Communication On Engagement 2015 2017
MARIA ALEXIOU CHAIR OF CSR HELLAS CSR HELLAS is a non for profit business organization for Corporate Social Responsibility with presence in Greece for almost 17 years being also the National Partner Organization (NPO) of CSR Europe, the European organization for CSR. Since 2008 CSR HELLAS has established strategic relationships with UNGC and is the coordination body for the Global Compact Local Network in Greece. All CSR HELLAS s activities and initiatives have been always implemented as a collective project, since they connect its members, businesses and business organizations with Government, NGOs, Universities as well as with other European or international initiatives. The organization s nature is fully aligned with the UNGC 10 principles and SDGs, which have been recognized as priority No 1 for the Organization s Action Plan for the future. Starting from SDG 17 Partnerships for the Goals CSR HELLAS is giving all its efforts to contribute in the national SDGs strategy and translate the SDGs into the Greek business framework. In this report you will find a description of actions taken during 2015 2017 from CSR HELLAS with an optimistic sense of hope and confidence of making steps closer to a better world we all want. Maria Alexiou Chair of CSR HELLAS - 1 -
CSR HELLAS Profile CSR HELLAS is a leading business organization in Greece with 133 members. Membership in CSR HELLAS is voluntary and concerns companies and business organizations willing to get involved in sustainability and take action on national, European and global issues. Its vision is the improvement of business competiveness and Greek economy in general, through the alignment of business strategies and operations with CSR and sustainability principles. Its mission is the optimization of guidelines, tools and practices of Corporate Social Responsibility in order to strengthen sustainability, innovation and social cohesion. CSR HELLAS is cooperating with various organizations in Greece such as public bodies, academia, NGOs and relevant European and International organizations as well. CSR HELLAS 61 Akadimias Str. 106 79 Athens info@csrhellas.org www.csrhellas.net - 2 -
CONTENT Chapters A. SDGs 4. Conference Commitment for sustainable development 17 global goals for a better common future 5. Roundtable discussion: The impact of collaborative action in the frame of UNGC initiative Sustainable Development Goals 2016-2030 6. Public dialogue on SDGs 7. Survey on SDGs 7. SDGs working group 8. Information Actions 8. Leaflet on SDGs B. PARTNERSHIPS 9. Workshop on the implementation of national law on non-financial reporting 9. European Pact for Youth Initiative 10. EU Talent 10. Karpos Frontidas Social Product 11. Act4Greece 12. Break The Chain Festival 12. Cooperation with Unicef Hellas 12. E-learning program: Business Responsibility in Practice 12. Survey: Hellenic CSR insights C. INITIATIVES 14. GEFYRA 15. Refugees Support 15. Student Contest Nikos Analytis 15. CARVE Project 16. Workshops - 3 -
A. SDGs 1. Conference Commitment for sustainable development 17 global goals for a better common future CSR HELLAS and SEVBCSD (SEV Council for Sustainable Development) co-organised, on 2 nd March 2017, the Conference entitled Commitment for sustainable development 17 global goals for a better common future, through which the two bodies aimed to: o launch a broader dialogue among companies and stakeholders on the SDGs, o present good practices that can be used by other companies and stakeholders in adopting the SDGs to business strategies, o highlight both the cooperation and dialogue between the parties concerned as a prerequisite for achieving the SDGs and partly of the focal role of businesses and business bodies in this effort. The conference had international, European and local speakers from UNGCHQ, CSR Europe, European Commission, Greek government, business organizations, businesses, Universities and NGOs who participated in the 3 conference s sessions: a. Agenda 2030: Setting the frame b. The business perspective c. The power of collaboration During the conference participants have been asked to express their views on the Goals that they considered should be priorities for Greece. According to that vote the following SDGs were prioritized: Approx. attendance: 400 More info: https://sdgs-event.gr Link to Principles: 1-10 - 4 -
2. Roundtable discussion: The impact of collaborative action in the frame of UNGC initiative Sustainable Development Goals 2016-2030 On 20 th May 2016, CSR HELLAS organized a roundtable discussion between businesses and DNV GL Group about the results of the research IMPACT Transforming Business, Changing the World, which was conducted by DNV GL Group for UNGC. Participants had the opportunity to be informed about the most comprehensive assessment of the UNGC impact on the evolution of corporate sustainability over the past 15 years and the recommendations that must be followed to accelerate progress towards a more sustainable future. Approx. attendance: 15 Link to Principles: 1-10 - 5 -
