UAE firms join global 'good citizens' movement
Twenty companies sign up to adopt policies on human rights, labour standards, environment and corruption
United Arab Emirates companies are joining a growing worldwide movement encouraging businesses to adopt core values in the areas of human rights, labour standards, the environment and corruption, according to a United Nations initiative.
"Despite the image sometimes portrayed of regional companies, more and more are demonstrating their leadership by advancing responsible corporate citizenship," said Kosta Petrov, Conference Manager of the 5th Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Summit that takes place at the JW Marriott Hotel, Dubai, from 14 to 19 June 2008.
"These enlightened regional companies are seeking practical solutions to contemporary problems related to globalisation, sustainable development and corporate responsibility," he added. "These issues go to the heart of the CSR Summit which aims to monitor, measure and guide a company’s relationship with the community and the environment.
"The financial bottomline benefit is to improve brand management, employee morale and productivity as well as operational effectiveness - which any business person can understand."
The UN Global Compact is the world's largest voluntary corporate citizenship initiative with over 5000 participants across 120 countries with 60 local networks. The compact commits companies to principles on human rights, labour standards, the environment and corruption, with the aim of improving the "social legitimacy" of businesses.
The Network in the Gulf Co-operation Council States of the UN Global Compact was formed earlier this year in Dubai – a move which spurred new members - and the United Arab Emirates is leading the way with almost 20 participants, according to the compact's website (www.unglobalcompact.org).
The current pioneering UAE participants in the compact are: Arabtec Construction; the Centre for Management Excellence; Condor Building Contracting; Dubai International Academic City; the Emirates Environmental Group; Emirates Integrated Telecommunications Company; Emirates NBD; Energy Management Services; Integrated Contract and Supply Solutions; Masafi Company; Metito; Pacific Controls Systems; Pryme Partners; RA International; Sabban Property Investments; Sama Dubai; Tameer Holding Investments; Tatweer Dubai; and Total Project Management.
One of the earliest regional companies to join was Aramex, one of the world’s leading transportation solutions providers. “Sustainability is the way of the future, it requires commitment and innovation to develop and integrate into the daily practice of organisations," Fadi Ghandour, the company's CEO and founder, said recently.
Dubai-listed Aramex was also the first company in the region to release an audited sustainability report that showcases its commitment to the community and the environment – setting an ambitious target to be the first carbon neutral company in the industry. Aramex Gulf region CEO Hussein Hachem will be identifying the importance of sustainability reporting at the 5th CSR Summit.
The CSR Summit Awards programme will honour companies in the GCC for outstanding, innovative and world-class products, services, projects and programmes. The projects must demonstrate a company’s leadership, sincerity and on-going commitment to incorporating ethical values, compliance with legal requirements and respect for individuals, communities and the environment in the way they conduct business.
The CSR Summit is leading by example. During a special gala dinner attended by Madam Sia Koroma, the First Lady of Sierra Leone, organisers IIR Middle East hope to raise more than AED500,000 for orphans in the west African state.
Sponsors of the 5th CSR Summit are the Dow Chemical Company, Dubai Properties and Microsoft. Supporters of the Summit are CSR Middle East, Dubai Centre for Corporate Values, the UN Development Programme and Dubai Drums.
Details of the CSR Summit can be found at www.thecsrsummit.com
-ENDS-
For media information, please contact:
Nathalie Visele
Director
Shamal Marketing Communications
Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Tel.: +971 50 457 6525
E-mail: nathalie@theshamalgroup.com
Web: www.smc-pr.com
Sunday, May 25, 2008
Thursday, April 3, 2008
Official Press Release: 5th CSR Summit
Press release
For immediate publication 31 March 2008
CSR Summit to debate reducing the carbon footprint
Middle East companies join the 'green revolution' as part of
commitment to corporate social responsibility
Forget arguments over whether global warming and climatic change is real, companies the world over – including the Middle East – are taking part in a green revolution aimed at reducing man's impact on the environment, say the organisers of the 5th Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Summit.
"With a city like Dubai having one of the world's highest per capita carbon footprints, reducing a company's impact on the environment and its energy costs should be a core element of any CSR programme for every business in the emirate," said Kosta Petrov, Conference Manager for the Summit that takes place at the JW Marriott Hotel, Dubai, from 14 to 19 June 2008.
Average individual electricity usage has been assessed by Dubai Electricity and Water Authority at 20,000 kilowatt hours per annum and 130 gallons of water daily, putting Dubai among the cities with the highest consumption per person in the world. New ‘slab’ measures are being introduced by the utility company aimed at encouraging energy consumers to use less by paying more.
