Milica

Date : 09 avril 2010, 09:05

On the one hand, there is an obvious tendency in the international community to shift from the very asymmetrical (power) relation between developing and developed world to a more symmetrical relation. This is obvious in many cases, such as the EU relations with African, Caribbean and Pacific countries (ACP). The concepts of ownership, partnership, participation of different kinds of other actors etc. are ever more on the top of development agendas. In line with this trend, it would be logical to expect developing countries to comply with all the standards emerging from the developed world. They are supposed to be equal partners, and thus to comply with the standard of CSR, different environmental, social, and employment standards is not only in line with a more symmetrical relation between developed and developing world, but also a manifestation of the fact that developed world considers developing world ‘seriously’.

On the other hand, we see that these attempts to change the relationship to a more symmetrical one are still not completely successful. Conditionalities are still imposed and developed world behaves like a parent being convinced to know what is the best for their children. Imposing different standards, which were not agreed and formed with the participation of developing world to them is a sort of ‘ideological colonialism’ driven by Western (and North) society values. We can not impose more advanced standards to countries which have very ‘basic’ problems – such as poverty for instance. Moreover, it is simply not realistic to expect that developing countries, having different culture and customs based on slightly different ethical principles will accept developed world’s principles and emerging standards.

Pramod Dev M

Date : 22 novembre 2009, 17:44

This comment arises from my research on the impact of EU environmental standards on Indian garment exports.
Often the problem with standards in particular(voluntary, according to TBT definition) is that the way they are implemented is undemocratic. Though voluntary for namesake, in actual practice they become mandatory, as the exporters from developing countries are left with the option to accede to the standards suggested by their clients or forget the export opportunity. The garment exporters in the developing countries work on wafer thin margins that are affected by demands on environmental standards. The costs involved in standardisation process and verification could be high for many developing country exporters. Most importantly, the developing country exporters are slotted into the niche market that the ecolabels claim to cater to. No ecolabel in the world(including Blue Angel of Germany) is able to notch up a considerable market share in their domestic economies. However, most exports into those very markets are forced to be certified under domestic ecolabels, including private stanfdards. Contrary to what is projected the importers in the developed countries are not ready to pay a premium to the standardised goods. I have come across cases where the buyers from developed countries used the demand on ecolabel to avail discounts on the offer price.
Moreover, understandably most creteria requirements of these standards and labels are not related to the local conditions in the production centres and result in creating market for the the makers of intermediary goods, machinery and technology coming from the developed countries. These often create animosity against the standards even if they make economic sense as the standards may increase efficiency and recoup the cost subsequently. I have observed that the support of the EU importers in terms of sharing of costs, information on technology and facilitation of the process were crucial in instances where the Indian firms have successfully acceded to standards and labels of the export markets in the EU.

Ryan Edwards

Date : 05 mai 2009, 02:08

It will be obvious that I am not an expert on anything, so my comments and observations are truly uncultured, though I don't believe they are without merit.

I just finished watching the Sundance Channel's blip that broadcast the Millennium Development's goals. I have also taken the time to stop and listen to an abundance of other groups with similar goals, and as a result I feel compelled to make the following comment, if for no other reason than to make sure that somebody, somewhere, has presented this perspective.

I am sympathetic to any effort attempting to raise the quality of life for any human being anywhere. I am also sympathetic to the conservationist and the organizations which wish to protect the world's animals, and natural resources (these sympathies sometimes run in opposition to one another, because what seems to be necessary to advance one proves contradictory to what advances another).

I have not seen or heard promoted anywhere the blatantly obvious fact that most, if not all of these areas of the world which are in such dire need have one thing in common. The population of the area overwhelms the existing resources necessary to sustain it.

Teach more about birth control, and balancing the human population with the resources necessary to support that population, and in time, these areas of such chronic and overwhelming need will (with other guidance) become more able to support themselves.

Franck GOURBEYRE

Date : 31 janvier 2009, 03:08

Je pense pour ma part que le RSE est une source de progrés et d'économies.
Le surcout pour le lancer peut être financé par l'aide au développement car le bénéfice du RSE dégagera des lignes budgétaires.
Je vais vous donner une image toute simple : Si l'eau du puit n'est pas poluée, qui tombera malade en la buvant ? ...

