Poll shows social responsibility in Albania

TIRANA, June 23 – The Monitor Research Center, in collaboration with the UNDP Albania, made a presentation on results from a Baseline Study on Corporate Social Responsibility Practices in Albania.
The study was part of a regional UNDP project entitled, Accelerating CSR Practices in the Western Balkans, and it was conducted during the period of November to April 2008 on a sample of national business and non-business stakeholders.
Survey results showed there is very low level of awareness and application of CSR and most stakeholders see it as an opportunity to align with international standards and engage in environmental protection.
It also showed that engagement in CSR is on an individual basis and companies usually do not have strategic direction while undertaking CSR activities. There is no strategy for promotion of CSR to the Albanian private sector or society at large. Although the business environment regulatory framework is comprehensive and addresses business responsibility concerns, it generally lacks a reference to Corporate Social Responsibility. The major input to the development of CSR in the country has come from international organizations that fund small scale projects of local NGO’s and large international companies that have introduced CSR practices through their Albanian subsidiaries.
Business organizations are not very active in CSR promotion. The media’s position to local business development issues is similar, focusing on financial matters and dedicating less coverage to CSR issues.
The study suggested that Central Government stakeholders increase their role in the promotion of CSR to the businesses and public at large; local government and related decision making institutions increase their role in encouraging businesses to improve standards; non government stakeholders, like chambers of commerce and other business associations, incorporate CSR and business responsibility promotion in their mission and undertake joint activities towards CSR development; businesses integrate CSR actions in their activity as a means to increase competitive advantage, minimize risks and lower costs and also increase cooperation with non-business organizations in the direction of CSR reporting.
The Global Compact is a framework for businesses that are committed to aligning their operations and strategies with ten universally accepted principles in the areas ofhuman rights, labor, environment, and anti-corruption. (Tirana Times Staff)