CSR in Asia

In Asia, the concept of CSR is taking firm hold. Like India, there are a number of good examples of alliances and networks promoting the essence of CSR amongst businesses and the general public alike. Partners in Change of the South Asian Alliance for Responsible Business: building networks and alliances in the South Asia region, Partners in Change is a founder member of

South Asian Alliance for Responsible Business (SARB), in partnership with CII. SARB seeks to further the cause of CSR in South Asia. The group comprises participants from Nepal, Pakistan, India, Bangladesh and Sri Lank and is in the process of developing a CSR Self-Appraisal Toolkit for use by corporate sector. The larger stakeholder and intermediary consultation which this exercise would entail is being affected through an e-group route. CSR Asia was founded in Hong Kong in 2004 to provide information and develop tools for CSR in the Asia-Pacific Region.

CSR Asia, in association with its partners (such as Centre for Social Markets, CSR in China, etc.), publishes specialized reports, provides training and education on CSR issues, facilitates stakeholder dialogues and undertakes customized contract research for multinational and NGO clients. CSR Asia also informs people about CSR issues as they arise through their daily internet news service, online news database and online weekly CSR Asia Newsletter.

The Asia Pacific CSR Group was launched in July 2004, bringing together 9 CSR organizations in the region. Members of the Asia Pacific CSR Group engage in active learning exchanges and practices, networking and sharing of information with the aim of supporting each other to achieve the vision of the members or goals of the group. Goals include the recognition of standards and benchmarks that may commonly apply like governance as well as good business practices in the fields of environmental protection/conservation, equitable human resource management amongst others. The Group plans to undertake a study of a CSR Index for the region to raise the level of CSR across the region and facilitate and enhance consumer confidence through acceptable benchmarks.