United Nations Development Programme Jamaica

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Private Sector Organization of Jamaica (PSOJ) recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that establishes a partnership to encourage Corporate Social Responsibility.

The MOU was signed on July 21, 2008, by Dr. Dunstan Campbell, Resident Representative a.i. UNDP, acting on behalf of Resident Representative Mr. Minh Pham; and Mrs. Sandra Glasgow, CEO of the PSOJ.

The areas of cooperation included in the Memorandum of Understanding are (i) Promotion of Corporate Social Responsibility among the Jamaican private sector; (ii) Promotion of a UNDP-Private Sector Co-Financing Facility to support key development projects being undertaken by the UNDP and its partners; and (iii) Promotion of the UN Global Compact to the Jamaican private sector.

Corporate Social Responsibility is good for business growth as it fosters an environment of trust, mutual cooperation for the greater good and strengthens workers’ as well as customer's affinity and loyalty to companies, says Ms. Carol Narcisse, UNDP Partnership, Resource Mobilization & Communication Advisor. Ms. Narcisse said further that All of Jamaican citizens, including its corporate citizens, have a responsibility to collaborate for its sustainable human, social, environmental and economic development.

This she said will help to foster peace and security by positively impacting the condition of life of the citizenry. Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is internationally recognized as a critical input in efforts to achieve sustainable human, social and environmental development, as well as to foster sound and sustainable economic development.

In keeping with this recognition, the United Nations launched its Global Compact on 26 July, 2000, an initiative that aims to advance responsible corporate citizenship so that business can be part of the solution to the challenges of globalization. The Global Compact encourages participants to engage in partnership projects with UN agencies and civil society organizations in support of critical development goals. With thousands of participants from more than 100 countries, the Global Compact has since become the world's largest voluntary corporate citizenship initiative.

The UNDP is making a concerted outreach to the Jamaican private sector to increase awareness of and involvement in CSR towards sustainable development in Jamaica. Independently of UNDP, the PSOJ has embarked on a programme to sensitize its members to Corporate Social Responsibility through the Imagine Jamaica initiative. With this common goal, both agencies recognize that their partnership will maximize reach and impact.

The UNDP is specifically seeking to create private sector partnerships in support of projects it is financing in the areas of poverty reduction, good governance inclusive of peace, justice and violence/crime reduction, environment and disaster management, states Ms. Narcisse.The PSOJ is a natural ally as it's 200 plus members represent major sectors of the Jamaican private sector. Based on the newly signed MOU, the UNDP supported the PSOJ's awareness raising corporate luncheon promoting Corporate Social Responsibility.

Specific projects for possible support were presented, including the UNDP financed Jamaica Sustainable Peace and Development Project (JSPD) aimed at fostering community safety and violence reduction.

The UNDP-PSOJ partnership will support the work of Imagine Jamaica to present CSR training events as well as several opportunities for corporate Jamaica to partner with the UNDP.

Some specific activities envisioned as part of the UNDP-PSOJ cooperation include Training/Sensitization events with corporate entities; Direct agency outreach and follow-up; Development of a CSR kit; Direct promotion of Co-financing opportunities to private sector entities, conclusion of Co-Financing Agreements with individual companies and creation of a PSOJ web link to UN Global Compact website. The first phase of the MOU ends in January 2009.

Through this partnership the UNDP and PSOJ will encourage private companies to invest in the social, environmental and human development of Jamaica, thus fostering a more conducive environment for economic advancement, improving the lives of Jamaican citizens and building higher levels of social cohesion and trust.

Jamaicans can get involved by contacting UNDP directly, and/or urging their companies to institute a CSR programme inclusive of a volunteer programme for staff.

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