CONVERTING corporate social responsibility (CSR) programs to sustainable strategy in our community will not be affective in the absence of a CSR Charter. Even though CSR has been a core importance in major corporations, recently we have witnessed a growing importance for the need of CSR, especially in the Gulf region. A common misconception of CSR is to confuse it with charity or donations. CSR is a department within your establishment that links and associates itself with ethical values, integrity, legal compliance, respect for your community and citizens. As much as charities and donations are also a positive way to contribute, CSR involves a much deeper commitment to our society. A sustainable commitment which through its various initiatives, whether it be in the fields of education, health or protecting our environment, provides a continuous contribution through a self-sufficient structure incorporated in your establishment that would finance itself without the burden of continuously allocating funds. Due to the increasing awareness of the positive impacts that active CSR programs are demonstrating, it has been proven to be an added value that armors companies with a competitive advantage over others lacking this program. Allocating a percentage of the corporate profits and recycle it to benefit a sustainable CSR program is the ultimate goal of a sustainable development. Continuity of CSR programs without proper evaluation and standards is like a fruitless tree. Therefore we need to focus to issue a charter for CSR to be implemented in the Gulf region for the sake of putting codes of standards that would govern a sustainable development leading to an organize report to classify CSR programs in the private sector. What we need now is to stimulate this idea and create the proper tools to promote the implementation of a code and articles of a charter that no doubt will elevate the standard and value of CSR activities. I am a strong believer that we must encourage organizations to recognize the importance of CSR to their business and agree to the values and aspirations incorporated within. By creating this charter, and by voicing your agreement for the need of CSR, companies will publicly demonstrate their commitment to CSR and encourage other companies to do so as well. A CSR charter is a must.
— The writer holds over 35 years of experience in the executive management of private companies, and is currently the director of the Department of Business Development & CSR at the Construction Products Holding Company (CPC).
