Write to ASP at:
Bush House
72 Prince Street
Bristol
BS1 4QD
News
ASP "Coffee House" online meetings
added by Gwyn Jones
(Sustainable Futures Foundation & gbj consulting)
- 16/06/2009 at 13:44:30
ASP members get together online (via Skype) regularly to share views and ideas, make new contacts, find resources for projects and collaborations. All Community Members and Associates are welcome to join our weekly calls.
FIRST REGIONAL PROJECT LAUNCHED BY UNDP TO ACCELERATE IMPLEMENTATION OF CSR IN 8 EUROPEAN COUNTRIES
added by Indre Kleinaite
(Sustainability Promotions )
- 11/01/2007 at 18:51:29
United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is launching the first regional project aiming to promote and support the integration of sustainability principles into the business strategies. The Project is expected to contribute to regional cohesion among old and new EU Member States and candidate countries. The project is funded by the European Commission.
The beginning of 2007 marks the start of a new and first of this type regional project aimed at accelerating the implementation of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) practices in new EU Member States and in candidate countries: Bulgaria, Croatia, Hungary, Lithuania, Macedonia, Poland, Slovak Republic and Turkey. Business networks in Spain, UK and Germany will also be involved in the Project by contributing to exchange of experience and good CSR practices. The project addresses the practices of companies (both local and foreign enterprises), but also intermediaries like business and professional associations, local and national governments, trade unions, academia, non-governmental organizations and the media in the Project countries. The Project will be implemented by UNDP Offices in Project countries in cooperation with national and regional partners.
The Project covers three main components:
1) Situation analysis of CSR in the Project countries. A baseline study among all stakeholders in each project country will identify actors and assess their engagement in promoting CSR, the level of business engagement in CSR and collect examples of good practices, tools and recommendations for CSR in the region. European report will be presented at regional conference in mid-2007 and discussed at national and local level in Project countries.
2) Promotion of multi-stakeholder dialogue to enhance awareness and exchange good practices for CSR advancement. The Project will support the dialogue between the different stakeholders, encourage joint CSR activities, as well as provide a multi-stakeholder platform to discuss and exchange views on business cases, tools, reporting and possible economic incentives for company engagement in CSR. Round tables, exchange visits and peer groups will be organised.
3) National and local capacity building to promote and implement CSR. This is foreseen to be carried out by familiarizing the stakeholders with concrete CSR implementation tools and their use in specific circumstances, exposing to concrete CSR practices and case studies on CSR mainstreaming.
Project duration is 18 months. Total budget of the Project is 1.36 million USD (775 636 Euro). The contribution from the European Commission stands at 620 199 Euro, while UNDP is contributing 155 437 Euro to the Project.
added by Mike Zeidler
(modoto)
- 17/07/2006 at 15:57:23
Wednesday 21st June was not only the longest day, with more daylight than any other day of the year - it was also a day when a great deal of light was shed on ASP by its members at the Midsummer Gathering.
Held at the new Hub in Bristol, the Gathering saw ASP members old and new coming together to celebrate what was effectively ASP’s first birthday - a year in which much had been achieved.
Expertly facilitated by Mike and Liz Zeidler, the meeting moved from formal to informal, group work to individual reflection, and came up with some important co-created conclusions.
The Hub (at 35 King Street, Bristol) proved to be an ideal venue, despite loud road works going on outside - I took an Open Space group outside to some seats in the open air, only to find a portable cement mixer being set up to grind away beside us. It’s tribute to the energy of the group that the ideas continued to flow despite being trapped on the set of “Bob the Builder”…
As with all ASP efforts, it’s what we create together that is so much more fulfilling than what we create individually. I had intended to write a summary of the day, but then received the gift of the four accounts below. Thank you Alun, Abbie, Brett and Steve - you describe it far better than I would have done !
Simon Cooper
Alun Dow encapsulates the day:
About Wednesday 21st June – WHAT A DAY NOT TO HAVE MISSED!!
The morning:
The directors of ASP demonstrated their desire for transparency in their business by allowing non members to be part of the company’s AGM and to hear their reports of the company’s first year performance.
Propositions from the floor were constructively allowed and formally adopted by members where appropriate.
