Presentation held by Ms.Nikica Kushinkova as a part of the The Corporate Social Responsibility at the 8th SEEITA and 7th MASIT Open Days Conference, 14th-15th October, 2010

1. Making CSR operational for SMEs
UNIDO Responsible Entrepreneurs
Achievement Programme
Regional CSR Network for Small Businesses
in CEE/SEE
Nikica Kusinikova, Konekt
8th SEEITA – 7th SEE ICT Forum Meeting & 7th MASIT Open Days Conference
14-15 October 2010, Ohrid www.seeita.org

2. Challenges in implementing existing
CSR concepts
• CSR primarily promoted by larger companies
• As a consequence – SMEs are often skeptical towards
CSR
• General approaches to CSR cannot be simply
imposed to smaller companies
– They don’t share same concerns as large companies
– They usually face resource constrains
– Pressing short-term economic survival
8th SEEITA – 7th SEE ICT Forum Meeting & 7th MASIT Open Days Conference
14-15 October 2010, Ohrid www.seeita.org

3. Modified approach to SMEs
• Need to fit SMEs’ needs and capacities
without affecting their economic viability
• The perspective – sustainable development
– Must be financially secure
– Minimize (ideally eliminate) its negative
environmental impacts
– Act in conformity with societal expectations
8th SEEITA – 7th SEE ICT Forum Meeting & 7th MASIT Open Days Conference
14-15 October 2010, Ohrid www.seeita.org

4. REAP
(Responsible Entrepreneurs Achievement Programme)
• Standardized methodology designed by
UNIDO (UN Industrial Development Organization)
• Support system of licensed REAP consultants
• REAP Software
8th SEEITA – 7th SEE ICT Forum Meeting & 7th MASIT Open Days Conference
14-15 October 2010, Ohrid www.seeita.org

5. REAP
• Focused on direct economic benefits of CSR-
oriented strategies
– towards increased productivity, operational costs
savings and enhanced market access
– Improvement of workplace and processes
– Environmental domain
– Social issues
– Anti-corruption
8th SEEITA – 7th SEE ICT Forum Meeting & 7th MASIT Open Days Conference
14-15 October 2010, Ohrid www.seeita.org

6. Regional CSR Network for Small in
CEE/SEE
• Officially launched in May 2010
• Main activities:
– Research to create a regional knowledge base
– Advisory services to business support institutions
– Technical assistance and in-plant assessments to individual
SMEs
– Training and regional capacity building
– Awareness raising and information dissemination
– CSR policy advice
• Focal Point Organizations in each country
8th SEEITA – 7th SEE ICT Forum Meeting & 7th MASIT Open Days Conference
14-15 October 2010, Ohrid www.seeita.org

7. Thank you!
For more information on REAP and the
Regional CSR Network for Small Businesses in
CEE/SEE contact:
Association Konekt - Network Focal Point
for Macedonia
konekt@konekt.org.mk
nikicak@konekt.org.mk
8th SEEITA – 7th SEE ICT Forum Meeting & 7th MASIT Open Days Conference
14-15 October 2010, Ohrid www.seeita.org