Maher Helmi Wahba

Date : 07 janvier 2009, 14:07

Kindly visit the below mentionned website to realize the loss of fertile land magnitude, unfortunaty this pattern is also used in the most advanced countries like America, England, Canada, India, China ...everywhere around the globe.This shocking destroy of our land natural resources should stop & addressed to all for crucially needed corrective action.
http://www.google.com/search?sourceid=navclient&aq=t&ie=UTF-8&rlz=1T4GTKR_enEG2[..] then press the youtube-MRHP, Tanzania brick-making as an example to watch the real tragedy that face our endangered world.
A simple calculation will result in they burned 3 Million Cubic Meter of their fertile land to fabricate bricks in order to save guard their trees and by which they were rewarded the distinguished ASHDEN Award for their achievement??? but what about the needed land to cultivate their trees or to cultivate more crops/food for a famine World.
Planet Savers Team is ready to donate for free the know how, technology transfer & on-hand personal expertize for most suitable alternative solution to preserve our land & to minimize CO2 emission that evolves from 1000's & 1000's of fired clay bricks factories around the World.
If Interested Please contact
Maher Helmi
Planet Savers Team Leader
Industrial Chemical Engineer
IMC Consultant
Regards & wishing yiu all a verry Happy New Year

Anibal Cardenas

Date : 02 novembre 2008, 19:41

Dear Jean-Michel:

Are you aware of this standard? If so, what is your impression?

The objective of International Workshop Agreement IWA 4:2005 is to provide local governments with guidelines for the voluntary application of ISO 9001:2000 on an integral basis. These guidelines do not, however, add, change or modify the requirements of ISO 9001:2000.

For a local government to be considered reliable, it should guarantee minimum conditions of reliability for the processes that are necessary to provide all the services needed by its citizens in a consistent and reliable manner. All the local government's processes, including management, core, operational and support processes, should constitute a single, integral, quality management system. The integral character of this system is important because, otherwise, although a local government could be reliable in some areas of activity, it may be unreliable in others. For a government to be considered reliable, it should guarantee minimum conditions of reliability for all key processes and services. To achieve this, it is advisable that the local government clearly identify the management, core and support processes that, together, make it reliable (see Annex A). Annex B provides a diagnostic tool for local governments to evaluate the scope and maturity of their processes and services.

http://www.iso.org/iso/catalogue_detail?csnumber=43020

Anibal Cardenas
Venezuelan Citizen

Mariana Cobra

Date : 08 avril 2008, 17:25

Different models of CSR have impacts on different types of poverty. It´s to be expected that acts of philantropy, contributions to community development, codes od conduct and compliance with international standards of best practice will yield different results, are responsive to different stakeholders and therefore, affect the poor in distinct ways. Establishing which models benefit poorer groups most is the challenge.

BOURAOUI SAAD

Date : 12 mars 2008, 15:54

Introduction :
Les états du Maghreb disposent d'atouts surs susceptibles de constituer des facteurs d'attractions très importants des investissements directs européens, parmi ces atouts les affinités culturelles, la proximité géographique, la disponibilité de la main d'ouvres qualifiée à bon marché, et en générale la faiblesse relative des couts de tous les autres factures de production.
Dans ce cadre, tous les états maghrébins ont déjà signé avec l'union européens des accords d'association qui confèrent a ces états le statut particulier d'associes privilégiés, ouvrant ainsi la voie du bénéfice des avantages contenues dans ces accords.
Il est attendu de ces accords des retombées positives dont la création d'une zone d'échanges dynamique, et le développement des flux d'investissements vers le Maghreb.
Ainsi, cette étude pose la problématique suivante :
? Est-ce que les accords d'associations ont eu des retombées positives en termes d'attrait des investissements directs européens vers les états du Maghreb ?
? Ou bien, ont-ils influés de façon positive sur les flux des investissements directs européens vers les états du Maghreb.
Cette étude essaye de présenter à la fois, les flux des IDE vers les pays maghrébins, leur repartition sectorielle et leurs provenances.de même, cette étude à pour objet aussi de comparer le volume des ces investissements par rapport avec ceux des autres régions.
En conclusion, on est aboutit que la parts des investissements européens destinés au Maghreb reste modeste , en comparaison à la parts revenus aux autres régions ,et en particulier à la région de l'Europe de l'Est, ce qui confirme en quelque sorte la thèse formulés par certains et qui consiste a voir dans ces accords la volonté des européens de transformer en région tompon pour stopper l'émigration illégale et s'accaparer des marchés locaux devant les autres concurrents. Ce qui fait ressortir, en définitive, que l'objectif recherché par les européens est l'écoulement de leurs marchandises et non pas l'investissent réel.
Auteur : BOURAOUI SAAD .UNIVERSITE BATNA.ALGERIA

thê Sustainable Development Blogger

Date : 05 mars 2008, 15:43

I disagree with Mr. Severino. In fact, I forgot to mention two issues that are problematic in globalizing social standards.

