LUSAKA – World over, February is recognized as CSR month in an effort to raise awareness and to advance principles and best practices of Corporate Social Responsibility in the private sector. As part of their CSR month initiatives, CSR Zambia on CSR day (18 February) held their 2021 CSR Awards Event in Lusaka, Zambia.
Dr Ambrose Rwaheru Aheisibwe Regional Director, SDGs Center for Southern Africa graced the event and made an impactful speech highlighting how timely the event has been considering that private sector participation and implementation of the Sustainable development goals (SDGs) has been at an all-time low.
He explained how the private sector plays a crucial role in the implementation of the SDGs. “the 2021 CSR awards are well aligned to the sustainable development goals center for Africa’s aspirations of ensuring full participation of the private sector in the implementation of the sustainable development goals (SDGs) in order to reduce SDGs financing gap the sustainable development goals also known as the global goals which were adopted by the united nations in 2015 as a universal call to action to end poverty, protect the planet, and ensure that by 2030 all people enjoy peace and prosperity,” says Dr Aheisibwe.
Moreover, he touched on the domino effect of the SDGs in that they are so well integrated, and action and success in one area providentially affects the other and that creates a balance: Where action in social issues impacts economics or environmental sustainability. And this is the same for the private sector players where Dr Aheisibwe splendidly explains, “The SDGs provide all businesses with a new lens through which to translate the emerging community needs and ambitions into business solutions. These solutions will enable companies to better manage their risks, anticipate consumer demand, build positions in growth markets, secure access to needed resources, and strengthen their supply chains, while moving the economy towards a sustainable and inclusive development path”
Lastly, Dr Aheisibwe recognizes the efforts by CSR Zambia in supporting the private sector that take action and are trying to be more sustainable and awarding these organizations and individuals in offering incentives. CSR Zambia has made leaps in identifying those who have made an effort to shift behaviors and policies towards SDGs.
