Who We Are

Formed in 2001 by the executive of the Tema Municipal Youth Coalition (TEMYC), the Corporate Social Responsibility Movement (CSRM) is a Tema based advocacy movement that is at the forefront of promoting corporate social and environmental responsibility locally.  CSRM is convinced that profit maximization should not be the companies’ single objective, and that corporate social responsibility (CSR) is an important factor to render production efficient. A company that is acting responsibly attracts skilled workers and makes it easier for employees to both identify with the employer and to work harder.

Our Mission

CSRM's objectives are as follows:

1. To advocate for companies to contribute to the overall growth of the communities in which they operate;

2. To advocate for companies to clean when they pollute;

3. To advocate for corporate compliance to existing laws;

4. To advocate for transparency in companies operation and reporting.

In order to achieve these aims, CSRM engages companies in stakeholder dialogues with communities and state institutions. In addition, CSRM tries to use the mass media as a tool for better dissemination of information. To ensure the sustainability of the Movement, CSRM establishes support groups in schools as base structures.

Collaboration with FES (Germany)

The Friedrich Ebert Foundation (in German: Friedrich Ebert Stiftung, or FES) supports CSRM in two ways:

1. FES directly supports efforts made by CSRM to convince enterprises to act responsibly; and

2. FES organizes internal training programmes for capacity building and media relations.

In collaboration with FES, the Movement e.g. organized several events predominantly dealing with the protection and restoration of the Chemu Lagoon in Tema. CSRM organized a news conference and a workshop for Assembly Members as well as seminars and a stakeholder dialogue. All these programmes were on the Chemu Lagoon. Highlights of this collaboration are two TV documentaries concerning CSRM activities on the Chemu Lagoon.

Aiming at the parliamentary election campaigns in 2004, CSRM invites parliamentary candidates from Tema for public platforms to discuss issues of environmental degradation, environment protection and other areas of corporative social responsibility.

Collaboration with Revitalization Institute (USA)

In July of 2005, CSRM joined the Partner Network of Revitalization Institute, the alliance for community renewal and natural resource restoration. Revitalization Institute supports CSRM in three ways:

1. Tools & Education: Revitalization Institute's Integrated Revitalization Initiative has developed strategic tools to help communities and regions design economic growth programs based primarily on renewing built and natural assets. They offer 3 schools to train community leaders and private developers in the use of these tools;

2. Regional Initiatives: Revitalization Institute helps local NGOs such as CSRM create Regional Revitalization Initiative (such as a possible one for Chemu Lagoon), which can assemble diverse public and private stakeholders around an agenda that everyone can agree on: more jobs, more-productive natural resources, better public health, and a higher quality of life;

3. Web Site: Revitalization Institute created, hosts, and maintains this web site for CSRM at no cost to us.

Internships now available! (announced May 2007). Download Word document to learn more.

CSRM Ghana