中欧社会论坛 - China Europa ForumAFD Group (French Development Aid Agency) and CSR in the Bank Industry
Partnerships for strengthening CSR
CSR in the Bank Industry
Bank CSR is three-fold:
Internal CSR: ecological footprint, working conditions etc…
Responsible product and service offer;
Management of social and environmental risks of investments.
CSR benefits for banks include enhancement of:
Risk management of investment portfolio;
Human resources management;
Cost management;
Client management;
Public relations;
Governance.
AFD Commitment to CSR
AFD included CSR in its Strategic Plan for 2007-2011. AFD is a signatory of the UN Global Compact since 2004, and has committed to the French Charter for Sustainable Development of State-Owned Enterprises in 2008.
AFD three key CSR objectives are:
Reduction of its ecologic footprint;
Transparency in its relationships with other organisations;
Setting up of a social and environmental risk management system for all financed projects.
ADF Initiative for Banks
AFD considers banks can contribute effectively to CSR implementation within small and medium enterprises. They can do so through social and environmental risks’ management of their financing and credit activities. Therefore, AFD has engaged in partnering with banks in developing and emerging countries.
All banks partnering with AFD have, or commit to have, CSR policy and resources for CSR implementation. When necessary, AFD can help banks to design and implement CSR policy and action plan. A financial support can be brought to the bank if it is needed.
Moreover, AFD is developing strategic partnerships with banks. Partnering banks get a specific credit line for implementing CSR in small and medium enterprises. CSR implementation is achieved through enhanced social and environmental risks’ management, training, awareness rising, auditing of SMEs.