Loslaten in ondernemerschap

In juli jl. schreef ik de blog ‘Lancering ISO 26000 in Kenia: Dromen-Doen-Doorzetten’. Tijd voor een update…

Succesvolle CSR Round Tables in Kenya

Enthousiast kan ik melden dat CSR Round Table Kenya – o.l.v. MVO Nederland en de Nederlandse Ambassade in Kenia - op 16 november succesvol is verlopen. Er kwamen meer bezoekers dan geregistreerd. Wegens het grote animo volgden er nog eens twee Round Tables die week. Ook onze ISO 26000 Fact Sheet vond gretig aftrek bij de bezoekers. En, MVO Nederland heeft inmiddels laten weten nog dit jaar te starten met het schrijven van een plan voor de Keniaanse & Nederlandse kansen op het vlak van (een) MVO (netwerk) in Kenia.

Doel bereikt

Mijn droom ‘… Het verduurzamen van het bedrijfsleven in Kenia vanuit een positieve insteek en ‘Afri-can-do’ mentaliteit!’ (zie mijn eerdere blogs) is aan het uitkomen. Het is zelfs niet meer alleen mijn droom, maar het zaadje is gepland en geland in meerdere breinen. Precies zoals ik graag wenste. Waarom ervaar ik dan toch ongemak?

Verwachtingen bijstellen

De drie Keniaanse consultants waarmee ik dit event en de ISO 26000 training zou gaan organiseren, vertelden me in september dat ze elk een ander pad hadden gekozen. Dat had een paar consequenties:

·   De in november geplande ISO26000 training heb ik uitgesteld tot voorjaar 2014;

·   MVO Nederland en de Nederlandse Ambassade waren al aan boord. Zij pakten de organisatie van de CSR Round Table Kenya heel voortvarend op;

·   Ik besloot om niet mee te gaan naar Kenia voor de Round Table.

Gelukkig kon ik wel blijven meedenken en werd ik op de hoogte gehouden van alle ontwikkelingen.

Overlaten of loslaten

Natuurlijk weet ik dat zaken altijd anders lopen dan voorgesteld, zeker in het ondernemerschap. Desalniettemin heb ik er moeite mee dat ik, als iniatiefneemster, niet meer ‘in control’ ben. Anderen zijn met mijn input aan de slag gegaan en het voelt alsof ik op de achterbank zit. Dat gevoel wil ik graag loslaten. Ik speur op internet naar tips/blogs over ‘loslaten’ in ondernemerschap:

‘Loslaten betekent dat je de mogelijkheid creëert om opnieuw te dromen en je open te stellen voor nieuwe zaken, nieuwe contacten, nieuwe netwerken, nieuwe ideeën.’

- Paul de Blot, oud-hoogleraar Business Spiritualiteit op Nyenerode

‘Ondernemerschap; dat betekent creativiteit en doorzettingsvermogen. Je kunt dat niet aanleren. Het moet in je zitten.’

- Hennie van der Most, ondernemer

‘Zacht zand; probeer dat maar eens in je hand te houden! Kansloos. Zacht zand wil bewegen, wil niet opgesloten zitten. Pas dan kan het de mooiste vormen aannemen!’ n.a.v. de prachtige site van zandkunstenaar Gert van der Vijver.

En weer doorgaan!

Paul, Hennie en Gert slaan de spijker op z’n kop: dat ik niet leidend ben, betekent nog niet dat ik moet loslaten. Ik realiseer me dat ik even een zijstap mag zetten en de kans krijg om na te denken over mijn volgende stap voor/met/in CSR Kenya. Die stap zal er zeker weer één voorwaarts zijn!

Ik ben benieuwd of jij ook wel eens -zakelijk- een pas op de plaats hebt moeten maken en hoe dit vervolgens is uitgepakt? Wat je ervan geleerd hebt? Heb je een tip voor me?

PS. Dit is een therapeutisch stuk geweest :-). Ik ben zojuist gestart met het genieten van het behaalde resultaat in Kenia

. Hoe vaak maak je mee dat je droom realiteit aan het worden is?!

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Mijn eerdere blogs over Kenia:

- Lancering ISO 26000 in Kenia: dromen, doen, doorzetten

- 12 inzichten voor zakelijk succes in Kenia

- MVO in Silicon Savannah

Launch ISO 26000 in Kenya: dream-do-endure

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- 18^th 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:

International School of Kenya 

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 Limited 

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.

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*CSR = Corporate Social Responsibility

*Source: International ISO 26000 expert Hans Kröder

My earlier blogs about Kenya

http://vonkinzaken.blogspot.nl/2013/01/12-inzichten-voor-zakelijk-succes-in.html

http://vonkinzaken.blogspot.nl/2012/09/mvo-in-silicon-savannah.html 

CSR in Silicon Savannah

In every aspect, my temporary stay in Kenya feels just like a safari: adventurous, enriching, stimulating and liberating. And all while, I for the second time in a relatively short time, living in Nairobi. But unlike in 2008-2009, there is now an energy, progress, pride and entrepreneurship in the air. What will this bring Vonk Communicatie?

Why Kenya and why temporarily?