Congratulations are also due for the dynamic way in which Liz Z. then facilitated the early part of the group meeting, before departing to Northern Ireland to earn some real fees for her family.
We experienced her excellent “ice breaking” exercises that we all could emulate or adapt for our own needs; not least of which was that they delivered some focus and choices for the open space activities in the afternoon.
And what an afternoon; thanks Mike Z.
Not only did some clarity and enhancement of ASP strategies, common purpose and shared values evolve, but also some actions and tasks were identified to help the functionality of ASP.
These actions were designed to develop value internally and externally for ASP members; to embrace personal development, motivation, learning and to start the process of generating shared revenue opportunities from potential clients.
There was a bonus outcome:
Individuals stood forward to be the champions of certain initiatives in order to make them happen.
For example; A database of our collective membership skills in order to promote each other and ultimately to formulate a common commercial offer.
Shared support tasks to enable Mike Z, to do greater things for us.
Learning opportunities & events for our professional development.
Developing a website to define who we are and what we are not.
Collecting case studies & stories to enhance our external image.
Finally:
We rediscovered a valuable asset. Each member is committed to giving some free days to ASP and it was discussed how this massive resource could be used effectively for the greater good, both inwardly and outwardly facing. Whether you were there or not, you will have received a call to explore this opportunity for us all to belong in a tangible way to the future of your ASP. (See Steve Banks’ note below for more).
I thought it to be a highly valuable day developing the way forward, thanks to you all. I certainly see the need to be “in it to win it”.
Regards, Alun Dow ………… contact alun@selfawareness.org.uk June 22nd 2006.
Abbie Cooke was impressed by the energy:
I learnt something new from everyone I met and felt utterly inspired by the intellect, energy and intention of the group. It was interesting to visit the Bristol hub for the first time and I would like to know more about the facilities there. Following up with fellow members the next day was also very stimulating and I feel inspired by the possibility of new collaborative projects. Looking forward to turning our ideas into action when we meet again !
Abbie Cooke
For Brett Sadler, the day inspired thoughts about how we can better work together on big projects and thereby make a difference:
If we could get involved in culture change from the highest level down then the possibilities are huge. Something for the back burner, I think, when we've built our credentials a bit more. A project on such a scale would provide opportunities for (and would probably need input from) almost the entire ASP network.
All these potential opportunities beg the question: do we have a need for an ASP client engagement model to make sure that we all use our individual projects as potential entrees for complete company-wide interventions with our clients? I think this further highlights the need for a simple and transparent (but detailed) skills database. I'll post something on this subject soon.
Thanks to you and Liz for a great and inspirational day.
Brett Sadler
Steve Banks got down to brass tacks in defining how ASP members could get involved in helping to run the organization:
We discussed in an Open Space group the areas of the co-ordinator’s work that can be easily delegated to ASP members.
Areas we thought could be picked up easily by ASP members on their annual one day contribution to the running of ASP (or any time):
• Interviewing prospective members: conducting interviews, chasing up other members who haven’t done the interviews they had promised.
• Chasing creditors.
• Monthly ASP website update. Each month an email is sent to ASP members alerting them to what is new on the website. This could be done by a different member each month; they could receive any guidance they needed from the person who did it the previous month (so Mike need not be involved).
The idea had been put forward that a specific ASP member should take responsibility for such areas ‘delegated’ by Mike. The group thought this was not necessary, but that putting members’ days in the diary, combined with having a clear idea of specific jobs Mike can easily delegate would be effective (in relieving Mike of some of the co-ordinating jobs, at least until we have the money to pay someone to do it).
Steve Banks
Overall, the day was an uplifting and inspiring example of the principle of “many hands make light work’. The trick we now need to perfect is to get this effect to continue throughout the year, through the regular donations of an annual day by members to attend to ASP needs, and the constant attention to the question, as we speak to our clients:
“How could I engage the rest of ASP to help me (and my client) reach this objective?”
added by Steve Banks
(Inner Leadership)
- 23/06/2006 at 18:19:44
We agreed to post our reflections on the June 21st ASP gathering here in the news section. I just wanted to suggest posting them in the learning blog section, because Margaret courageously started a blog there on the subject, and by continuing that blog we would collect them in one place, and can comment on previous blogs, hopefully creating some continuity.
