Faculty
If Global Poverty is the Question, then CSR is Not the Answer October 17, 2007
Ann Bernstein
Executive Director, Centre for Development and Enterprise, Johannesburg, South Africa
Description: Ann is working on a new book about “business and the battle of ideas - a voice from the developing south.“ One part of the book is a critique of current notions of CSR which have been largely designed by and driven by the interests of northern international NGOs and the response to them by northern corporations — and as such are principally oriented to appealing to northern INGO's, donors and executives within international corporations who are worried about attacks from activists. Since much of this activity nonetheless takes place in (or has impacts upon) the southern part of the globe, Ann seeks to shift the discussion about business and its role in society in a new direction — one that is cognizant of the real challenges of development in poorer countries, that is beneficial to developing country governments and their citizens and that builds on a positive view of business and its role in building 'the good society'. Please join us for what promises to be a lively debate about the underlying assumptions, orientation, and impacts of CSR as we currently know it … and what might be done to change it.
Biography: Ann Bernstein is the founding director of the Centre for Development and Enterprise, one of South Africa's leading policy think tanks and one with a unique relationship with business. Throughout her career, she has held leadership positions in the arena of economic development, including as executive director of the Urban Foundation, South Africa's largest business funded NGO at the time; board member of the Development Bank of Southern Africa; and board member of the Brenthurst Foundation which promotes Africa's economic development. She has received numerous prestigious fellowships and awards and has published extensively on business, democracy, development and policy–making in South Africa.
Register: Registration is closed for this event.
