- 2007 Alcan Prize for Sustainability awarded to Utthan Centre
- IBLF sponsors first sustainable guidelines for hotel industry
- more IBLF news
- Crossing Borders: face-to-face with development initiatives
- The Business of Enterprise - Meeting the Challenge of Economic Development Through Business and Community Partnerships
- more IBLF publications
Effective corporate responsibility practices can contribute to the development of sustainable and equitable democracies in the Western Balkans.
In particular the development of successful partnerships can help to bridge the gap between the business and civil society agenda.
IBLF’s focus in the Western Balkans region is Croatia, Bosnia & Herzegovina and Serbia.
IBLF works in these countries to promote the role of business as part of solution to development and partnership, through:
- Advocacy and awareness-raising
- Capacity and institution building
- Business engagement
Advocacy and awareness-raising
IBLF advocates business role in the regeneration of the country through local media, Since 2005 IBLF has made editorial contributions to the Croatian monthly magazine Civil Society.
In 2004 IBLF co-authored the publication of a CSR Survey in Croatia.
The Partnering Toolbook, published by IBLF’s programme The Partnering Initiative has been translated in Croatian and Serbian. Find out more on The Partnering Toolbook, and download the report for free (registration required) at www.thepartneringinitiative.org. Or buy a hard copy of the English report online.
IBLF helped launch local chapters of UN Global Compact in Bosnia in 2005 and Croatia in 2007.
In 2006, IBLF facilitated workshops on Business Ethics and Governance, Strategic Community Investment: Practical Approaches for Businesses; and Employee Engagement: Practical Approaches for NGOs, for managers from business operating in Croatia as well as national and international NGOs working in the region.
For more, read IBLF helps set responsible business agenda in Croatia, and a report of the conference on the Academy for Educational Development website.
Capacity and institution building
IBLF has conducted partnership building training in Croatia for local representatives of NGOs, Business and Government: in Croatia, with a support from the Academy for Educational Development (AED) and USAID in 2004; and in 2007 in Serbia in partnership with Smart Kolektiv and the British Council.
In 2004 we organised and facilitated a UK-study visit for a group of Croatians representing different sectors of society to learn about CSR that they applied in their own setting.
In 2005 we conducted training on integrating and implementing corporate responsibility for 35 Croatian business managers at the UN System Staff College, Italy with a support of UNDP Croatia.
Peter Brew, IBLF’s director of responsible business practices, has taught an MBA module at CBA Business School in Croatia since 2005.
In 2007 we delivered a two day capacity-building programme for corporate managers wanting to start an employee community engagement programme.
Business engagement
In April 2006 the Croatian company Podravka joined IBLF as a Council Supporter. For more, read Podravka becomes IBLF's first Croatian Council Supporter.
In Serbia, IBLF helps promote business engagement in development through the local Responsible Business Initiative.
IBLF is also exploring opportunities to develop a responsible business leaders network in Croatia. The aim of this will be to demonstrate the business role in development, particularly in the areas of education and youth employment.