Corporate accountability to the poor? Assessing the effectiveness of community-based strategies

Garvey, Niamh; Newell, Peter

doi:10.1080/09614520500075763

Cited by 71 publications

(54 citation statements)

References 11 publications

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“…From the CSR literature, the voluntary approach to CSR reporting implies a more discretionary act on the part of companies as they consider their role and impact across a wide range of corporate activities (Garvey and Newell, 2005;Carroll, 1991). The last thematic category that characterizes CSR reporting in sub-Saharan Africa is that reporting is mandatory at international level (for instance, ISO accreditation).…”

Section: Findings and Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Examining the public policy perspective of CSR implementation in Sub-Saharan Africa

Samy

Ogiri

Bampton

2015

Social Responsibility Journal

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Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine the public policy perspective of corporate social responsibility (CSR) implementation in Sub-Saharan Africa. There has been an increase in the number of countries adopting a national policy for CSR practice, particularly in the Western society. Despite the growing awareness about the role of government in CSR promotion, governments in Sub-Saharan Africa are yet to evolve policies that could help promote CSR in the region. As drivers of CSR, governments hold resources, like access to regulated parts of society that makes the inclusion of CSR opportunities relevant to strategic and operational management. From the extant literature, the role of government in defining and shaping the field of CSR is gaining wider acceptability. Design/methodology/approach – Using a qualitative research approach, this paper examines the current status of CSR implementation, particularly from the public policy perspective in selected Sub-Saharan African countries. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with policymakers and policy implementers. The study adopted a thematic analysis and developed a rigorous phenomenological design to reveal the insights to CSR policy-making. Findings – The findings established that the status of CSR implementation in Sub-Saharan Africa is influenced by absence of national CSR policy, CSR being mainstreamed in government constitution and CSR being a company initiative action to comply with international code of business conduct. Practical implications – The results of this study could have policy implications for both executive and MPs of national governments for CSR regulatory policies. Originality/value – In most developing countries, including Sub-Saharan African countries, the aforementioned institutional conditions are often an exception. There are both no legal and regulatory frameworks for Multinational Corporation activities and their socio-ecological impact, or such regulations may exist but are not adequately enforced (Rwabizambuga, 2007). This situation, unfortunately, has created a huge reporting gap between what organisations do and what they report regarding CSR. Hence, this original study adds to the body of knowledge for this region by revealing the central issues around the phenomenon.

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Section: Findings and Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Examining the public policy perspective of CSR implementation in Sub-Saharan Africa

Samy

Ogiri

Bampton

2015

Social Responsibility Journal

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“…Other scholars similarly reject the adequacy of voluntary corporate codes of conduct to effectively restrain the damage done by MNCs in developing countries, let alone act as a force for good. For example, Garvey and Newell (2005) argue that more attention should be paid to a number of state, corporation, and community-related factors critical for the effectiveness of strategies aimed at enhancing corporate accountability to the poor. Further, Graham and Woods (2006) aver that selfregulation by MNCs are not enough and that "Government action … remains vital to effective regulation," a position shared by Imani Development (2009) and Prasad (2004).…”

Section: Criticisms Of Csrmentioning

confidence: 99%

Motivations for providing CSR-mediated initiatives in mining communities of Ghana: a multiple-case study

Boso

Afrane

Inkoom

2017

Int J Corporate Soc Responsibility

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This study used an eclectic multiple-case design to explore what drives three large-scale mining companies' involvement in CSR-mediated development activities, and their philosophical underpinning. The research discovered that although there were nuances between cases in the order in which they rated the strength of 11 potential drivers of CSR, eight of them were important. Three (3) of these were strong drivers -reputation management, pre-emptive anti-regulationism, and pre-existence of local development plans. Five others were moderately strong drivers. The investigations further found that the philosophical underpinnings of the case companies' CSR were based on 'Common-Sense Morality,' a duty-based deontological moral philosophy that is a departure from widely held instrumental positions associated with Egoism. It also identified constrained profitmaximization as the CSR strategy from which their CSR policies emanated.

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“…For example, if states lack provisions for public participation in assessments of environmental impacts from industrial development projects, communities might be unable to exercise influence over company decisions. Similarly, paraphrasing Garvey and Newell (2005), if local firms in clusters in the developing world are not committed to stakeholder dialog, communities likely lack the power to make their voices heard.…”

Section: A Theoretical Model Of Csr (Non) Adoption In Developing Counmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Similarly, communities surrounding cluster-based firms may engage in what Garvey and Newell (2005) call community-based corporate accountability strategies, aimed at holding companies responsible for their social and environmental conduct. These strategies include attempts at community-driven regulation (O'Rourke 2004), through the use of weapons of the weak (Scott 1987), such as petty blockages or sabotage of company operations.…”

Section: A Theoretical Model Of Csr (Non) Adoption In Developing Counmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…These strategies include attempts at community-driven regulation (O'Rourke 2004), through the use of weapons of the weak (Scott 1987), such as petty blockages or sabotage of company operations. Communities may engage in community-based corporate accountability strategies, publicizing instances of non-compliance with existing regulations through media outlets (Garvey and Newell 2005). ''Barefoot'' or worker epidemiology projects encourage people to identify their own health conditions, such that they gather data about the social and environmental costs of local industrial operations.…”

Section: A Theoretical Model Of Csr (Non) Adoption In Developing Counmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Industrial Clusters and Corporate Social Responsibility in Developing Countries: What We Know, What We do not Know, and What We Need to Know

2014

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This article provides a review of what we know, what we do not know, and what we need to know about the relationship between industrial clusters and corporate social responsibility (CSR) in developing countries. In addition to the drivers of and barriers to the adoption of CSR initiatives, this study highlights key lessons learned from empirical studies of CSR initiatives that aimed to improve environmental management and work conditions and reduce poverty in local industrial districts. Academic work in this area remains embryonic, lacking in empirical evidence about the effects of CSR interventions on the profitability on local enterprises, workers, and the environment. Nor do theoretical frameworks offer clear explanations of the institutionalization and effects of CSR in local industrial districts in the developing world. Other key limitations in this research stream include an excessive focus on export-oriented industrial clusters, the risk that CSR becomes a form of economic and cultural imperialism, and the potential for joint-action CSR initiatives in clusters of small and medium-sized enterprises to offer a new form of greenwashing. From this review, the authors develop a theoretical model to explain why CSR has not become institutionalized in many developing country clusters, which in turn suggests that the vast majority of industrial clusters in developing countries are likely to engage in socially irresponsible behavior.

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Corporate accountability to the poor? Assessing the effectiveness of community-based strategies

Cited by 71 publications

References 11 publications

Examining the public policy perspective of CSR implementation in Sub-Saharan Africa

Examining the public policy perspective of CSR implementation in Sub-Saharan Africa

Motivations for providing CSR-mediated initiatives in mining communities of Ghana: a multiple-case study

Industrial Clusters and Corporate Social Responsibility in Developing Countries: What We Know, What We do not Know, and What We Need to Know

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