Orientation programme stresses proper CSR fund utilisation

Development organisations can play a key role in proper utilisation of corporate social responsibility (CSR) funds in social development that can be attained through effective linkage between NGOs and the corporate sector.
The observation came at a two-day orientation programme on linking CSR with NGOs that ended on Sunday, according to a press statement.
Management and Resources Development Initiative (MRDI) organised the programme involving the chief executives and representatives of 14 NGOs from across the country with support from Manusher Jonno Foundation.
Participants were oriented on how NGOs working at grassroots level can approach the corporate sector to support their development initiatives under CSR programmes, addressing the needs and priorities of the community. They also received orientation on various techniques of achieving this objective.
Two main objectives of the programme were to find ways of how to utilise CSR money as alternative sources of funding; and to identify corporate views on their priorities for CSR operations.
The orientation covered conceptual aspects and operational experiences of CSR from different perspectives. Techniques and approaches of receiving and operating CSR funds were also discussed.
Shitangshu Kumar Sur Chowdhury, general manager of Bangladesh Bank, Hasibur Rahman, executive director of MRDI, Syed Ishtiaque Reza, head of news of Boishakhi Television, M Emamul Haque, head of external relations of World Food Programme (WFP), Murad Husain, business support and CSR manager of Rahimafrooz Ltd, Mekhola Haque, corporate affairs manager of Novartis (Bangladesh) Ltd, and Korvi Rakshand, founder chairman of Jaago Foundation, facilitated different sessions of the programme as resource persons.
Farzana Naim, director (governance) of Manusher Jonno Foundation, attended the closing session.