A survey by Dubai facilities management company Farnek Avireal showed five-star hotels in Dubai use up to 225% more energy than their counterparts in Europe. Since then two of the world’s leading premium hotel chains - Mővenpick and Swissôtel – have made a commitment to "go green" by trimming energy and water costs and reducing carbon dioxide emissions across their properties throughout the Middle East.
Abu Dhabi, which holds more than 8% of the world's oil reserves, is investing $15 billion in developing alternative energy sources to reduce dependence on conventional hydrocarbons revenue. It plans to build a zero-waste, zero-carbon, car-less city, which is billed as the world's first carbon-neutral city, a community housing 50,000 people and 1,500 businesses.
"Organisations worldwide are now investing in solar and wind power as well as in geothermal energy, better bio-fuels and the technology to harness the energy of tides, currents and waves," said Petrov.
A recent international report revealed clean technologies now account for almost 4% of global power generation. The Renewables 2007 Global Status Report from think tanks Renewable Energy Network and the Worldwatch Institute found that renewable electricity generation capacity last year reached 240 gigawatts worldwide, double that of 2004.
Mohamed El-Ashry, chair of the Renewable Energy Network and a headline speaker at the CSR Summit, says the sector has grown so fast that the perception among some politicians and energy sector analysts that it remains a niche area now "lag far behind the reality of where the renewables industry is today."
In a CSR Summit debate on minimising an organisation's environmental impact, Dr El-Ashry will be asking delegates if their companies are doing enough on the issue of global warming and climatic change, Petrov added. In addition, Serge de Gheldere, Director Futureproof/ed and the Belgian Climate Change Ambassador for former US Vice Presidential candidate turned environmental campaigner Al Gore, will be advising companies on how they can play their part in reversing the process.
Gheldere will also moderate an environmental leader's panel on the business case behind reducing an organisation's carbon footprint and introducing climate change strategy in a CSR programme. Contributors will include the Emirates Wildlife Society-WWF.
New this year the CSR Summit Awards programme will honour companies in the GCC for outstanding, innovative and world-class products, services, projects and programmes implemented in 2007/2008.
The projects must demonstrate a company’s leadership, sincerity and on-going commitment to incorporating ethical values, compliance with legal requirements and respect for individuals, communities and the environment in the way they conduct business.
The CSR Summit is also leading by example. During a special gala dinner which will be attended by Madam Sia Koroma, the First Lady of Sierra Leone, organisers IIR Middle East hopes to raise over AED 500,000 for orphans in the west African state.
Sponsors of the 5th CSR Summit are the Dow Chemical Company, Dubai Properties and Microsoft. Supporter of the Summit are CSR Middle East, Dubai Centre for Corporate Values, and the UN Development Programme.
-ENDS-
Details of the awards, the scholarship programme and the CSR Summit can be found at www.thecsrsummit.com
For media information, please contact:
Nathalie Visele
Director
Shamal Marketing Communications
PO Box 24459
Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Tel.: +971 50 457 6525
Fax: +971 4 312 4313
E-mail: nathalie@theshamalgroup.com
Web: www.smc-pr.com
For immediate publication 31 March 2008
CSR Summit to debate reducing the carbon footprint
Middle East companies join the 'green revolution' as part of
commitment to corporate social responsibility
Forget arguments over whether global warming and climatic change is real, companies the world over – including the Middle East – are taking part in a green revolution aimed at reducing man's impact on the environment, say the organisers of the 5th Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Summit.
"With a city like Dubai having one of the world's highest per capita carbon footprints, reducing a company's impact on the environment and its energy costs should be a core element of any CSR programme for every business in the emirate," said Kosta Petrov, Conference Manager for the Summit that takes place at the JW Marriott Hotel, Dubai, from 14 to 19 June 2008.
Average individual electricity usage has been assessed by Dubai Electricity and Water Authority at 20,000 kilowatt hours per annum and 130 gallons of water daily, putting Dubai among the cities with the highest consumption per person in the world. New ‘slab’ measures are being introduced by the utility company aimed at encouraging energy consumers to use less by paying more.
A survey by Dubai facilities management company Farnek Avireal showed five-star hotels in Dubai use up to 225% more energy than their counterparts in Europe. Since then two of the world’s leading premium hotel chains - Mővenpick and Swissôtel – have made a commitment to "go green" by trimming energy and water costs and reducing carbon dioxide emissions across their properties throughout the Middle East.
