The region's foremost CSR experts will come together next month to tackle the transformation of corporate social responsibility into a truly sustainable business practice. Experts from the Community Development Authority - Dubai Government, the United Nations World Food Program, Emirates Foundation, Jumeirah Group, Zayed University and DP World will share their ideas and opinions on how to renovate CSR ideas and agendas in the Middle East at the 12th edition of CSR Summit, brought to you by Etisalat. Running on MAy 18-21 at The Address Hotel in Dubai Marina, the summit will act as the platform for new details to be revealed by the UN World Food Program's Sustainable Development Goals initiative, which is set to form the basis of the NGO's future CSR activities. Ashraf Hamouda, Head of Partnerships and Government Relations at the United Nations World Food Program, said: “CSR has developed over the years from a philanthropic concept to a business model. And in turn, consumers have become smarter and are able to turn public opinion towards a corporation or a product if they are perceived as ‘doing good' or ‘doing bad'. “It is imperative, therefore, that the CSR program is both beneficial and impactful to all stakeholders, shareholders and the local community as well as employees. During my presentation at this year's CSR Summit, I will outline the difference between the UN's Millennium Development Goals and its Sustainable Development Goals, but most importantly will identify how to make CSR programs much more impactful than they currently are.” The opening day of the CSR Summit will feature a government keynote address by Andrés Franco, Deputy Director at UNICEF, who will discuss its CSR business approach when working with companies in the CSR arena. More than 30 international and regional experts will be speaking at the event, including Shaima Al Zarooni, CEO of the International Humanitarian City in Dubai, Manish Tiwary, Managing Director at Unilever Gulf, Clare Woodcraft-Scott, CEO at Emirates Foundation, and Ayman Mokhtar, General Manager - Gulf Countries & Yemen at SANOFI. The four-day event will also include speed networking sessions, live interactive voting for the best social initiative, an NGO-focus hub and CSR boot-camps to transfer learning into actionable strategies. — SG
