Using Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) as a Tool to achieve Public Policy Objectives in Ethiopia: Comparative Perspectives and Lessons

Abstract

 Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) has been given a variety of definitions by different scholars, international organizations, government bodies and business entities. Despite this, everyone agrees on its vital importance in integrating environmental, social, economic, political and other concerns of the society into the corporate operations, values, culture, decision-making, strategy and agendas. Likewise, in cognizant of its great importance for the achievement of public policy objectives, many countries have promoted CSR by employing different mechanisms such as formulating separate CSR policies, enacting CSR laws, preparing guidelines for the promotion of CSR on voluntary basis, employing incentives (fiscal and financial) and awards/certificates of recognition, establishing institutions devoted for the promotion and implementation of CSR, and Mainstreaming CSR in to different policies and operations of governmental authorities. However, the Government of Ethiopia has not promoted CSR to the required extent so as to make the best out of it. This article is, thus, mainly devoted to show some selected international experience on CSR in comparison with the case in Ethiopia and draw lessons so that the Ethiopian government can make the best of CSR in achieving public policy objectives.