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Multinationals, CSR and Partnerships in Central African Conflict Countries

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  • Ans Kolk
  • François Lenfant

Abstract

Attention has increased for the potential role of multinational enterprises (MNEs) in helping address conflict issues and/or furthering peace and reconciliation as part of their corporate social responsibility (CSR) policies. However, while existing literature emphasises the importance for MNEs to collaborate with various stakeholders, including non‐governmental organizations (NGOs), research on the scope, peculiarities, and impact of such cooperation has been limited, particularly in those countries in Central Africa with a fragile state and weak governance structure. Furthermore, until recently, MNEs and NGOs in conflict countries had antagonistic relationships, which have created impediments for positive engagement. This paper examines MNEs and conflict issues, including interactions with NGOs, and sheds light on possible MNE contributions to peaceful societies by highlighting a few innovative partnerships of MNEs and non‐business partners in Central Africa. Innovative partnerships take the conflict context into account, have a learning or capacity‐building component, are part of a more comprehensive development plan yet are embedded at the community level, and tackle issues directly related to the conflict, such as governance, human rights, artisanal mining, and transparency. The paper also discusses implications of such activities for the role of the state in fragile contexts. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment.

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  • Ans Kolk & François Lenfant, 2013. "Multinationals, CSR and Partnerships in Central African Conflict Countries," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 20(1), pages 43-54, January.
  • Handle: RePEc:wly:corsem:v:20:y:2013:i:1:p:43-54
    DOI: 10.1002/csr.1277
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    23. Fuisz-Kehrbach, Sonja-Katrin, 2015. "A three-dimensional framework to explore corporate sustainability activities in the mining industry: Current status and challenges ahead," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 46(P1), pages 101-115.
    24. Pereira, Vijay & Tuffour, James & Patnaik, Swetketu & Temouri, Yama & Malik, Ashish & Singh, Sanjay Kumar, 2021. "The quest for CSR: Mapping responsible and irresponsible practices in an intra-organizational context in Ghana’s gold mining industry," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 135(C), pages 268-281.
    25. Tassilo Schuster & Dirk Holtbrügge, 2014. "Benefits of Cross‐sector Partnerships in Markets at the Base of the Pyramid," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 23(3), pages 188-203, March.

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