Perceptions of the youth in Cameroon are shifting, and they are now more open to change.
Abstract
Given that Cameroon is heavily endowed with enormous human and natural resources, the peace that reigns in the country, its reaching the completion point of the HIPC initiative, it is no longer too difficult to protect the vulnerable public from abject poverty and uphold social justice for Sustainable Development to take place.
The problem lies in striking a balance between the counter productive schemes of the government and CSOs working to equip today’s youth with the capacity to lead us into the future. This dilemma has a lot to do with linking development with social justice. We believe networking within the African Diaspora and twining development initiatives across cultures would provide a spring board for bringing in the right kind of changes that will enable building a more sustainable and better world for all.
This article attempts to address the key issues in the over all development of the “Betterworld Vision” in Cameroon.
Keywords:
CSO- Civil Society Organisations
HIPC- Highly indebted poor countries initiative
IT- Information Technologies
MDGs- Millennium Development Goals
Transforming Vision into Solidarity Action
The Betterwrld project in Cameroon is a grassroots initiative based on developing an African model of vocational education which more realistically meets the needs of alienated youth and women uprooted from the context in which they can rebuild meaning in their lives.
The project has been researching and implementing alternative development strategies aimed at reducing poverty through networking with CSOs. The Betterworld network NGOs is a group of Cameroonians and some leaders of associations who having realised that Cameroon is endowed with human and natural resources are resolved to expressing the need for these resources to be harnessed to pave the way for sustainable growth in the country.
The Betterworld Vision is the brain child of Joshua konkankoh, the project director of Betterworld Cameroon. My approach is based on the formation of grassroots groups which in turn depend on the regular and continuous of group representatives. In Cameroon wolves volunteer to herd the sheep but by introducing basic democracy we succeed in putting down the town people and lifting up the villagers, setting aside party politics and training traditional leaders and new community development leaders. We have realised that continuously waiting solutions to come from out side, the regeneration of Cameroonian villages will never get off the ground. However, the social strife and extreme poverty which characterises our communities make sustainable development initiatives an up hill task.
A CALL FOR ACTION
Throughout Sub-Saharan Africa, the political turmoil, economic hardships, population increases, rural exodus and natural disasters have put tremendous pressures and demands on livelihoods and environmental management practises. As a result, the effective use of natural resources has never been more crucial, particularly for the rural and urban poor whose survival depends on the local resource base.
Within this context, the participatory approach to project design and implementation which Betterworld Cameroon promotes could help donors’ bridge involvement and responsibility with capacity to achieve more sustainable local development. The continuous socio-economic decline and environmental degradation in our region is ample evidence to suggest why economic initiatives without donor support easily collapse. Most development ideas have been focused too narrowly on meeting governmental goals and objectives in ways that are neither environmentally sustainable nor socially equitable. The Betterworld initiative is a case study of “how-not-to-do it”. We believe that grassroots networking linking with international partnerships could constitute the instrument through which community needs for assistance can be better targeted. The cost of resource, degradation and human suffering make this effort essential.
Communication Enforces Confidence
Communication and ITs are the foundation of the new global information based economy and would help grassroots initiatives to enhance their organisational efficiency and competitiveness while providing better goods and services for improved living.
In an interdependent global environment it is in the interest of both developed and less developed communities to help assure that the under privileged are not left on the sidelines. The use of electronic technology and e-communication will also stimulate and facilitate social and economic activities.
The media can aid development
The free press in Africa that addresses the development needs of people should also be taken on board. They are the best placed to communicate economic, social and environmental information and develop an educated public. In this way, an informed consensus can be built around the difficult choices that are inevitable on the road to social and economic sustainability.
The free press in Cameroon is attempting to go beyond reporting on political dogma to educate, entertain and inform the whole nation. It has a critical role to play in educating and providing key information for sustainable development and could constitute an excellent framework for action. It has an important job to do in raising awareness about the goals to and actions for their achievement. Elsewhere, the media could help create a knowledgeable, entrepreneurial and confident society, able to address and achieve development goals and particularly the MGDs.