Abu Dhabi, which holds more than 8% of the world's oil reserves, is investing $15 billion in developing alternative energy sources to reduce dependence on conventional hydrocarbons revenue. It plans to build a zero-waste, zero-carbon, car-less city, which is billed as the world's first carbon-neutral city, a community housing 50,000 people and 1,500 businesses.
"Organisations worldwide are now investing in solar and wind power as well as in geothermal energy, better bio-fuels and the technology to harness the energy of tides, currents and waves," said Petrov.
A recent international report revealed clean technologies now account for almost 4% of global power generation. The Renewables 2007 Global Status Report from think tanks Renewable Energy Network and the Worldwatch Institute found that renewable electricity generation capacity last year reached 240 gigawatts worldwide, double that of 2004.
Mohamed El-Ashry, chair of the Renewable Energy Network and a headline speaker at the CSR Summit, says the sector has grown so fast that the perception among some politicians and energy sector analysts that it remains a niche area now "lag far behind the reality of where the renewables industry is today."
In a CSR Summit debate on minimising an organisation's environmental impact, Dr El-Ashry will be asking delegates if their companies are doing enough on the issue of global warming and climatic change, Petrov added. In addition, Serge de Gheldere, Director Futureproof/ed and the Belgian Climate Change Ambassador for former US Vice Presidential candidate turned environmental campaigner Al Gore, will be advising companies on how they can play their part in reversing the process.
Gheldere will also moderate an environmental leader's panel on the business case behind reducing an organisation's carbon footprint and introducing climate change strategy in a CSR programme. Contributors will include the Emirates Wildlife Society-WWF.
New this year the CSR Summit Awards programme will honour companies in the GCC for outstanding, innovative and world-class products, services, projects and programmes implemented in 2007/2008.
The projects must demonstrate a company’s leadership, sincerity and on-going commitment to incorporating ethical values, compliance with legal requirements and respect for individuals, communities and the environment in the way they conduct business.
The CSR Summit is also leading by example. During a special gala dinner which will be attended by Madam Sia Koroma, the First Lady of Sierra Leone, organisers IIR Middle East hopes to raise over AED 500,000 for orphans in the west African state.
Sponsors of the 5th CSR Summit are the Dow Chemical Company, Dubai Properties and Microsoft. Supporter of the Summit are CSR Middle East, Dubai Centre for Corporate Values, and the UN Development Programme.
-ENDS-
Details of the awards, the scholarship programme and the CSR Summit can be found at www.thecsrsummit.com
For media information, please contact:
Nathalie Visele
Director
Shamal Marketing Communications
PO Box 24459
Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Tel.: +971 50 457 6525
Fax: +971 4 312 4313
E-mail: nathalie@theshamalgroup.com
Web: www.smc-pr.com
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
The First Lady Of Sierra Leone To Help IIR Raise Funds For The Orphans In Sierra Leone
Madame Alice Sia Koroma, First Lady of Sierra Leone will join IIR's efforts to raise funds for a new orphanage center in Sierra Leone.
Her Excellency will be a special guest at the CSR SUMMIT GALA DINNER to take place on 15 June 2008 at JW Marriot Hotel in Dubai, UAE. "The aim of this special dinner is to raise funds for a new orphanage centre in Sierra Leone. Together with our charity partner ALL AS ONE we plan to raise around AED 500,000 and we hope that our delegates and special guests will make this a reality" said Kosta Petrov, the Senior Conference Manager in charge of producing the Summit.
For more information about the GALA DINNER and to find out how you can contribute contact Kosta Petrov at kosta.petrov@iirme.com or by phone: +97144072653.
Sunday, March 16, 2008
Money Matters And DCCV Sign MoU
Najeeb Al Ali, Director of DCCV, and Nalini Suresh, Project Facilitator of Money Matters, signed the MoU.
Under the agreement, corporates participating in the employee welfare programme will contribute about 40 per cent of its proceeds to a community cause. Employees of these member companies will be provided with tools and techniques to achieve financial freedom.
Najeeb Al Ali said: 'DCCV seeks to make a difference in all three layers of the society - the individual, the workplace and the community. In today's corporate world employees form a vital stakeholder base. However, they are not treated even-handedly, ethically or with respect, because corporate decision-making focuses almost exclusively on shareholder value. Corporations which engage in short-term thinking and cost-cutting measures to the detriment of employees are ultimately hurting themselves.
'Considering the vital role that employees play, compassionate corporates should sponsor this programme as an employee welfare measure. This initiative fosters loyalty while motivating staff members to be more productive and deliver quality performance.'
Nalini Suresh, of Money Matters said: 'Money Matters offers a series of financial literacy programmes, presented in a modular format to suit the specific needs of residents in this region.
