Sustainability and Investment in Community Development

Archana- Cognizant Technology SolutionsDivya – Steria (India) LtdJasmine – Suzlon FoundationVandana – GAIL (India) Ltd

Industries we represent

Wind Energy

Information Technology

Natural Gas

We will be discussing

• Our key Stakeholders

• Sustainability and Community Development connect in India

• Community development interventions

• Key Challenges

• Case Studies

• Conclusion

Key stakeholders

SocietyMedia

Civil Society Organization

Regulators

Community members who sold their land

Government

Employees

Customers

Investors

Company

Environment

Sustainability and Community Development connect

Natural capital

Human Capital

Social capital

Physical capital

Financial capital Raw materialInvestment

Infrastructure Harmony

skills

Community development interventions

• Health • Education• Livelihood• Civic Amenities• Natural Resource Management

Key Challenges

1. Which community development intervention do you invest in?

2. How do you initiate a dialogue with the community ?

3. How do you integrate it with employees work culture?

4. How can one measuring and monetize the value of Intangible return on investment?

Selection and Impact Analysis of Outreach Program

About the Program

• Improving education of underprivileged sections

of the society

• Grassroots approach with employees referring

and executing the projects

Challenges

• Wide ranging projects across geographies

• ~ 500 projects in 2010 ranging from setting up

labs to teaching at Juvenile home

• How to pick the best projects which have

maximum positive impact

Evolving a CSR intervention package integrated with business cycle

About the program

• Community development activities in the

neighborhood along the gas pipe lines

Challenges

• Resistance of local villagers

• Stakeholder engagement

• Package of interventions

Enhancing employee volunteering

About the Program

• Empowering students with the tools to make

students aware of their passion, potential and

various career opportunities

• Enabling employees to volunteer in meaningful

programs

Challenges

• Motivating volunteers for the program

• Creating a structured framework for employee

volunteerism.

Calculating the Social return on Investment (SROI)

About the Program

• Transformative programs

• Responsive programs

• Proactive programs

Challenges

• Articulate the monetary value created by

the intangibles outcomes of the programs

• Giving a complete picture of the full

impact of the investment

• Telling the story of change

In conclusion • Community Development is a key part of CSR programs in India

• Must be designed based on local community dialogue and needs

• Tools useful in selection and evaluation

Investment in community development is essential for long

term sustainability of the business

So it’s a hand up, not a hand out

It is not the business of good but GOOD BUSINESS