Cultural Heritage- Our Living Past
The failure to recognise the importance of Cameroon’s rich culture and tourism potential has been an important factor in the limited degree of development of our country. Betterworld has realised the importance of indigenous knowledge systems in looking for sustainable solutions for communities. We are trying to fill the gap left behind by state institutions in social policy. We do this by encouraging an audible cultural policy within traditional authority which should take care of women and youth in rural and urban Cameroon. We hope that this cultural revival will constitute a veritable cultural space for genuine development in the country.
If you were to see the faces of young people and women expressing their hopes and aspiration in song and dance, you will believe with me the real challenge for the future is capturing this energy and channelling it always positively. While poverty is undeniable part of our daily lives, we do not want to stay within this limitation.
Beyond the gloom and doom often screened on western media, we see this renaissance sweeping across the sub-region as an opportunity for a Betterworld.
The Betterworld vision is an attempt to kill two birds with one stone: to persuade even rich people to insist on due economy in the consumption of the necessities of lie, and to assure poor people that it is possible to make a good deal more of scanty materials within their reach than they do at present…
No one will deny the importance of urging rich and poor alike, in the necessary state of things to try and economise the fuel and food which they have at their disposal. The sooner we make up our minds that what we regretful speak of as “the good old times”, will never come again, the sooner we shall cease to look fondly back on a cheaper past, and embrace ourselves helpfully and bravely to face to face the increasing cost of life.
My vision is a Better world where traditional African respect for the land helps create sustainable employment among socially disadvantaged groups. ”He or she who puts the hand in the soil (earth) will never be deceived”- a quote from my mother translated from Bafut language.
Our mission in Betterworld is to shape a uniquely African model for informal learning that reconnects people and land, introducing appropriate technologies where possible.
Building a better future
New grassroots institutions are required that can meet the needs of alienated, unemployed women and youth. The traditional socializing role in Africa is under threat from AIDS, malaria and globalisation. In Cameroon today there is a failure within public institutions to address the needs of women and unemployed youth. They are a forgotten generation. Many are immigrants from rural communities and inherit a strong tradition of entrepreneurship with the potential to help themselves in small business ventures. In this context we should be pioneering social enterprises working to develop this inheritance among women and young people and equipping them for a better life.
Conclusion
There is a crucial need to galvanize the role of CSOs to catalyse change in Africa. I call upon all well wishers to recognize the role organizations in building a critical mass of responsible citizens, who help maintain checks and balances in society.
The international community working towards achieving MDGs to advocate for nationally-owned solutions and help to make them effective through ensuring a greater voice for poor people, expanding access to productive assets and economic opportunities and linking poverty reduction programmes through international solidarity.
Education is the most powerful weapon we can use to change the world.
added by Mike Zeidler
(modoto)
- 14/04/2006 at 14:37:25
ASP will soon be able to offer members the chance to share files via the internet through our partners 'The Hub' in London. The new facility will enable all members to access board minutes, project reports and other relevant papers at all times. This benefit will be available by the end of the Spring.
added by Mike Zeidler
(modoto)
- 11/02/2006 at 07:19:15
The board of ASP has agreed that groups of 5 or more people whose membership is sponsored by their organisation will be eligable for a 10% discount on membership fees, rising to 15% if the fees are paid up by D/D or in full. Don't forget that all memberships are individual (not corporate), and that all five applicants will have to be approved by interview. This offer stands until further notice.
Members views on this decision would be welcomed.
added by Mike Zeidler
(modoto)
- 20/12/2005 at 10:17:18
ASP has fulfilled it's first contract, educating a delegation of Chinese about issues of Corporate Social Responsibility. The contract involved a two week programme of training for the group, who's role in China is to train top politicians, business leaders and City Mayors about business responsibility.
On their return to China, the group wrote 'Thank you very much for your kind and considerate guidence for our study tour. All of us are agree that this training is the best one we've had in our learning career'.
They also said that we had changed the way they think about Corporate Responsibility - broadening their view and engaging them with the blurring of boundaries between private, public and voluntary sectors interests in responsible business.
This was the first time that a group of ASP members had worked together on a paid contract. A total of £25,000 will be shared amongst the members, from which a contribution of just over £2,000 will be made into ASP to help cover the costs of coordination and administration.
