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Summer School Corporate Social Responsibility in the light of EU Georgian Association

Agreement new challenges and new opportunities for Georgian business
Concept Paper
Background information:
Corporate social responsibility (CSR) is an issue of global relevance in the modern world. Particular
attention is paid to the development of corporate social responsibility in EU. European Commission sees
CSR as a part of the business contribution to sustainable development, as CSR has the potential to
contribute to various common goals, such as social cohesion, economic competitiveness, poverty
eradication, creation of jobs, improvement of working conditions, guaranteeing of the rights of
employees, and a more rational use of natural resources. Thus, CSR is high on the EU agenda. The
European Commission and European Parliament implement active and effective policies for endorsing
and further developing CSR.
Georgias general vector for Euro-integration, which urges us to more actively comprehend and
implement European models and activity standards, inevitably leads to increase of the importance
assigned to CSR.
On 27 June 2014 the EU and Georgia signed an Association Agreement, which aims to significantly
deepen political and economic ties between the signatories with a long-term perspective of closer political
association and economic integration. This imposes new obligations and also opens the whole range of
new opportunities to the country as a whole and business sector among others, as to one of the major and
most influential players in Georgian economy. At many instances these new challenges and opportunities
for business companies will be strongly linked to further development and sophistication of their
corporate social responsibility (CSR) and adhering to international standards of responsible business
conduct.
Requirement to encourage responsible business practices and foster development of CSR as a tool for
achieving sustainability goals is addressed in several articles of the Association Agreement. Besides, the
separate themes, such as environmental protection, consumer rights, labour standards and employment
relations, which constitute the main elements of corporate social responsibility, are treated independently
in several chapters of the Agreement.
Therefore EU- Georgia association agreement constitutes a new and a powerful driver for Georgian
companies to more actively embed CSR standards into their business strategies. Addressing new
challenges and opportunities provided by the further integration of Georgia into EU internal market (in
line with preferential trade regime introduced by the Agreement) will be fundamental for the Georgian
companies to achieve sustainable growth and success in the coming years.
The present summer school has been designed with the view of the above situation. The organizers would
like this program to contribute to proper understanding of implications of the Association Agreement for
the private sector, and understanding of concept and importance of CSR in this context, as well as make
strong impact on the development of CSR practices in Georgia.
Organizers: The Summer School is organized by the Centre for Strategic Research and Development of
Georgia (CSRDG) and Nadacia Pontis, in frames of the international project: Enhancing Sustainability
and Engagement of Civil Society in EaP and V4 Region through CSR Agenda. The project is implemented

in six countries (Slovakia, Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Georgia and Belarus) with the financial
support of International Visegrad Fund.
Main objectives of the Summer school
The objectives of the Summer School is to enable professionals from both local and international
companies operating in Georgia to:

understand and better manage the challenges and opportunities opened by EU-Georgia
Association Agreement as related to CSR development;
maximize the benefits of CSR in ensuring long term success and sustainability of the company
create additional value for their companies by mastering development of responsible business
practices and making CSR a part of the companys core business strategy
exchange experience from practical implementation of the responsible practices and provide case
for the economic benefits of CSR

The Summer School will present experience of the new EU member states from Central and Eastern
Europe, which have accessed European Union in a relatively recent past (and being countries transitional
economies, have much more in common with Georgia), as well as experience of well-developed western
European countries, where CSR culture is flourishing for decades.
Format: the summer school will encompass the series of practical, result-oriented workshop sessions,
combining lecture format with practical tasks and discussions.
Speakers/trainers: eight high profile speakers from Georgia and EU countries (Slovakia, Poland,
Hungary, UK) with general knowledge in the area of CSR as well as in specific issues (labour,
environment, consumers rights, transparency and reporting).
Audience: The Summer School will involve around 18 participants, representing local and international
business companies (medium and large enterprises) operating in Georgia and few representatives of
specialized media.
The applicants are requested to submit the following:
1. Completed application (application form is attached)
2. Letter from companys CEO / supervisor, nominating applicant for the training, and attesting that
he/she will be present for the full length of the training and implement the knowledge in
companys communications (draft letter attached).
Participants will be selected by international board based on submitted applications. The companys
current and potential engagement in CSR issues will be the principal criterion for the selection.
One person per company may apply.
Venue: The Summer School will be held in Georgia, Lopota Lake Resort. All the participants costs
will be covered, and transportation will be provided.
Dates: July 1-2-3, 2016.
Working languages: Georgian and English (simultaneous translation will be provided).
The deadline for submission of applications is June 15, 2016.