1) Who decide on what standards apply? Today standards are defined by northern transnational corporations, northern consumers and governments. If there is not a real fair negotiation between developing and developed countries stakeholders, how we can defend those standards and ask companies in developing countries to comply with? It is a huge mystification to say that developing countries are not special cases and should comply with social standards agreed by the whole world because: 1) They never participated at the negotiation of these standards (they refused to do so at the WTO) 2) A consensus did not exist if important countries like China, India, Brazil, etc. disagree (it finished the time of colonies when was enough a Northern consensus to have a global consensus) and 2) Developing countries are a special case because of their development level (history teach us that only when a country reach a degree of development start to apply social standards).

2) Before choosing to negotiate social standards globally, we should assess what are their impacts on development in the South. In fact, some standards can decrease growth and economic dynamism. These will undermine the potential positive impacts of social standards by decreasing poor income.

3) If for the North social standards are so important they also need to put the money on the table. In fact, it is neither fair nor pro-poor if the costs to comply with standards are carried by poor countries. If you think that never developed countries invest real additional aid on these things, it seems to me clear that social standards will never have a positive impact on developing countries.

What is more, in the North usually, use this kind of standards in order to protect sensitive sectors.

Another element it is important to underline on this issue. You cannot ask developing countries to make concessions on social (or environmental) standards without giving any concessions in sectors that are important for their development interests. Liberalize agriculture in the North and you will see that probably developing countries will easier negotiate standards.

For more information, visit my blog: http://sustainabledevelopmentforall.blogspot.com/

Islam Khattab

Date : 27 février 2008, 12:06

I do not agree with imposing certain standards by the UNDP or any other entity and considering them as the right standards in all developing nations. it is like one-size-fits-all theory. Each country has its own different culture that reflects what is socially right and what is socially wrong. Such believes should be highly respected. But I think coordination with the interested partied in the developing nations will play an important role in setting each country unique code of social standards and then the executive authorities in each nation have to be held accountable to know if there is any violation of such standards that were set by the people or the residents of the developing nations.

marina

Date : 19 février 2008, 13:19

For many years good governance was the motto of international institutions.
is CSR another "game" or a real principle ?

Fred Boltz, Conservation International

Date : 05 février 2008, 02:12

It may be fairly argued that CSR standards are a 'developed world' concept and benchmark. As such, appropriate cultural and social adaptation should be exercised in its application. Moreover, if CSR implies technological adaptation with financial costs then developing economies should be allowed a period of development and be assisted in such adaptation so that costs are not unduly borne and economies unfairly constrained in attaining the status of any other nation or individual. With these caveats and noting that CSR standards are intended to safeguard human rights, equity, prevent exploitation and prejudice, and promote responsible use of the global public goods that natural ecosystems provide for all inhabitants of the planet, they should be at least an aspiration, if not indeed a common moral baseline for corporate behavior.

Hugo

Date : 28 janvier 2008, 13:18

En général, ce sont les plus avancés qui font les expériences avant les autres et qui diffusent leurs résultats. Sur ce plan, il en est des régions du monde comme des individus.
Ce sont ensuite à ceux (les moins avancés) de décider s'il veulent ou non profiter des résultats de ces expériences qu'ils n'ont pas eu à faire.
Il ne s'agit pas de les forcer quand ils ne sont pas responsables des dégradations (ex effet de serre). La RSE est du domaine du volontaire et non de la contrainte.
En outre, le volet social de la RSE est aussi varié que les cultures d'entreprises ou les cultures tout court le sont dans le monde.
A lors, à la question posée, une double réponse: d'abord, sur le volet environnement, il est souhaitable de convaincre les pays du sud des enjeux planétaires pour les associer et les appuyer financièrement au relevé des défis, mais sans contrainte autre que le respect de leurs engaggements; ensuite, sur le volet social, les actions à mener sont tellement imbriquées dans la culture locale ou nationale ou ethnique etc qu'il paraît impensable de forcer qui que ce soit à quoi que ce soit en cette matière qui peut devenir "subversive" pour l'entreprise bénéficiaire.
En résumé: la RSE ne peut s'étendre que sur le base de besoins volontairement exprimés par les pays du sud.

