CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY- a benevolent side to Rwandan companies.

Corporate Social Responsibility (more commonly known as CSR), corporate citizenship, corporate culture, corporate this, corporate that….today’s companies have adopted a new law that involves giving- a percentage of their earnings! You may think companies are complaining, but quite the contrary- they seem quite happy to be so noble, or are they?
What is CSR? Is it important? Why should a company give a certain percentage of their profits to the public? How can a generous contribution of a company’s hard work help the company develop? According to the International Business Match (IBM) Survey that was conducted on 250 businesses world-wide, companies which outperformed their peers already showed a grasp of the benefits of a well planned, integrated CSR strategy. Such companies are more likely to collaborate to improve standards, understand their customers expectations better, and to have increased the amount of information they provide about the sourcing, composition and impact of their products, services and operations. The survey further stated that Corporate Social Responsibility helps companies to be more competitive. 68% of companies said that focusing on CSR helped them to make money, and 54 percent said that CSR helped to give them a competitive edge.
According to the Corporate Responsibility Officer( CRO) report published in 2008, on the best 100 companies of 2008, Green Mountain Coffee, a coffee provider in the USA has topped the CRO magazine as the best corporate citizen list for a second year in a row. Why? Green Mountain Coffee Roasters believes in environmental and social Stewardship. This coffee making company promotes public awareness of strong environmental, social and labor principles through support of a range of organizations. When we come down to the third world countries, we see that the concept of CSR is still relatively new. Narrowing our scope to our country, one wonders- what happens in this small but relatively fast paced country that has recently joined the East African Community- Rwanda?
Rwanda’s private sector has in recent years made an obligation to give back to the community a percentage of its earnings. Companies like BRALIRWA, MTN, BAT RWANDA, have taken various institutions under their wings and supported their initiatives by expanding ideas and building dreams. This moral obligation from corporate institutions has made causes that would have at first seemed impossible to achieve yesterday, as a possibility for tomorrow. Today’s statistics show that about 18% of the business sector has attempted in one way or another to  participate or exceptionally commit to giving back to the community.
Central sectors in Rwanda’s economy like health, education , business arena and the informal sectors have also received significant assistance from the corporate companies. If we can take a minute to look at the various CSRs done by companies today, we can start with Rwanda’s leading Brewery BRALIRWA which put together 12 000 000 FRW (Twelve Million Rwandan Francs)worth of vouchers for any child who found a prize claim during the Coca Cola promotion that took place earlier this year. They showed an initiative to promote the youth in all levels of education through financial support. Other companies that have created a positive impact in the Rwandan society and have actively participated in various activities geared at achieving social progress include; British American Tobacco Rwanda (BAT-Rwanda) through the commitment of the Gorilla Conservation Programme and MTN Rwanda’s various support schemes. And like all these corporate companies, BCR also plays a fair role in the social development of the country. “ We are a business, that grows everyday, and as we grow, we strongly believe in taking the environment we live in up the road of development and a better wellbeing. That is the essence of Corporate Social responsibility.” said Hannington NAMARA, BCR’s marketing manager.
The Commercial Bank of Rwanda (BCR) has explored various segments of Rwanda’s environment, taking to consideration those that have shown great potential, but lacked financial and organizational support. As a financial partner in business, the bank has cast its net on supporting various projects that focus on the growth and development of the Small and Medium Enterprises(SMEs).Through the good relationship built with CAPMER – Le Centre de Petit et Moyens Entreprises  du Rwanda, BCR has planned for twice a year sensitization seminars that have proven to be successful. Through this, opportunities for financial support and business initiatives have been created and supported, such as ASPIRE Rwanda, a company that provides venture capital support to businessmen with good ideas but no collateral. This has led to a positive twist in building businesses in Rwanda.
CSR activities.
BCR has invested a lot in supporting the Private Sector Federation(PSF) and Rwanda Investment Enterprenuers Promotion Agency (RIEPA) in their causes in bridging the gaps between local and foreign Rwandans, and also encouraging foreign investment into the country. Through the quarterly showcasing conferences and seminars, RIEPA in partnership with various members of the Private Sector, including BCR, has seen to the progress in the country’s development.
As we watch the commercial industry grow, one cannot help but notice that the business environment has a large percentage of women under its wings. To this end, the First Lady’s IMBUTO Foundation hosted the, “Young Rwandan Women Achievers” competition that brought together women from all scopes of lives and scenes together to celebrate their successes. BCR was proud to be part of this initiative and rendered full support to its success.
On a more social scene, Art and Culture are of great focus to the bank. In the catalogue compiled by one of Rwanda’s best paint and sculpture artists, Epa BINAMUNGU’s ,  Rwandan Contemporary Art, BCR Managing Director, David KUWANA gave his comments on the relationship between Art and business, “Art is an intuitive understanding of the world in its many facets. Togetherness, protection and progress are recurring themes in his (Epa Binamungu) images. These are clear symbols of a strong, confident and successful country which are a fine definition of Rwanda, her people and businesses.”
The promotion of Art in Rwanda was a 2006/07 initiative that has brought an enormous amount of recognition to this unexploited arena. This support has also helped promote talent through various the Art for Peace Competition that saw the winners of the competitions not only exhibit their magnificent art pieces, but also were awarded with an opportunity to expand their talents with financial support(750 000 FRW) and a trip to meet the best of the best in the World of Art.