3. Public dialogue on SDGs In 2015, world leaders adopted the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development of the United Nations including the 17 Sustainable Development Goals. The Agenda recognizes that global cooperation within and between sectors, across borders, public with private is the only way to move forward. In Greece, on 26 th May 2016 the Ministry of Foreign Affairs organized a first dialogue meeting on the SDGs entitled "Implementing the Sustainable Development Goals of UNGC" between on the one hand, the ministries and the broader public sector and on the other hand, two business organizations among which CSR HELLAS. During the meeting CSR HELLAS, Ministries, NGOs, business associations and businesses presented actions and initiatives already undertaken as well as plans for the future associated with the SDGs and the Agenda 2030. The aim of the meeting was to identify a common field to develop a closer collaboration between the public and the private sectors on the SDGs. CSR HELLAS presented the results of the survey conducted among its members during 2015 about their business priorities on the SDGs (see following paragraph). Approx. attendance: 80 More info: http://www.csrhellas.net/newsroom/csrh-deltia-typou/ Link to Principles: 1-10 - 6 -
4. Survey on SDGs In 2016, CSR HELLAS conducted a survey among business-members asking them to prioritize the SDGs for their companies and for the country. The survey s outcomes were For the companies For the country 5. SDGs working group A specific working group (WG) on the SDG s, comprising representatives of businessmembers, has been established in 2016. Its aim is to elaborate and monitor an action plan for the SDGs based on the outcomes of the SDGs survey and also raise public awareness on the issue. - 7 -
6. Information Actions A series of actions for raising awareness about the SDGs have been undertaken since 2015. As SDGs are Νο 1 priority in CSR HELLAS s Action Plan, specific reference to the Global Goals is made in all members meetings and events, regularly informative material is sent in members representatives, BoD members always mention and promote SDGs when participating in other organizations events as speakers and publishing articles. Link to Principles: 1-10 7. Leaflet on SDGs In the frame of promoting SDGs in Greece, CSR HELLAS developed a leaflet in Greek about both the Global Compact and the SDGs. Link to Principles: 1-10 - 8 -
B. PARTNERSHIPS 1. Workshop on the implementation of national law on non-financial reporting CSR Hellas in partnership with Hellenic Corporate Governance Council organized, on 13 th December 2016, the workshop CSR Accountability & Financial Reporting. The aim of the workshop was to analyze the impact of the Greek law 4403/16 on the nonfinancial reporting of companies, as well as the implementation of CSR Strategies aligned with the accounting and tax requirements. SDGs and COP were proposed as the minimum reporting form and self - assessment tool. Approx. attendance: 70 More info: http://www.csrhellas.net/newsroom/csrh-deltia-typou/ http://www.csrhellas.net/15821/ylopoihsh_workshop_gia_neo_nomo/ Link to Principles: 1-10 2. European Pact for Youth Initiative From the very beginning (2015), CSR HELLAS is an active partner in CSR Europe s initiative European Pact for Youth (EP4Y) that is supported by the European Commission and aims to improve the quality of internships/traineeships in order to help closing the skills gap between offer and demand in the labor market and contribute in facing youth unemployment. 18 CSR HELLAS members have officially declared their commitment to the initiative s goals. More info: https://www.csrhellas.net/initiative/initeuropean-pact-4-youth/ Link to Principles: 3, 4, 5, 6, 10-9 -
3. EU Talent EU Talent was another collaborative initiative with CSR Europe that started in 2016. The project engages Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) in quality apprenticeships with the contribution of a variety of businesses and stakeholders with the aim to support SMEs to: o Increase the quantity of their apprentices o Improve the quality of their apprenticeships o Build their brand image as talent breeders o Contribute to policy dialogue The project s target is to reach 50.000 SMEs until 2018 through online communication campaign, 1.200 SMEs through events and best practice exchange and 100 SMEs through pilot programs. CSR HELLAS has already held 2 awareness and dissemination events with various stakeholders (46 participants), 1 stakeholder dialogue (36 participants), 1 webinar to raise awareness (13 participants) and 12 meetings with various stakeholders More info: https://www.csrhellas.net/program/eu_talent/ Link to Principles: 3, 4, 5, 6, 10 4. Karpos Frontidas Social Product In 2013, McCain