scholarly journals Monitoring and evaluation of corporate social responsibility programmes in South Africa

2015 ◽  
Vol 5 (4) ◽  
pp. 314-318
Author(s):  
Renitha Rampersad

The South African corporate sector invests millions to support community development and social programs. One of the more fundamental issues about sustainability in a business context is the fact that directors have a fiduciary duty to take into account interests of those stakeholders other than investors/shareholders. This therefore places major importance on sustainability reporting through reports on governance, economic, social and environmental performance and is increasingly being regarded as a key form of stakeholder engagement, and the most accepted formal way of communicating measured outcomes to all stakeholders. A number of methodologies may exist for the development of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) strategies or “how-to guides” for community engagement and investment, however, it lacks development in the field of CSR Programme Evaluation. Integrated approaches to the measurement thereof are still in expanding stages of development and statistical data and/or empirical evidence is lacking at this point. Trust and relationships take time to build but are valuable assets, therefore a company must show it has listened and acted in response to stakeholder concerns, this means that ongoing communication and reporting back to stakeholders is a very important component in any engagement strategy. It is therefore important for the corporate sector to not only evaluate the effectiveness of their CSR Programmes, but also to measure the impact on both their beneficiary communities and their business and subsequently on the Return on Investment (ROI). This paper will highlight a case of the South African corporate sectors attempts to evaluate its effectiveness and impact on beneficiary communities and how they quantify the impact of the investment through successful CSR interventions

2017 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 222-229 ◽  
Author(s):  
Renitha Rampersad

There is a strong ethical case to redress poverty and inequality in South Africa. The South African corporate sector has been called upon to take responsibility for the ways their operations impact societies. There has been considerable change in the way the corporate sector concerns themselves with applying sustainability principles to the ways in which they conduct their business specifically in their social interactions with stakeholders. This sees the South African corporate sector investing millions to support sustainable community development and social programs. The total corporate social responsibility (CSR) expenditure in South Africa was estimated to amount to R8.2 billion in 2013/2014 (Trialogue, 2014). Although major South African and multinational companies have had ample opportunity to express and communicate their views on the potential of CSR, the voices of communities continue to be thwarted and stifled when they should logically lie at the heart of effective change management interventions. Business has the obligation, and also the resources, to make a contribution to communities in which they operate. This article investigates the South African business sectors involvement in stakeholder engagement and describes two cases of major South African companies and their increased value for a stakeholder governance model.


2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Barry Ackers ◽  
Susanna Elizabeth Grobbelaar

Purpose Despite initially being lauded as a revolutionary approach for companies to account to all stakeholders, the shareholder orientation of the international integrated reporting (<IR>) framework gave rise to questions about whether integrated reports would still sufficiently disclose pertinent corporate social responsibility (CSR) information. This paper aims to investigate the extent to which the <IR> framework has impacted the CSR disclosures contained in integrated reports of South African mining companies. Design/methodology/approach The study deployed a mixed methods research approach, involving thematic content analysis of the CSR disclosures contained in the integrated reports of mining companies with primary listings on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange. The resultant qualitative data were subsequently analysed using a T-test of difference. Findings The study observes that the release of the <IR> framework appears to have had a limited impact on the CSR disclosures in the integrated reports of most companies included in the study. However, where significant differences were identified, the CSR disclosures of some companies were positively impacted after the release of the <IR> framework, whilst others were negatively impacted. Research limitations/implications As South Africa is acknowledged as a leader in the global <IR> movement, the paper’s observations have global relevance and suggest that the fundamental principles of <IR> should be reconsidered to improve the alignment with stakeholders’ information needs, as originally conceived. Originality/value Despite the shareholder orientation of the <IR> framework, the global mining industry is acknowledged as being at the forefront of implementing CSR interventions to mitigate the adverse impacts of their operations on stakeholders, supporting a stakeholder orientation. As the adoption of <IR> continues to gain traction around the world, this paper’s contribution is that it represents one of the few papers to use the global reporting initiative G4 indicators to specifically examine the impact of <IR> framework on the CSR disclosures on the South African mining industry, where both <IR> and CSR reporting are quasi-mandatory disclosure requirements.


2015 ◽  
Vol 18 (4) ◽  
pp. 586-607 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicholas Hill ◽  
Warren Maroun

This study examines the potential impact of industrial unrest and the outbreak of violence at Marikana on 16 August 2012 on the share prices of mining companies listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) using an event methodology. Contrary to expectations, the Marikana incident does not appear to have had a widespread and prolonged effect on the South African mining sector. This may be the result of the strike action already having been discounted into the price of mining shares, implying that the market was only reacting to the unusually violent (but short-lived) protest. Alternately, the results could be indicative of investor confidence in the corporate social responsibility initiatives of the South African mining industry as a whole. This paper is the first to examine the potential impact of the Marikana incident on the share prices of mining companies listed on the JSE. It should be of interest to both academics and practitioners wanting to understand how share prices react to exogenous events. It is also relevant for corporate-governance researchers concerned with the relevance of social and governance practices in a South African setting. This research is faced with the limitations associated with most statistical research: that causality cannot be ascribed to tested relationships. Notwithstanding these limitations, it is argued that these findings are important, given the significant coverage of the Marikana incident and the ongoing debate on the need for corporate social responsibility.