'We offer unbiased, holistic solutions as we are not associated with any financial product or service provider. The objective is purely to educate, offer guidance and alleviate the stress generated by a less-than-perfect financial environment for employees.'*
*Courtesy of AME Info
Both Nalini Suresh and Najeeb Al Ali will present at this year's summit. Register now at www.thecsrsummit.com to hear their cutting edge presentations!
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
CSR Summit Scholarship Award
The 5th CSR Summit supports the aspirations of CSR professionals at all levels, including young local college students and motivated individuals without the financial support of a corporate through our CSR Scholarship Programme.
Summit Scholarship
IIR recognises that not all CSR professionals have the funding or corporate sponsorship to take advantage of this opportunity. Therefore, we will award five Forum Scholarships to individuals with a demonstrated need. To apply, simply tell us in one to two pages why you deserve the scholarship and how you would benefit from it. You must also include a recommendation from a peer, colleague or professor who can attest to your management talent or potential. You should include the following information: your full name; organisation or school affiliation; postal address; phone number; fax number; and your email address.
Applications must be received by IIRME no later than 15 May 2008. Scholarship recipients will be notified by 30 May 2008. Scholarships cover only the cost of the Summit and do not cover hotel, travel or other costs.
Please email, fax or mail your applications to: Kosta Petrov, Senior Conference Manager, 5th CSR Summit Email: kosta.petrov@iirme.com Fax: +971-4-3352715 Mail: PO Box 21743.
For more info about this year's Summit please visit our official website www.thecsrsummit.com
Summit Scholarship
IIR recognises that not all CSR professionals have the funding or corporate sponsorship to take advantage of this opportunity. Therefore, we will award five Forum Scholarships to individuals with a demonstrated need. To apply, simply tell us in one to two pages why you deserve the scholarship and how you would benefit from it. You must also include a recommendation from a peer, colleague or professor who can attest to your management talent or potential. You should include the following information: your full name; organisation or school affiliation; postal address; phone number; fax number; and your email address.
Applications must be received by IIRME no later than 15 May 2008. Scholarship recipients will be notified by 30 May 2008. Scholarships cover only the cost of the Summit and do not cover hotel, travel or other costs.
Please email, fax or mail your applications to: Kosta Petrov, Senior Conference Manager, 5th CSR Summit Email: kosta.petrov@iirme.com Fax: +971-4-3352715 Mail: PO Box 21743.
For more info about this year's Summit please visit our official website www.thecsrsummit.com
Thursday, March 6, 2008
CSR Brochure Finally Out!
After hundreds of research calls and months of invitations at IIR we are happy to announce that the CSR Summit 08 Brochure is finally out.
Many of you will soon receive it by email but those that cannot wait, you can download the brochure at our official website www.thecsrsummit.com
See you in June 2008!
Many of you will soon receive it by email but those that cannot wait, you can download the brochure at our official website www.thecsrsummit.com
See you in June 2008!
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
CSR Awards Criteria
The CSR Summit Awards is GCC’s Awards programme on corporate social responsibility. The programme recognises and honors GCC companies for outstanding, innovative and world-class products, services, projects and programs implemented in 2007/2008. These projects should demonstrate the company's leadership, sincerity and on-going commitment in incorporating ethical values, compliance with legal requirements, and respect for individuals, communities and the environment into the way they do business.
The Award categories for this year are:
Best Environmental Excellence Award
Best Community Programme Award
Best Workplace Practices
CSR Leadership Award
Companies can enter as many projects as they wish in one or more of these categories. The awards criteria do not favor large or small companies and all company sizes have equal chances to win. The winning company, regardless of size, is simply one which in the opinion of the judges, best meets the criteria for each category.
CATEGORIES AND CRITERIA
Best Environmental Excellence Award
The Company that has successfully implemented a major project or program in areas such as: Energy Efficiency, Extended Product Responsibility, Green Product Design, Waste Reduction, Sustainable Business Practices and Water Conservation.
The company that has integrated environmental performance into its sustainable development strategy and delivering proven business benefits.
Best Workplace Practices
This category includes employee ownership plans. The company that has policies and programs in place that show the respect they have for their employees and how much they value them. How far has the company gone in taking care of its employees by way of dependence care, layoffs and closing, Health and wellness, privacy, in employee training, fostering lifelong learning, in improving the quality of life at work and in implementing employee ownership plans on a sustainable basis.
Best Community Programme Award
The company that has successfully implemented a community project that has resulted in poverty alienation, better education, business growth or community engagement. Does the company believe in uplifting education of those who cannot or helping individuals to get away from poverty? How well does the company back up its belief and commitment to the community? How sustainable is the project or program?