decided to enrich its Corporate Social Responsibility strategy with new innovative approaches and initiated a consultation process with key stakeholders in three European countries (Germany, Greece and Poland) in order to choose the country from which it would start its efforts based on the conclusions of the open dialogue with its stakeholders. The result of the stakeholder dialogue conducted in the three countries led to the launch of an ambitious intervention in Greece in order to assist local rural farmers to overcome the difficult economic situation in the country, due to the financial crisis, and in an effort to help them remain at their places, and continue to support their families, local society and country at large. As a result of that stakeholder engagement process, in 2015, McCain in collaboration with CSR HELLAS created a unique product in the category of fresh vegetables, and especially potatoes. This initiative aims to support Greek small farmers and unemployed young people who returned back to their birthplaces as a result of the high level of unemployment rates in the cities, in order to get involved with the cultivation of fresh potatoes. Karpos Frontidas project is the first pilot step essential for the multiplication of the approach in other products, regions and countries. It also acts as a consumers awareness approach in order to buy responsibly, yet sustainably. - 10 -
The project initiates a new relationship between the company and poor farmers living under the poverty line. McCain safeguards the income of farmers through contractual agreements while at the same time is trying to equip them with entrepreneurial skills in order to develop the appropriate entrepreneurial mindset. It also provides training, technical means and farming know-how so as small farmers cultivate potatoes of high quality, as well as gain access to the market under the label of a new social product that has been grown according to the principles of sustainable agriculture. Also, taking into consideration that the new product is grown with special care for the environment and the consumer needs and demands, and that it secures a better income for the farmers, this product aims to become the first Social Product in the market of fresh vegetables originated by Greek small poor and underprivileged farmers. More info: https://www.csrhellas.net/program/mccainhellas-karpos-frontidas-program/ Link to Principles: 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 5. Act4Greece Since 2016, CSR HELLAS is one of the partners of the Act4Greece program of the National Bank of Greece (NBG), which is a pioneering initiative for the promotion of social and developmental banking. For the first time in Greece, an online platform has been created enabling crowd-funding from anyone interested, wherever they may be in the world. The funds collected are then directed to specific projects that have been submitted to the platform. The core philosophy of crowdfunding is to enhance awareness among the public and to motivate people to contribute, as much as they can, to the implementation of projects needed by Greek society. The program covers projects falling within 7 action areas: 1) Welfare, Health and Solidarity, 2) Social Economy and Entrepreneurship, 3) Culture and Cultural Entrepreneurship, 4) Young and Innovative Entrepreneurship, 5) Environment and Sustainability, 6) Research, Education and Training, and 7) Sporting Activities. For its implementation a strategic cooperation has been created between NBG and other organizations and foundations, such as the Alexandros S. Onassis Foundation, the John S. Latsis Foundation, the Bodossaki Foundation, the Hellenic National Commission for UNESCO and CSR HELLAS. More info: https://www.csrhellas.net/csrh-actions/partnerships/act4greece-program/ Link to Principles: 1-10 - 11 -
6. Break The Chain Festival In the framework of the cooperation with the Office of the National Rapporteur on Trafficking in Human Beings (Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs), CSR HELLAS participated and supported the anti-trafficking campaign and the relevant festival Break the Chain in 2015 and 2016. The festival included exhibitions, music events and thematic workshops aiming at public sensitization and motivation concerning Human Trafficking. More info: http://www.breakthechain.gr/ Link to Principles: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 10 7. Cooperation with Unicef Hellas In the framework on its long-term cooperation with Unicef Hellas, CSR HELLAS sponsors annually the special award Nikos Analytis (given to schools), which is included in UNICEF s yearly event and awards to honor significant figures and schools for their efforts concerning children s rights, on the occasion of the International Day of Children's Rights. Moreover, CSR HELLAS, through its communication channels, promotes the annual Unicef Hellas TV marathon. Link to Principles: 1, 2, 4, 5-12 -