Author(s):  
Jabu Mokwena ◽  
Nokulunga Xolile Mashwama ◽  
Didi Thwala ◽  
Clinton Aigbavboa ◽  
Mansur Hamma-Adama

The overall aim of this study is to appraise the current practice of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) on firms operating in the South African construction market. Primary and secondary sources of data were utilized. The primary data were collected via of questionnaire survey issued to 12 different firms operating within the South African construction sector and secondary data obtained from related and reliable scholarly literature such as journal articles, conference papers, reports, books etc. Out of 60 questionnaires issued, 50 were acquired back, and all surveys received were valid. Descriptive statistical analysis was used for the collected primary data. The study reveals that common CSR variables that are practiced by South African construction firms using certified product/material verified by the independent third party. These include supporting government initiatives on public welfare; Occupational health, business ethics and code of conduct; welfare and safety; Purchasing green material and the most important CSR variables are contractual obligations are met, and product and service providers are paid in a timely manner; Using certified product/material verified by the independent third party; Ensuring fair treatment of workers at work irrespective of race, gender, and disability; and consult employees about crucial business activities. The implementation of CSR activities offers a great solution for many problems that are being faced by the South African construction firms as well as the South African society.


Author(s):  
Concepción Campillo-Alhama ◽  
Diego Igual-Antón

Cooperative organizations try to balance economic viability and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) management through strategic policies that involve dialogue, participation and engagement with stakeholders. To measure the impact of CSR management, the electricity sector implements monitoring processes and models, such as the Sustainability Reporting Standards of the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI), which measure contributions to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the United Nations 2030 Agenda. This research analyses the strategic management of CSR in the 28 electric cooperatives that market electricity in Spain with the aim of determining their level of commitment to CSR and stakeholder participation in their corporate policies. The analysis is based on the descriptive-exploratory study of the whole population of electric cooperatives. The results indicate that the CSR management of most electric cooperatives is still in an emerging stage within the Value Curve. Importantly, there is a significant percentage of cooperatives that have already advanced towards the consolidating and institutionalized stages. However, most of these social-economy organizations are not developing programs that link their CSR strategies with their priority SDGs and sustainability as commitment to their community.


2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 34-62
Author(s):  
Aparna Bhatia ◽  
Megha Mahendru

Purpose: Companies Act, 2013, has brought a revolution in the regime of corporate social responsibility (CSR) disclosure in India, making it a mandatory practice for the corporate sector. The purpose of this article is to examine the impact of statutory provisions on the extent of CSR disclosure in India. Design/methodology/approach: This article considers an effective sample of 144 companies selected on the basis of average market capitalisation. The study relates to the year 2015–2016, which represents the time period when companies started reporting CSR issues mandatorily. CSR disclosure scores are calculated by using content analysis. Both univariate and multiple regression models are applied to check the effect of statutory provisions on CSR disclosure. Findings: The results indicate that variables namely NETWORTH, TURNOVER and DOMESTIC dummy have positive and statistically significant impact on CSR disclosure scores. However, TOBINSQ, representing profitability of companies, has negative and statistically significant impact on CSR disclosure scores, thus leading to anxious results. Research limitations/implications: Factors affecting CSR disclosure score have been selected on the basis of new statutory provisions introduced by the Ministry of Corporate Affairs. Certain other vital attributes, especially related to corporate governance variables, too can be controlled for so that results have strong implications for companies. Practical implications: The empirical findings of this article implicate that institutional setup of a country has a strong bearing on the disclosure practices of the corporate sector. Thus, the authors strongly recommend to the statutory bodies that it is not sufficient just to make statutes but their implementation too should be ensured. Originality/value: With specific reference to India, mandating CSR disclosure is a recent law; so, the current study being first of its kind, would definitely add to the available literature and open gateways for future research.


2022 ◽  
pp. 56-66
Author(s):  
GARIMA AGARWAL

Corporate Social Responsibility (hereinafter “CSR”) had emerged as a means to hold companies and organisations accountable for the impact of their actions and operations on society. The idea behind CSR is that Business Organisations generate profits by utilising the community and environmental resources by way of labour and raw material, and so must return at least some part to society by way of quality products, employment generation, and so on. CSR has come a long way from being merely a concept of philanthropy to a mandatory law in India. The paper is an analysis of whether the CSR law has been able to serve the purpose for which it was enacted. It seeks to look into whether or not CSR should have been made mandatory at all. This paper questions the need for a CSR law in India or if it instead works as a mechanism agenda for the government to shift its responsibilities (towards the community) to the corporate sector.


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