, www.csrukraine.org.ua, has quickly become the most visited CSR website in Ukraine, according to Google and other search engines. Recently, EEF also launched Eco-Ukraine (www.eco-ukraine.org.ua) to deliver corporate environmental news. EEF also provided a grant to the Ukrainian Center for Independent Political Research to build a better environment for the development of philanthropy in Ukraine by promoting legislation for charitable organizations and businesses that support charitable activities.
In Armenia, Eurasia Partnership Foundation (EPF) recently organized several meetings to discuss CSR issues and best practices and describe why and how Armenian companies stand to gain from investing in their communities. As a result, EPF is recognized as a key promoter of CSR in Armenia. Staff have been interviewed by the Armenian press, such as the business journal Delovoy Express, and the business community in Yerevan is turning to EPF for assistance in CSR strategies.