Rwanda’s health sector was also boosted by BCR. In 2007, the newly built Kibagabaga Hospital was in the process of opening different units within the hospital. BCR was humbled with the opportunity to promote health in Rwanda through the provision of a fully equipped maternal unit, with machinery ranging from incubators to operational items -a better hospital, a healthier country. As we go further into other sectors, we cannot forget the bank’s participation in Education. During the AISEC seminar that was held in Rwanda, BCR joined other companies as headline sponsor, where they had an opportunity to talk to students in The School of Finance and Banking (SFB) about the various career opportunities that Rwanda offered. BCR opened the floor to the students, showing them how the company operated and what chances they should be looking for in order be a part of the company. In addition to this, BCR has also provided financial support to the best students in all the universities in Rwanda, an initiative that is made every year ever since its privatization in 2005.

 “One of the bank’s main principles is that the business and civil society do not work against each other, but with each other. These are complementary factors that cannot survive without the other.” Said Hannington Namara, BCR’s Marketing Manager, “ It is important to understand the value addition that the surroundings around you provide to your institution as a whole. BCR’s foundation is its staff, stakeholders, business partners and the most important of all, customers. And our customers consist of the larger percentage of the general public.”Namara went on to add, “What better way to appreciate their support to the business of banking than through supporting initiatives that not only provide individual growth and development, but also economic wealth for the country as a whole?”  
 SURF RWANDA
Survivors’ Rwanda is a very important initiative that brings together orphaned children who are survivors of the genocide, to live together in family groups as child headed families. The children are then put under an education program where they learn to excel, and build a future for themselves.
“When SURF RWANDA approached us, we were humbled to be part of such a cause.” Said Sandra UWERA, BCR’s external relations officer, “ BCR is part of a country that takes its people as a priority for growth and development, we see to the restructuring and initial development of child headed families, as a step forward into a stronger, more capable future for our country’s people.”

The history of BCR’s donations does not only show conformity to the bank’s principles but it also shows high compatibility between the scope of donation and the goal of BCR’s CSR. To this end, bank has generously donated towards improving the life of the most vulnerable people and the situation of sectors that have a larger impact in the Rwandan society. Orphans and children affected by HIV/Aids, refugee society, education and health sectors and Genocide associations are so far among the beneficiaries of the donations.

Statistics available at the bank’s head offices shows that 30 associations benefited from BCR’s CSR programme in the year 2007. They include; Rwandan scouts Association, Rwanda Tennis Federations, Kigali City, RIEPA Sponsorships (1st Quarter),CAPMER, Rwanda Film Festival, Higher Institutions of Education such as KIST, KIE, UNR, Surf Rwanda (houses), Africa Leasing Corporation, Rwanda Marathon Club, IMBUTO foundation, Musanze district and others. One of the highlights this year, is the support of the Rwanda Rugby Federation, to kickstart an initiative to promote the sport in the country.

CSR –the way forward.
In today’s environment the concept of Corporate Social Responsibility has put many in  the levels of business, on a platform that demands a moral and professional obligation to one’s society and its individuals. Managers in business have realized that a company’s reputation lies in the hands of the people it serves. The CSR strategy is a sure indicator of a company’s successful turnaround and how it shows appreciation by allowing others to enjoy a piece of it.
Well, now we know how companies manage the business processes-by ensuring that these business processes produce an overall positive impact to society. Today, we  look at BCR , MTN, BRALIRWA as one of the prime examples of Corporate citizenship, tomorrow, we shall see other players in the world of business doing the same or even better than this bank. This makes you wonder- who’s next?

The Minister of Culture, Joseph Habineza, looks on after awarding a certificate to one of the winners of the BCR sponsored Art for Peace Competition, Kigali, Rwanda.

BCR team members talking to students at the AISEC career day seminar, held in the School of Finance and Banking(SFB) premises, this year.

The children of Niboyi PEACE VILLAGE, one of SURF Rwanda’s numerous projects.

The Rwandan Rugby team players, cheering at the end of a good game.