The desire to extend our family was very much at the heart of it. So much that we packed up our stuff and moved to Kenya! One of the requirements of the Kenyan adoption procedure is to stay in the country for minimal 6 months. The care that underlies this process spoke to us! Despite all of that, it’s quite an undertaking. For our personal story, I’d like to direct you to our private blog samuelcaleb.waarbenjij.nu.

Entrepreneurship from Kenya

Besides being a mom, I’m an entrepreneur. It’s in my blood and doesn’t change because of our second son. Thanks to the good co-operation with my husband, there is space & time to work with Vonk Communicatie from Kenya. Firstly, to support my fine clientele from Kenya and whilst I’m here, I’d really love to connect Dutch and Kenyan organisations. Preferably focused on sustainable and innovative* practices. After all, my drive to provide organisations with workable CSR concepts doesn’t stop at the Dutch boarder.

What is the status of CSR in Kenya?

Four years ago, people here looked at me blankly when I asked them about CSR (with exception to the Agro sector). One of the little (far-fetched) examples I ran into at that time, was a knitting club organised as a co-operation. The women bought used woollen sweaters at a second-hand market. Subsequently, they re-used the sweaters knitting higher priced ‘fairtrade’ novelty toys for cats exported to the USA market.

Nowadays a number of Dutch, Indian and Kenyan organisations strive for CSR. During an exploration conversation with the Royal Dutch Embassy, I learnt that CSR here, in particular means responsibility in the chain, focused on requirements from customers or certification. A necessary ‘evil’ being to have the ability to export and hold a certificate that costs a lot of money and time. And mostly seen as Western Innovation.

On the other hand, it’s very common for the Kenyan corporate sector to contribute to communities in a charitable sense or environmental issues, such as awareness of water usage or waste disposal.

CSR Work Place Programme and ISO26000***

After my visit to the Royal Dutch Embassy, I’ve been approached to contribute to a pilot CSR Work Place Programme. Already more than 10 years a proven concept in the Netherlands and now ready for a flying kick-start in Kenya. We will start with 4 organisations in different sectors. My contribution exists out of analysing the programme and finding connection to ISO26000. It would be great if participating organisations could do both - killing 2 birds with one stone! 

Possible start of CSR Kenya?

The official launch of CSR Work Place Programme is planned for Q2-2013. And why not the start of CSR Kenya?! In ‘Silicon Savannah’ where growth, innovation and self consiousness are increasing, an inspiring, information sharing network such as ‘MVO Nederland’ is what is needed!

My thought path leads me to creating a small group of spirited people with the same aim in mind; namely making business management more sustainable from a positive point of view and an ‘Afri-can-do’ mentality. Think of the impact of this platform/network in such a big country as Kenya where entrepreneurship is booming…

So, I’m investigating if organisations are in need of such a network and I’m identifying possible partners to make CSR Kenya a realisation.

#DTA****

Of course, I’m unable to do this on my own. Therefore, an invitation to all who read this blog and share my intention:

-    Do you know organisations in Kenya that might be interested in ‘CSR Kenya’? Please send me their contact details.
-    Can you recommend a Kenyan organisation that absolutely must join ‘CSR Kenya’ to help make it a success? Their contact details are also more that welcome!
-    Do you know of any relevant research material or websites? Please send me the links
-    Do you see a role for yourself to help contribute to getting this off the ground?
For further information/suggestions, please contact me via Skype (VonkCom) or mail info@vonkcommunicatie.nl

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* ‘Silicon Savannah’; because of the technical innovations, mainly in Mobile Technology, such as M-PESA, pay by mobile, Kenya is called the sister of ‘Sicilon Valley’. At this very moment, a 4G network is being installed in the whole country. No other country in Europe is this far as Kenya in this field. In 2010 $ 360 m has been exported on technology related services (source: The Economist, article ‘ Innovation in Africa’).

** CSR = corporate social responsibility

*** ISO26000
"This International Standard is not a management system standard. It is not intended or appropriate for certification purposes or regulatory or contractual use. Any offer to certify, or claims to be certified, to ISO 26000 would be a misrepresentation of the intent and purpose and a misuse of this International Standard. As this International Standard does not contain requirements, any such certification would not be a demonstration of conformity with this International Standard." This statement includes that ISO 26000 cannot be used as basis for audits, conformity tests and certificates, or for any other kind of compliance statements.

However, the practical value of ISO 26000 might be limited if it merely provided a common understanding of social responsibility instead of also facilitating management routines and practices leading to social responsibility. Despite the non-certifiability some scholars see distinct elements of a management system standard also in ISO 26000.[1] Against this background, the potential benefits of the new standard, the managerial relevance, and specific limitations of ISO 26000 are currently being discussed.[2]

As a guidance document the ISO 26000 is an offer, voluntary in use, and encourages organizations to discuss their social responsibility issues and possible actions with relevant stakeholders. As service providers, certification bodies do not belong to an organization’s stakeholders. ISO 26000 encourages to reconsider an organization's social responsibility or "socially responsible behaviour" and to identify/select from its recommendations those where the organization could/should engage in contributions to society. ISO 26000 encourages further to report on actions taken.