Many of Sida’s partner countries do not have a modern infrastructure and the government bureaucracy can be complicated and difficult to deal with. Corruption may be widespread, and neither labour conditions nor environmental issues are likely to be priority areas.
Global Compact
Globalt Ansvar (Global Compact) is a platform for business, social partners and NGOs working with social responsibility. Globalt Ansvar is an initiative of the Foreign Ministry. In November 2009 a conference was held in Stockholm in the EU Presidency on the theme of "Respect, Protect, Remedy"
Companies that make a difference
At Sida we see many positive effects from the presence of foreign companies that work actively with Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). Suppliers that are required to improve their work environments attract a greater number of responsible customers. These suppliers can then grow, creating acceptable new jobs and increasing prosperity.
Working with state organisations
We know it can be difficult for a company to operate more responsibly than its competitors because it can be more costly. Sida works in a number of countries, together with companies active there, to convince governments and authorities to, for example, reduce corruption or raise the standard of working environments.
This kind of work with both Swedish companies and those from other countries will be important for Sida and Sweden’s embassies in the future.
Better procurement
Sida also works to include ethical considerations in state procurement criteria – so that companies operating responsible businesses can be rewarded.
Sida’s CSR plans
Sida is currently conducting a major project to identify how best to cooperate with companies that work with CSR issues. In late 2009 we will be able to provide more information about how this cooperation will work. See Sida.se for more information.
If you want to find out more about what Sida is doing in the region where your company operates, contact the Swedish embassy, or read more on the relevant country pages here at Sida.se.