8. E-learning program: Business Responsibility in Practice CSR Hellas developed, in cooperation with National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, organized, in 2016, an e-learning program on Business Responsibility in Practice, aimed to help businesses in understanding the importance of business responsibility and its implementation. More info: https://www.csrhellas.net/initiative/business-responsibility-in-practice-ekpa/ Link to Principles: 3, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 9. Survey: Hellenic CSR insights CSR Hellas, in cooperation with the Greek Marketing Academy, the Direction Business Network and the Marketing Department of Athens University of Economics and Business developed an annually survey entitled Hellenic CSR insights. The survey conducted, in 2015 and 2016, among Greek businesses is a mapping attempt on the implementation level of CSR principles in companies. Approx. attendance: 70 Link to Principles: 1-10 - 13 -
C. INITIATIVES 1. GEFYRA CSR Hellas in 2017, started the implementation of the GEFYRA (Greek Enterprises For Youth Reinforcement Acceleration) initiative in an attempt to combine the goals of both the EP4Y and the EU Talent aiming to tackle SDGs 4, 8 and 17. The 2 year programme envisions to create at least 3.000 quality jobs in three areas (apprenticeships, internships, traineeships) through 150 partnerships and 8 dissemination and communication activities. GEFYRA will promote partnerships between businesses academia and youth contributing in SDG 17, 4 & 8, tackling youth unemployment and creating opportunities for employment to youth. More info: https://www.csrhellas.net/initiative/init-gefyra/ Link to Principles: 3, 4, 6, 10 2. Refugees Support From the very beginning of the refugee s crisis CSR HELLAS had mapped the initiatives undertaken by its members concerning refugees support and motivated them much more by sending them a call to action for a collaborative refugees support. More specifically CSR HELLAS: o Organized a working group with the voluntary participation of its members representatives. o Designed a collaborative action with all its members responding to this humanitarian crisis. o Collaborated with 3 NGOs (Praksis, Arsis, Metadrasi), with significant activity on the issue, asking them to provide CSR HELLAS detailed information about specific needs of the refugees. o Communicated directly with refugee camps all over Greece. o Launched a sensitization campaign and called its members to take action on the issue sending their contribution to cover the specific daily needs provided by the 3 NGOs. o Coordinated the collection of medicines and pharmaceutical equipment. The results of this action were quite satisfying and most of the needs were covered. Link to Principles: 1, 2-14 -
3. Student Contest Nikos Analytis Since 2014 CSR HELLAS is running the CSR Students Contest Nikos Analytis in cooperation with Athens University of Economics & Business and in collaboration with the European Parliament information office in Athens and the European Commission Representation in Greece. The contest theme for 2015 and 2016 was CSR as driver for business development and gave the opportunity to young students (undergraduate and post-graduate) to learn about the UNGC 10 Principles and how they could lead to sustainable development. For 2017 the contest theme chosen refers to the SDGs and how companies can contribute to these goals. More info: https://www.csrhellas.net/csrh-actions/foititikos-diagonismos/ Link to Principles: 1-10 4. CARVE Project CSR HELLAS was among the partners of the CARVE project, that was co-financed by the European Union and implemented for 2 years (2014-2016), aiming at facing the problem of gender violence. CSR Hellas organized two workshops for its companiesmembers with the theme Companies Against Gender Violence presenting the outcomes of a relevant research among Greek companies, the situation in Greece and case studies on the issue. More info: http://www.csrhellas.net/program/carve-program/ Link to Principles: 1, 2, 4, 6, 10-15 -
5. Workshops CSR HELLAS organized the following educational workshops during 2015 2017: o Communication On Progress Workshop. The training workshop on COP was referring to the COP three different levels: a) Learners b) Active and c) Advanced. The workshops included practical information about COP and presentation of members companies COP from all levels. The participants were informed about the process of conducting a COP, improving it in order to upgrade their engagement in UNGC and making the connection with SDGs. Attendance: 15 Link to Principles: 1 10 o Prevention & Crisis Management Workshop. The training workshop was tailored made for a business-member in order to develop a strategy on Crisis Management and educate its personnel on handling or prevent such cases. Attendance: 24 Link to Principles: 1, 2, 7, 8, 9, 10-16 -