My mission, to launch ISO
2600 in Kenya, was thwarted by the Elections held on the 4th of March 2013. No
business would be willing to start or invest in any program, due to the
following unrest expected. Luckily the elections passed without any incidents.
Now nothing was standing in the way of my and others’ dream turning to create:
‘...Implement sustainability in the corporate sector of Kenya whilst
incorporating the positive attitude of ‘Afri-can-do’!’
Sharing increases
possibilities
Research has shown
that organizations in Kenya are aware they need to act, with regard to
sustainability. The only question they need answering is ‘how’ this can be
achieved?! Myself, together, with International ISO 26000 Expert, Hans Kröder,
and a team of three local consultants, would like to show that ISO 26000 could
be the answer. By sharing our knowledge, we will save the Kenyan corporate
sector time and efforts, when undertaking corporate social responsibility (CSR)
in practice.
Why ISO 26000
is suited for
Kenya?
ISO 26000 is an
internationally standardized (composed by 99 countries) CSR framework,
incorporating guidelines for all types of organizations, in any given country.
-
Offering a unique multi-stakeholder process with six
stakeholder groups per country: industry, government, labour, consumers, NGOs
and others
-
Involving thousands of experts from 99 countries
-
Participation of United Nations: Human Rights (John
Ruggie), Global Compact, ILO, UNEP, UNCTAD, UNSD and UNIDO
-
Participation of World Business Council Sustainable
Development, ICC, GRI (Global Reporting Initiative) as well as 40 other international
organizations
-
66 developing countries participated in the
development - a unique record
-
No single African country voted ‘NO’
-
The Chairman of the International Drafting Task Force
is South African
-
Every leading position was twinned – developed and
developing country together
Successful short
visit
I can proudly
announce, that during my short visit - (from11- 18th June) the
following results were achieved:
•
Compose an ISO 26000 Team with 3 Kenyan consultants
•
Ten companies expressed their interest in an ISO 26000
training (November)
•
Two media agencies are connected
•
A start has been made with the organisation of a CSR
Round Table (November)
•
A first number of CSR* Icons have been identified
Three Iconic CSR examples
I’d like to share
these three Kenyan CSR examples:
This school truly
lives up to its claim to ‘empower students to create solutions for tomorrow's
challenges'. What the school does for sustainability is impressive which is
largely due to student’s initiatives. For example, the school designed a system
to recycle water, then re-recycle and re-re-recycle yet again. It would be a
wonderful idea to introduce an ISO 26000, with a team of ISK students and
incorporate all their ideas, under ISO 26000’s
‘wing’.
Rubicom - The Ruaraka Business Community – (Website is under
construction)
Ruaraka is a poor
area situated near Nairobi. Rubicom has taken the initiative to make Ruaraka a
'safer, better and healthier place for everyone to invest, work and live in’.
What began as sustainable and responsible activity has emerged into a growing
industrial area. Rubicom has made a business from refuse and, in doing so,
helping young, disadvantaged become entrepreneurs. With an ISO 26000 Rubicom
could be helped with a more holistic approach.
Dutch Water Ltd.
is a Dutch initiative combining 'Profit' (which is re-invested in Kenya) with
'People' (by providing clean and healthy drinking water; employment and
development opportunities) and ‘Planet’ (e.g. introducing return deposit system
for their jerry cans). ISO 26000 could result in more involved stakeholders.
Six insights after
my short visit
1.
If you want to bring your dream to reality - ‘go for
it’ and accept help to achieve it!
2.
Make an action plan, to keep focused and on target;
3.
The importance of international experience;
4.
Local network – (without it you will not get far, in a
country like Kenya) make sure
your
partners, in any projects, are trustworthy and have a good network
5.
Shared responsibility – partners need to feel jointly
responsible
6.
Sustainability is amazingly versatile and exciting
whilst offering many organizations
more
opportunities
Dream - Act – Share – Get involved
Now it
is all about and continuation and motivation, especially in Kenya. I’ve started
the initiative and the 3 consultants will take over in Kenya. Surely your
suggestions, actions and energy regarding to the launch of ISO26000 in Kenya
are more than welcome! Please feel free to contact me.
---
*CSR = Corporate
Social Responsibility
*Source: International ISO 26000 expert Hans Kröder
My earlier blogs
about Kenya
