BCF networks and advocates
BCF organizes workshop, programmes and conferences putting together key factors from the CSR sector in South Asia.
Workshops and Programmes
Partnerships for Sustainable Development, Long Term Solution or Passing Fad
BCF & International Business Leaders Forum (IBLF) organised a workshop on 20th November on partnership for sustainable development. The workshop was led by Ms Ros Tennyson, Director of the Partnership Initiative, IBLF.
Cross-sector collaboration for sustainable development (‘partnership’) is no longer a new development phenomenon, but that does not mean that it is easy or that it always works. The workshop was attended by a group of 35 participants from industry, NGO, academic & professional institutes. Following were the issues addressed in the workshop:
• Key factors that make partnerships efficient and effective.
• How can partners ensure that the outcome from their projects are sustainable, even beyond the life of the partnership itself?
• How can partnership best be mainstreamed to ensure maximum impacts?
The workshop participants included Accenture, FMS Delhi, AIESEC- NGO, Resource Alliance , Score Foundation , Health & Medical Education Services J & K, Tata Chemicals Limited, H & ME Dept J & K, IBM India Private Limited, OXFAM, Development Research & Action Group, Partner In Change, KPMG, CII-ITC Centre of Excellence for Sustainable development, Society for Child Development , MESH , School of Planning & Architecture, Grant Thornton, UNDP, Search Years, Bharatiya Yuva Shakti Trust, ALAMB, Steel Authority of India Limited, ICICI, IILM.
'Charity to Parity'
Workshop for Employment of People with Different Abilities in Small & Medium Enterprises - 10th January 2005 in Ghaziabad.
Navprerna, in association with SAO, IAMA Ghaziabad, PIC and BCF, organized a symposium cum exposition for the industrialists of Ghaziabad on 10th January, 2005. Trust and commitment between business and their stakeholders will underpin tomorrow's successful companies.
Sex Selection (Female foeticide)
Workshop organized jointly by Business & Community Foundation (BCF) and Centre for Women's Development Studies (CWDS) on 27th January 2005.
Foetal sex determination by misuse of ultrasound machine has become a common practice in India today. Today the foetal stage has become the most dangerous phase for a woman in places where the practice of female foeticide is extensive. The consequence has been a high rate of abortion of female foetuses. The 1991 Census reported a child sex ratio of 945 girls per 1000 boys, which further declined to 927 during 2001 Census. In states of Haryana, Punjab, Delhi and Gujarat the ratio has declined to less than 900 girls per 1000 boys. There has been a continued decline in major southern states of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh.
The objective of the workshop was to share the facts on "missing" girls, explore the medical, legal and social dimensions relating to sex selection and thereafter to have an in-depth discussion on how civil society, corporates, foundations and institutions can all join hands to work towards ameliorating the situation and reaffirming the value of girls and women in our society.
Workshop on HIV/AIDS Awareness and Sexual Harassment on 25th February 2005
The first session was on HIV/AIDS Awareness Programme at Workplace. The session was marked by the keynote address by Ms Anandi Yuvaraj from India HIV/AIDS Alliance. Apart from sharing her knowledge and understanding of the issue she touched upon the important components of the HIV workplace policy. Ms Divya and Mr Ravi from ILO emphasized on the need to develop an effective workplace response to HIV/AIDS. They further talked about the principles of a workplace policy on HIV/AIDS as recommended by the ILO Code of Practice.
The second session was on Sexual Harassment at the Workplace. The session was conducted by Ms Meenakshi Arora Supreme Court Advocate who also assisted in the 'Vishakha & others vs. State of Rajasthan & others case' of 1992. This case was a precursor to the exhaustive set of Supreme Court Guidelines and Norms against sexual harassment at the workplace which were announced in 1997. While talking about the guidelines Ms Arora emphasized the need on the part of various organizations to incorporate and follow these guidelines as a part of their service rules on misconduct.
The programme was attended by participants from corporate entities, academic institutions and other non-governmental organizations.
Conferences
CSR conference in Asia - 9th and 10th December, 2005
“CSR Conference in Asia – Where we are and what ahead” was a two day conference organized by Business & Community Foundation and One World South Asia under the funding of intellectual Exchange Program of Japan Foundations. The conference was held on the 9th and 10th December 2005at YMCA Tourist Hostel, New Delhi and was attended by 130 partipants from corporate, civil society organizations across Asia.
BCF is part of the sub-committee of the Planning Commission.