IBLF - Russia

RUSSIA

In Russia, IBLF has a representative office in Moscow.

Mission

The mission of IBLF Russia is to promote and facilitate the responsible conduct of business with the aim of ensuring the stable and sustainable social and economic development of Russia.

IBLF's primary focus in Russia is to design and implement projects which demonstrate responsible business practices in action. Working closely with the senior management of its member companies, IBLF helps put in practice corporate strategies directed at the growth of the company, industry and society as a whole.

Our range of company-backed projects focuses on safety at work and healthy lifestyles in the community, youth employability, entrepreneurship and creating an attractive investment climate by improving business standards.

The Russia Partnership

IBLF Russia has a local membership organisation made up of leading Russian companies and multinationals, the Russia Partnership for Responsible Business Practices.

The Russia Partnership offers its members the following benefits:

Promote responsible business in Russia and raise public awareness. The Russia Partnership facilitates a constructive dialogue between business, government and the community, through conferences, meetings with business leaders and articles in the Russian press.
Provide advice to companies on their social strategy. The Russia Partnership helps company senior executives formulate their social strategies in line with the company’s commercial priorities and the needs of the local community.
Design and implement corporate social projects. The Russia Partnership helps companies identify local and international partners to participate in various social projects, conducts monitoring of projects and brings international best practices to project management.
Offer training programmes. The Russia Partnership’s world-class training programmes, especially adapted for Russia, cover project management, basic principles of socially responsible business, and cross-sector partnership seminars for business, NGOs, and local authorities.

Projects

IBLF Russia has four main areas of activity: Health, Youth, Business Standards and Environment. For further details, please go to www.iblf.ru :

Health: In conjunction with IBLF's HEAL Global Partnership, this project promotes increased awareness and good practices to combat bad health habits and injuries in Russia. The initiative has focused so far on health in the workplace. IBLF organises regular meetings of the Business for a Healthy Society working group which is comprised of Heads of Health and Safety of 40 companies and, with the help of the World Bank, has introduced a "Health Audit" methodology. A new initiative in 2008, led by Philips and Johnson & Johnson, will focus on the role business can play in helping the public at large lead healthier lives.

Youth: IBLF Russia has organised an alliance with the Ministry of Finance and the Association of Regional Banks to promote financial literacy amongst young people. Specific programmes include the creation of a web-site on financial literacy (sponsored by Citi Group and Visa) and a microcredit scheme in Kaluga (funded by ABN-Amro and Oxfam, and co-organised with IBLF's global Youth Business International programme). Young Business Leaders Forum (YBLF) is an informal gathering of young leaders from Russian companies and multinationals which aims to develop a new generation of professional and socially aware business leaders in Russia.

Business standards: Round-tables on "Corporate Governance in Practice" for senior executives in 2007 resulted in a book of case studies "Raising Business Standards in Russia". This was also the topic of discussion at the Second annual IBLF Russian Business Summit which was hosted by the London Stock Exchange. In 2008, IBLF is organising in the Russian regions a Road Show on good business practices, "Through Companies' Eyes". The programme is supported by United Energy System and a number of Russian and multinational companies.

Environment: A new programme starting in 2008, "Business and the Environment" will bring together Directors of Environment, to discuss best practices in Environmental risk management. The programme is supported by United Energy System, EBRD and others.