A year back, when I wrote about Bank Audi’s first Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Report(1), many congratulated me and others blamed me for the critical tone I had at that time. Yet, I was deeply convinced that the technical analysis we provided in our review was actually a reflection of our duty to highlight and evaluate CSR practices in Lebanon, from strategy to reporting, despite our belief that any contribution, regardless of its size,...

Is Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) understood in Lebanon? Is it possible to identify a Lebanese institution or corporation which has fully adopted and integrated CSR from the employee level to the supply chain? Were changes applied in the workplace, environment, community, and the marketplace which make the four areas of CSR? If so, was it part of a long-term comprehensive strategy? Were efforts to promote CSR occasional and restricted to i...

Mr. Georg Kell, Executive Director of the UN Global Compact (UNGC), gives an exclusive interview to Responsible Business. He discusses the outcomes of Rio +20, the future of the UNGC, progress on sustainability in the Middle East and the challenges and opportunities for businesses seeking to join the UNGC and implement sustainability programs in this region.