Recommended actions to foster the adoption of Corporate Social ...

actions are by no means exhaustive and only illustratethe types of involvement, which can be easilymodified to meet local needs.4.1 Multilateral Development InstitutionsThis analysis shows that MDIs can have a strongrole in Chile through facilitation, promotion andadvocacy, ensuring transparency and encouragingpartnerships. MDIs may play many roles, 49 such asraising awareness; promoting discussion, negotiationand cooperation; providing technical assistance andsupervision; and providing financial support forsome of these activities through MultilateralFinancial Institutions, which are part of MDIs.a. Ensuring transparency, some recommendedactions for MDIs are:– Help SMEs overcome the obstacles to thedownsizing access to capital markets andfurther increase SMEs penetration of banksthrough a program called “transparency incredit through participation”. This programis an innovative analysis of credit accessrules and procedures applied to two or threesectors, aimed at improving SMEs accessto finance.b. Facilitating, some recommended actions forMDIs are:– Develop a conducive policy environment,which may facilitate private sector initiativesand support voluntary efforts towardsresponsible behaviors.– Pilot a project on the implementation ofquality management systems in the supplychain using a chosen territory or sector.Provide assistance to participants according tothe specific role they play in the supply chain.– Train SME managers on CSR best practices.For example, by providing classes on strategicplanning and on how to write a responsiblebusiness plan.– Create toolkits and guidelines for codesof conduct and ethical behavior withina company.c. Improving Promotion and Advocacy, somerecommended actions for MDIs are:– Apply benchmarking techniques in a specificsector to evaluate actual environmental effortsand activities and to identify best practices.– Start a pilot project to enhance the capacityof SMEs to profit from the Kyoto ProtocolCDM by encouraging Carbon Pooling amongSME sellers.d. Partnering, some recommended actions forMDIs are:– Launch a women’s association that couldeducate SMEs on gender polices, disseminatebest practices and provide scholarships foryoung women in the field of businessadministration and/or CSR.– Provide gender rights counseling bysupporting women at work through directexperience sharing. Arrange guest speakerssuch as leading female mangers, politiciansand entrepreneurs.4.2 Government and Local AuthoritiesThe Chilean government and local authorities haveactive roles as regulators, enforcers and controllers.Many CSR areas are already covered by regulationsprescribing ethical behavior or the application ofinternational standards. This analysis does notpromote mandating roles for Chilean publicauthorities, because of the large amount of lawsalready in place.Not only the government and its ministries areinvolved in CSR policies, but also other organizationssuch as, the National Center for Productivity andQuality (Chile Calidad), the Fund for the Promotionof Cientific and Technologic Development (Fondo de49 Promotion and advocacy, development of a conducive policy environment, financial support and promotion of compliance, reporting,and accounting (Vives, 2004).Chile 55