FE Report

Prof Wahidudin Mahmud on Thursday underlined the need for effective tripartite partnership involving the government, private sector and non-government organisations (NGOs) to help address the issues of food insecurity and child malnutrition.

Speaking at a roundtable on 'Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)-Focusing Food Security and Child Hunger' at a city hotel, the noted economist said: "The cost of hunger, the silent disaster, affecting 65 million people in Bangladesh needs greater understanding and appreciation."

The United Nations' World Food Programme (WFP), in partnership with The Financial Express (FE), organised the event with an objective to mobilise corporate partners and stimulate policy debate around Millennium Development Goal (MDG) prospects especially those addressing child malnutrition and hunger issues.

WFP Representative John Aylieff, Head of Global Financial Sector of WFP Brett Rierson, Chairman of Policy Research Institute Dr Zaidi Sattar and corporate representatives spoke on the occasion. Editor of the FE Moazzem Hossain also attended the discussion.

Dr. Mahmud who chaired the programme expressed the hope that the commitment and experience shared in the roundtable would make a positive contribution to initiating innovative and cost-effective solution to the interwined problems of food insecurity and child malnutrition. He highlighted the imperatives for dynamics and efficiency of CSR activities in order to reduce food insecurity and alleviate poverty, particularly the issue of hunger.

During the food crisis two years ago, poor and developing countries, he stated, took up a number of programmes to fight hunger. Bangladesh also took up various programmes that but one programme that was innovatively practised in Bangladesh was related to school feeding, covering 60 per cent of hungry children, he added.

The discussants in the seminar, including the chief of the Federation of the Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce & Industry, and the Chief Executive Officers and other leading functionaries of HSBC, Standard Chartered Bank, Citibank NA, South East Bank, Unilever, Rahim Afrooz, ACI, Nestle, GrameenPhone, Aktel and TNT, shed light on different operational aspects of CSR.

They broadly agreed that private sector and development partners have important roles in fighting poverty and advancing economic development.

Investing in human capital or in social sectors such as health, nutrition, education etc., promotes economic growth and reduces poverty and hunger, they noted.

They stressed the need for increasing effectiveness, efficiency and coverage of the CSR activities, considering the vulnerability of the ultra-poor.

Sharing regional experiences, they said the most promising innovations in fighting poverty and hunger are hybrid formula which combine the best of both public and private sectors.

In his comment on the key-note presentation, Dr Zaidi Sattar said the country will be facing a severe shortage of human resources due to widespread malnutrition. This is not acceptable for future development of the nation, he observed.

"If the problem is not addressed in time, we will be seriously handicapped physically and mentally, and productivity of the adult population would then decline," the economist said.

Dr. Sattar stated Bangladesh achieved some successes in achieving the MDG goals, particularly relating to under-five mortality rate.

CSR linkage with the MDG can work as good intervention to overcome malnutrition, hunger, vitamin deficiency and so on, he added.

The CSR practices in the country can be modified with innovative interventions to help achieve the MDG goals, he added.

In his key-note presentation, Brett Rierson cited some examples of CSR, carried out by some of the global corporate houses and their win-win situation. Globally private sector is playing a greater role, serving as a catalyst in the fight against hunger and malnutrition to build a better tomorrow for the children, he added.

"Their service innovations are now leading to social innovation as we stand together fighting hunger worldwide," Rierson noted.

In the discussions at the roundtable, the representatives of business houses focused on their respective activities covering both philanthropic and business operation. A good part of such activities are centered on education and future market promotion, he added.

Participants agreed on the need for linking CSR activities with development programmes to help lift millions of people out of extreme poverty in a way that is sustainable.

Earlier in his opening speech, John Aylieff, WFP Representative in Bangladesh, said: "This is the time to seriously explore effective partnership. It seems that a CSR programme with strong links to mainstream development programmes is most effective in reducing poverty and hunger in a sustainable manner. As the world's largest humanitarian organisation, WFP welcomes all efforts and creative initiatives to help the hungry poor."

Expressing his gratitude to all participants in the wrap-up session, he called for concerted efforts through forming a corporate alliance against hunger to address the problems of malnutrition and hunger in Bangladesh.

In his key-note presentation, Brett Rierson, Senior officer, Private Partnerships, WFP, noted that the service innovation by private sector are now leading to social innovation globally.

Summing up the discussions, Prof Mahmud, a former adviser to the caretaker government, observed, market system will collapse if corporate entities focus alone on philanthropic activities because the prime goal of the business is to maximise profit. "Businesses should not go beyond their core competence and get involved in philanthropy alone," he remarked.

If a corporate body improves a product quality, it is also part of CSR. Mentioning the example of MacDonald, he said the company has modified its business model by focusing on product quality and health standard.