Indonesian Corporate Sector–Civil Society Organizations (CS-CSO) Event – Hivos Southeast Asia

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Aug, 09, 2017
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Building an Effective Partnership in Achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

CIRCLE Indonesia TEAM:
Team Leader              : Yanti Lacsana
Organizer Team        : Yani Lestari and Reina Asmedi
Art Director                : Bambang Gatot Pamungkas

INTRODUCTION
Hivos Southeast Asia realizes the importance of engaging with both the private and corporate sectors to maximize the impact of its development work. The corporate sector is increasingly an important stakeholder for Hivos in the various areas in which it works.

There are several ways Hivos can deepen its engagement with the corporate sector, for instance:

Collaborate programmatically on the basis of each organization’s respective strengths
Influence corporate sector policies and practices through advocacy and campaigning to promote the triple bottom line
Resource Hivos’ development agenda through funds from corporate foundations and corporate social responsibility programs
Utilize corporate volunteering to explore solutions to Hivos’ challenges, to improve processes and support innovation

Recently there have been several policy developments that are likely to facilitate the corporate sector’s role in social development. These are creating new opportunities for civil society organizations and the corporate sector to work together at both the national and international levels. At the launch of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals in September 2015, it was widely recognized that the corporate sector’s support and collaboration will be needed to realize the goals. In Asia, several national governments have already implemented national policies stipulating that a certain percentage of private-sector profits must be reserved for social development. In Indonesia, companies are required to set aside 5% of their gross profit for corporate social responsibility programs.

Hivos Southeast Asia has already engaged the corporate sector in some of its previous programs, but with mixed results for both parties. There is a strong drive to build from such experiences and explore the potential for mutually-beneficial future engagements.

To start this exploration, on 27 July 2016 Hivos hosted a single-day event in Jakarta to bring together corporate sector (CS) companies, local civil society organizations (CSOs), international non-government organizations (INGOs) and representatives from bilateral and multilateral international development agencies.

THE OBJECTIVES OF THE EVENT

Sharing of experience between the private sector and the civil society organisations in building partnership in the development of the poor and vulnerable people in relation to government priority development agenda
Sharing of ideas on lessons learn in and strategies for effective partnership between the private sector and Hivos and its civil society organisations partners as well other non-profit organisations in facilitating the government in achieving Sustainable Development Goal (SDGs)

This event was opened jointly by Hivos Southeast Asia and Circle Indonesia, together representing a mutually-beneficial partnership between international and national civil society organizations. It was attended by 33 participants from the corporate sector and civil society organizations, with representation from sectors including food and beverages, ICT, media, banking and insurance, agribusiness, natural resources and the environment. There were also representatives from foreign diplomatic missions, the Chamber of Commerce, donor agencies and UNDP.

Hivos’ hope is that this event will be the beginning of new and improved collaboration between companies and civil society organizations, both of which must work alongside the government and other actors to achieve the SDGs.

For more information about Hivos Southeast Asia program, please visit:
Website: https://sea.hivos.org/
FB Fanpage: @Hivos Southeast Asia

“We had partnered with Circle in organizing a Corporate Sector – Civil Society Organizations interaction event. Circle was responsible for identifying and coordinating with participants, organizing and facilitating the event. They did a commendable job. We appreciate their contribution toward the success of the event. We also continue to appreciate our partnership with Circle in different assignments”. Biranchi Upadhyaya (Director HIVOS Southeast Asia)