carlos pulgarin

Date : 26 janvier 2008, 23:33

No, mientras la corrupcion exista, las mafias de la politica y el enrequesimiento ilicito de un grupo de gente que se encuentra en el poder no cambie.

las politicas de Bruselas no podran ser aplicadas en los paises del sur, es como querer cambiar de hemisferios, la realidad y pobreza son de una extrema dureza que nos impiden mirar un poco mas al horizonte, la primera preocupacion es de llegar a casa con el pan del dia y si hay que tumbar un arbol... sera tumbado.

el cambio se dara en el momento en que toda la maquinaria y la educacion del medio ambiente hagan presion donde duele a los poderes de descision en el sur, menos CO2 a cambio de mejoras arancelarias a los diferentes productos de exportacion y que se cumplan los convenios.

el planeta nos agradecera.

Preeti Sharma

Date : 25 janvier 2008, 07:57

i think they should not impose the restriction on the peoples activities of developing country. They are getting fear from the development of developing countries and they are trying to restrict by arising environmental issues. we people of developing country are also very serious about the environment.

Shyam Singh

Date : 19 janvier 2008, 12:56

Yes, these standerd can be imposed on developing countries but what vision would be adopted about the lower social security status in such countries. Lack of employment and cronic poverty make this things more important. If we are going to empose the standerds, role nature of state might be more crucial, especially in developing countries, state can be transformed from welfare state to progressive state.
these concerns should be taken care of.

Roch Sosthène NEPO

Date : 19 janvier 2008, 12:48

Nul doute qu'il s'agit là, ni plus ni moins, d'un protectionnisme déguisé, dans sa forme la plus pernicieuse. Dans ces conditions, l'essentiel, de mon point de vue, ne serait pas - tant s'en faut ! - de remettre en cause l'exigence de Responsabilité sociale et environementale, mais plutôt d'oeuvrer tous ensemble à l'avènement, à très brève échéance, dans les pays du sud, d' une réelle croissance économique créatrice d'emplois durables et décents. En effet, sous tous les cieux, la misère est un obstacle majeur à l'exercice de la vertu. En définitive, le vrai débat (plus actuel que jamais quoique vieux de plus de trois décennies!!!) est celui de l'instauration d'un nouvel ordre économique mondial plus juste et plus humain. Au-delà donc de considérations théoriques et éthiques, Il y va de l'avenir du genre humain. Cela relève du simple bon sens, voire du réflexe de survie individuelle et collective!

souleymane fall

Date : 18 janvier 2008, 20:01

C'est effectivement un bon sujet de réflexion, très complexe et éminemment polémique. En effet, de quel droit un organisme financier peut-il dire à une entreprise privée ou publique d'un des pays les moins avancés : "pour construire cette usine, vous consacrerez tant d'argent que nous consentons à vous donner à limiter vos émissions de gaz à effet de serre" quand cet argent serait bien mieux employé à financer un puits ou une école...

Les pays du Sud ont souvent d'autres choses à faire que de consacrer temps et argent à respecter l'environnement alors que bien souvent ils font partie des pays qui polluent le moins.

Et en ce qui concerne la responsabilité sociale, comment justifier les cris d'orfraies des bien pensants occidentaux qui montrent du doigt les conditions de travail dans les pays du Sud alors que : 1. les consommateurs européens achètent les produits émanant de ces pays sans se poser de questions quant aux conditions de fabrication (ou alors ils ont mauvaise conscience mais étant donné la baisse de leur pouvoir d'achat, ils consomment les produits les moins chers qui sont souvent ceux là)

2. ils ont construits leur richesse en exploitant leurs travailleurs (bien souvent des enfants) pendant toute leur révolution industrielle et même au-delà...

Alors quel discours adopter face à ces évidences ? Comment concilier biens publics mondiaux et réalités locales ?

L'enfer est pavé de bonnes intentions et les conditions posées au nom de standards internationaux éthiques nient souvent les conséquences qu'elles entraînent...

Chris

Date : 18 janvier 2008, 15:45

Sure, I agree with the theory.
But how does this actually play out in practice? How does CSR translate, say, into the daily work of large development agencies like AFD, the ADB, UNDP, the World Bank etc.? Do the thousands of projects you finance in the South respect these neat standards?
And do these complex conditions not a waste precious time and resources in conducting the projects? Nobody worried about the conditions of Europ's coal miners or the workers who built the USA's first train network. Yet it's their work that ultimately made the US and Europe competitive.
Chris