CSR Leadership Award
This award will be awarded to an individual who has contributed in promoting all aspects of corporate social responsibility including environment, sustainability, community partnerships, education, poverty alienation etc.
Awards Ceremony
The Awards ceremonies will take place during the Gala Dinner and Awards Night of the CSR Summit on 15 June 2008. Hundreds of senior executives and professionals on corporate social responsibility from government, business and civil society from the region, and the media will be present.
Selection Process
There is an in-depth search and selection process for the Awards composed of generating entries, initial screening, comments by advisors and final judging.
The Judging Panel
The judging panel is made up internationally recognised and respected judges from a variety of industry sectors and disciplines. The panel is carefully selected to ensure the selection process is fair and objective. The judges are bound by a strict confidentiality agreement and are required to declare any conflict of interest in entries over which they deliberate and to stand aside from deliberations concerning those entries.
Generating entriesCompanies from all over the region are encouraged to nominate themselves and enter their favorite projects or programs. There is no limit to the number of entries per company.
Regional and international organisations, including NGOs, advertising agencies, management consultants and suppliers of products and services are also invited to nominate companies in the Award categories for specific projects, programs and services that showcase their CSR commitment.
The Award categories for this year are:
Best Environmental Excellence Award
Best Community Programme Award
Best Workplace Practices
CSR Leadership Award
Companies can enter as many projects as they wish in one or more of these categories. The awards criteria do not favor large or small companies and all company sizes have equal chances to win. The winning company, regardless of size, is simply one which in the opinion of the judges, best meets the criteria for each category.
CATEGORIES AND CRITERIA
Best Environmental Excellence Award
The Company that has successfully implemented a major project or program in areas such as: Energy Efficiency, Extended Product Responsibility, Green Product Design, Waste Reduction, Sustainable Business Practices and Water Conservation.
The company that has integrated environmental performance into its sustainable development strategy and delivering proven business benefits.
Best Workplace Practices
This category includes employee ownership plans. The company that has policies and programs in place that show the respect they have for their employees and how much they value them. How far has the company gone in taking care of its employees by way of dependence care, layoffs and closing, Health and wellness, privacy, in employee training, fostering lifelong learning, in improving the quality of life at work and in implementing employee ownership plans on a sustainable basis.
Best Community Programme Award
The company that has successfully implemented a community project that has resulted in poverty alienation, better education, business growth or community engagement. Does the company believe in uplifting education of those who cannot or helping individuals to get away from poverty? How well does the company back up its belief and commitment to the community? How sustainable is the project or program?
CSR Leadership Award
This award will be awarded to an individual who has contributed in promoting all aspects of corporate social responsibility including environment, sustainability, community partnerships, education, poverty alienation etc.
Awards Ceremony
The Awards ceremonies will take place during the Gala Dinner and Awards Night of the CSR Summit on 15 June 2008. Hundreds of senior executives and professionals on corporate social responsibility from government, business and civil society from the region, and the media will be present.
Selection Process
There is an in-depth search and selection process for the Awards composed of generating entries, initial screening, comments by advisors and final judging.
The Judging Panel
The judging panel is made up internationally recognised and respected judges from a variety of industry sectors and disciplines. The panel is carefully selected to ensure the selection process is fair and objective. The judges are bound by a strict confidentiality agreement and are required to declare any conflict of interest in entries over which they deliberate and to stand aside from deliberations concerning those entries.
Generating entriesCompanies from all over the region are encouraged to nominate themselves and enter their favorite projects or programs. There is no limit to the number of entries per company.
Regional and international organisations, including NGOs, advertising agencies, management consultants and suppliers of products and services are also invited to nominate companies in the Award categories for specific projects, programs and services that showcase their CSR commitment.
Each submission must include the following information in hard copy:
- Nomination Entry Form.
- An outline of the reasons why the nominee deserves to be recognised with a CSR Summit Award, highlighting any relevant, unique or outstanding characteristics based on the key criteria for the Award category entered. Maximum 1,000 words.
- A brief biography (for individual awards) or company profile. Maximum 300 words.
- Supporting material which you feel best validates your nomination- financial results, press clippings, campaign examples, testimonials must be supplied in soft copy.
- Nominations can be made by sending the appropriate supporting information to
Kosta Petrov
Senior Conference Manager CSR Summit
IIRME
PO Box 21743
Dubai, UAE
by the closing date of 6pm (UAE Time) 2pm (GMT), Thursday, 22 May 2008!.
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