"In Africa, we dream of, and work for the full participation of the continent in the affairs of the world over the coming years; we are deeply conscious of the need for both private and public sector businesses to play their role in creating a stable, equitable and prosperous society. The launch of the Africa Corporate Sustainability Forum is an exciting initiative in promoting such a role". - Nelson Mandela Foundation
WHY
THIS FORUM?
It
is clearly acknowledged that business, acting responsibly, have a clear role
to play in driving sustainable economic growth and competitiveness in Africa.
However, the solutions required to achieve this are often too complex and
the resources too thinly spread across the various sectors for business to
do it alone. The development of an African multi-stakeholder platform, which
facilitates action learning and the sharing of relevant experiences relating
to corporate sustainability, is critical to ensure that sustainable economic
growth is achieved in a manner that not only makes good business sense but
maximises benefit to governments and society as a whole. It is also essential
that at a time when the both the African and international agendas surrounding
corporate sustainability are being developed that Africa has a strong platform
from which to voice it’s own issues and concerns and equally through
which it is able to highlight local solutions to key African and international
developmental challenges in which business are seen to be a key stakeholder.
“Business
can and must play a crucial role in reversing the trend of Africa’s
weak economic growth. By conducting business responsibly, companies can improve
their own competitiveness and that of their country and the continent. In
order to link responsibility and competitiveness for the benefit of business,
government and broader civil society on the continent, a platform that promotes
information and knowledge dissemination, at this stage of Africa's development
is pertinent.” - (Co-ordinator: Private Sector/NEPAD Business Group
at the NEPAD Secretariat)
WHO
WE ARE
The
Africa Corporate Sustainability Forum – a programme area of the African
Institute of Corporate Citizenship (AICC) – is an international multi-stakeholder
platform providing an opportunity for business, government and broader civil
society to discuss and act on corporate sustainability policy and practice
in Africa. It also offers a strong basis for multi-sector partnership formation
in order to address some of the key development challenges facing the continent.
The Forum facilitates the identification and harnessing of innovations, networks
and problem solving skills that provide competitive sustainability advantage
for countries and regions as well as individual public and private companies
operating on the continent. This is in addition to ensuring that the business
case for corporate sustainability in Africa can be demonstrated and understood
clearly. Furthermore, the Forum facilitates knowledge exchange and research
dissemination across the region and internationally, as well as providing,
where necessary, opportunities for training and skills development on corporate
sustainability and other related themes.
As an internationally
recognised centre of excellence in corporate sustainability, AICC (a leading
African not-for-profit organisation) is committed to strengthening responsible
growth and competitiveness on the continent, through research, advocacy and
network building.
WHAT
WE STAND FOR
We
define corporate sustainability as an approach for business towards creating
long-term economic growth and competitiveness, through embracing opportunities
and managing economic, social and environmental risks.
Members of the Forum commit to the following principles as part of achieving competitive sustainability advantage in their business:
© AICC 2005 | Designed by Strategic Impact