CONTEXT

As part of its efforts to strengthen the understanding of corporate social responsibility concept in Turkey, CSR Turkey undertakes various initiatives. Among these, CSR Turkey has been implementing "Accelerating CSR in Turkey Project” within the EU Civil Society Dialogue Program since July 2008. The project which has been implemented in cooperation with CSR Europe, a leading CSR institution in Europe, covers CSR conferences along with workshops specially designed for articulating the relationship between the CSR and Media and CSR for SMEs.

In addition to those awareness raising activities, the project involves another event – Turkey CSR Solutions MarketPlace- which will provide a platform for companies and stakeholder groups to exchange CSR ideas and information.

 

CSR and TURKEY

In Turkey, there is growing interest on the concept of CSR with a large group of companies supporting the concept and advocating for the value it adds. However, the notion of businesses’ active engagement in efforts for greater societal wellbeing is not a new trend in Turkey. Strong philanthrophic actions of businesses are a tradition that goes back to the Ottoman times. Centuries old concepts like “Waqfs” -as premier public service provision institutions- and “Akhi Guilds” -as systems integrating ethical values into businesses- reflect how CSR is deeply rooted in our cultural codes.

In recent years, companies in Turkey have significantly added to this existing capacity to become responsible corporate citizens of the 21st century. With a vibrant Global Compact network, with growing numbers of companies developing CSR or Sustainability Reports, with high attention to global CSR monitoring and measuring tools, business community in Turkey have recently been unsparing in its efforts to make CSR an integral part of their operations.

CSR SOLUTIONS MARKETPLACE

Understanding and implementing CSR involves an endless learning process. No matter how much have been achieved so far,  the companies will keep improving the ways they evaluate their impact on stakeholders and finding more effective ways to control their environmental and social impacts. In spite of the fact that we all agree with this statement, CSR Turkey wants to highlight the quick and decisive steps Turkish companies have taken so far and to contribute to good CSR practices’ gaining visibility by organizing the first CSR MarketPlace in Turkey.                                  

The event aims at opening the floor for extensive discussion on how CSR works in Turkey context and how it contributes to the development of innovative solutions to challenges companies’ face. This year, the theme is identified as 'Back to School for CSR' and companies are invited to present and then to celebrate their success in a distinctive academic atmosphere the Kadir Has University provides.

METHOD

The first CSR MarketPlace in Turkey will be organized in a form that will allow companies to present their CSR initiatives in the most innovative ways. The creative and informal atmosphere the event provides will let the participants extensively discuss CSR issues while being inspired by other companies’ solutions and enhancing their own vision.
The event will be part of the series of MarketPlace events which have been implemented in many countries since the year 2005 by CSR Europe - a Brussels based business network promoting CSR with more than 20 international member organizations. The event plans to gather Turkish companies, the local branches of MNCs, NGOs, government and media representatives and to set a platform for discussion in an interactive environment. At the same time, the first CSR MarketPlace event in Turkey aims to increase attention to CSR issues in Turkey by highlighting the best CSR practices which created great social benefits and contributed to the companies’ overall performance.
CSR Solutions MarketPlace will be a full day event. The event will be held in two sessions where the participants will first visit company booths and get detailed information about the proposed CSR solutions, and then they will be asked to evaluate and grade the companies on the basis of a set of criteria. In the closing ceremony, those companies with the highest grades will be presented their graduation certificates.  

The CSR Solutions MarketPlace will be a one-day activity with 2 sessions. Through each session the participants are going to evaluate the solutions of the companies after visiting each of them one by one. There will be a ceremony after the closing speech in the Second Session that the highest graded participants are going to get their graduation certificates.

THE CONTENT

As the most creative and modern activity in Turkey’s corporate social responsibility area, the first theme of the CSR Solutions Marketplace is determined under the title “Back to School”. During the event, the participants will be expected to answer the questions and try to graduate through getting the highest grades from the visitors to whom they will present their CSR solutions.

At the end of the day the highest graded 10 participants will not only be rewarded with CSR Diplomas but also have opportunity to transfer their CSR know-how to other companies and stakeholders.

 

CSR CRITERIA:

The center of attention on CSR Solutions that will be introduced in the CSR Solutions MarketPlace will be in the light of the publications as European Road Map for Business and European Alliance on CSR. The Content of CSR Solutions Criteria will be as follows.

• Creative Product Solutions
• Environment
• Communication and Reporting
• Equal Opportunity and Diversity
• Governance
• Stakeholder Engagement
• Skills Development
• Integration of CSR Solutions into Business Practices

The CSR solutions to be evaluated in CSR Solutions MarketPlace will be based on the criteria mentioned below:

• Creativity
• Equal Opportunities and Diversity
• Communication and Transparency
• Health and Security
• Stakeholder Participation
• Talent and Competency Development
• Leadership and Governance

THE SELECTION OF CSR SOLUTIONS

Participation to the CSR Solutions MarketPlace will be limited with 3 people representing each company and the members of the ‘Selection Committee’. The best CSR Solutions will be chosen transparently, democraticly and objectively evaluated. CSR solutions will be CSR-focused only as every company having the same quantity of participants. By inspiring the other firms with successful CSR applications you will also have the privilege to improve your vision.