Corporate Social Responsibility and Development in Africa: Issues and Possibilities

Abstract

The literature on the relationship between Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and development in Africa is only just emerging, and it is characterized by a wide range of diverse perspectives. While the analysis of the CSR‐development nexus in Africa has been particularly insightful, there is often the lack of sufficiently grounded systematically accumulated empirical evidence. However, central to the CSR‐development nexus debate in Africa is the disagreement over the reimagining of the role of business from being the cause to becoming a part of the solution to the problem of underdevelopment in the region. This paper critically examines the CSR‐development nexus literature in Africa and lays bare the controversies that have so far emerged. The article engages with the drivers of CSR, its dynamics and nature within Africa. It then examines the debate of whether or not contextual factors matters for CSR and its relationship with development. Crucially, it identifies differences between proponents of CSR is good for development and those that share opposing views at the conceptual, practical, and discourse levels. The paper concludes by considering the emerging issues and its implications for future research agenda.

Corporate Social Responsibility in SMEs: A Shift from Philanthropy to Institutional Works?

“…However, large firms, especially MNCs, are often socio-culturally detached from the communities they operate in, and rely on preconceived notions of engagement, which lack sufficient appreciation of the local context and stakeholder expectations (Idemudia, 2014). In contrast, our study shows that CSR by SMEs, although limited in financial resources and power, presents a useful means of understanding how CSR can help confront institutional dilemmas in subtle ways which improve business-society interaction and promote public responsibility.…”

“…Given the relatively less developed nature of CSR in Tanzania (see Idemudia, 2014), archival data were first used to obtain a better understanding of the contextual situation in Tanzania prior to conducting face-to-face semi-structured interviews. Each interview took an average of one hour.…”

“…Hence, by exploring the (drivers of) CSR of SMEs in these contexts of contaminated relationships and weak institutional settings, this paper seeks to, first, contribute to the scarce literature on CSR by SMEs, and second, address the limited nature of CSR literature in Africa (Idemudia, 2014). In addition, the paper potentially offers an alternative perspective to the mainstream discourse of CSR in Africa, which has often characterised CSR as mere philanthropy (Visser, 2008;Amaeshi et al, 2006).…”

Africapitalism: A Management Idea for Business in Africa?

“…The latest to arrive among this foray of helpers are multinational corporations, which often (are forced to) take on public responsibilities in the form of corporate social responsibility. Predictably, none of these has become the panacea to the many challenges confronting the continent (see Idemudia, 2014); rather, most of them continue to flounder at the margins. The crisis of 'development' in Africa and the failure of either the state or the market to deliver has in recent years led to a call for better collaboration and partnership among the state, business, and civil society, if developmental challenges in the region are to be addressed (see Garforth, Philips and Bhatia-Panthaki, 2007;Idemudia, 2014;Richey and Ponte, 2014).…”

“…Predictably, none of these has become the panacea to the many challenges confronting the continent (see Idemudia, 2014); rather, most of them continue to flounder at the margins. The crisis of 'development' in Africa and the failure of either the state or the market to deliver has in recent years led to a call for better collaboration and partnership among the state, business, and civil society, if developmental challenges in the region are to be addressed (see Garforth, Philips and Bhatia-Panthaki, 2007;Idemudia, 2014;Richey and Ponte, 2014). While the 1980s and 1990s were generally seen as the 'lost decades' for development in most parts of the region, Africa is now supposedly on the rise (see The Economist, 2011; see also Carmody, 2008).…”