Ethical Corporation - Business/NGO Partnerships and Engagement conference in Washington DC

9.00-9.15 Chair for the day: The DAI Group, Co-Director of the Global Business Solutions, Kristi Ragan

9.15 – 9.45 Keynote: The future of partnering

Barry Clarke, Chairman of the International Save the Children Alliance

9.45 – 10.30 Keynote: Supply chain labor issues: What does it take to make a difference?

Nike is the largest sports and fitness company in the world. As a global company, it is committed to continually improving its corporate responsibility initiatives.

In this visionary Keynote Address we focus on what it will take to create positive – and dramatic - change in working conditions in the footwear, apparel and equipment industries.

You’ll hear ideas, suggestions and recommendations that are relevant to every business:

• How can an entire sector work together on supply chain labor issues that are impossible for any single company to tackle alone?

• What are the limitations of these approaches?

• What’s the next step – and how do we reach it?

Nike, Vice-President, Corporate Responsibility, Hannah Jones

10.30 - 11.00 Extended Networking and Exhibition Break

11.00 – 12.15 Panel Discussion: NGO Accountability: Is there a case for greater transparency?

The Sarbanes-Oxley Act has raised the bar on corporate disclosure laws, with significantly higher standards of corporate transparency and accountability now required. So in this initial session, we’ll get you up-to-speed on the daunting task of ensuring your organization operations are fully Sarbanes-Oxley compliant.

Then we’ll flip the coin, and you’ll be able to investigate the case for NGO accountability: Should nonprofits be required to conform to equally demanding standards of disclosure?

For instance, should humanitarian NGOs always observe their own codes of conduct in crisis situations – even if doing so means lives could be lost?

Listen to the five provocative presentations, and then make up your own mind. You’ll hear contrasting views from executives at:

• The Nature Conservancy: International nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving the diversity on life on earth by protecting the lands and waters needed for survival.
• The Corporate Library: Independent investment research firm specializing in corporate governance data, analysis & risk assessment tools.
• The Copenhagen Center: Independent think-tank established by the Danish Government to investigate new social partnerships and CSR initiatives.
• SustainAbility: Independent think-tank, experts in corporate responsibility and sustainable development.
• The William James Foundation: Non-profit organization that seeks out, sponsors and provides access to start-up capital for new business enterprises committed to the highest principles of CSR.

The Nature Conservancy, Chief Administrative Officer, Stephanie K. Meeks

The Copenhagen Centre, Director, Programme Manager, Jette Steen Knudsen

SustainAbility, Senior Advisor, Katie Fry Hester

The William James Foundation, Executive Director, Jonathan Cohen

The Corporate Library, editor, Nell Minow

12:15- 1:30 Lunch

1.30 – 2.15 Panel Discussion & Case Study: Successful partnerships: Where do governments fit in?

Are governments doing enough to encourage Business/NGO partnerships? Here’s your chance to learn more, by way of a powerful example from Canada.

The Clean Air Strategic Alliance was initiated by the provincial government to bring together all stakeholders to address air quality issues in Alberta. Find out about this ambitious project – and how the lessons learned can be applied to other Business/NGO/Government schemes:

• How easy is it for government, industry and NGOs such as health and environment groups to work together?
• How do you agree a shared vision and mission?
• What are the difficulties?
• What has CASA achieved?
• How easy would it be to replicate this model to tackle other issues such as water?

Donna Tingley, Executive Director, CASA

2.15 - 2.45 Extended Networking and Exhibition Break

2.45 – 3.45

Case Study & Discussion:

Such a Long Journey: Tackling Chocolate's Child Labour Ingredient

West Africa’s chocolate trade is worth billions of dollars – but a horrifying by-product is the thousands of children who work in the worst forms of child labor on cocoa farms.

Save the Children Canada working in collaboration with West African governments, the chocolate industry and interested NGOs is dedicated to eliminating this form of labor practice.

Since 2002, over 550 child trafficking victims have been intercepted on route from Mali to Cote D’Ivoire, West Africa, by Save the Children Canada program efforts.

A collaborative historic information exchange trip to West Africa has just been completed by Save the Children Canada and chocolate industry and an agreement to work towards the elimination of he worst forms of child labor in West African cocoa production has just been reached.

Come and hear history in the making!

Save the Children Canada, CEO, Rita Karakas

The World Cocoa Foundation, president, Bill Guyton

Legislative Director for Representative Eliot Engel , Pete Leon

2.45 – 3.45

Case Study & Discussion:

CSR & the Garment Industry: Helping a Million Victims of Change

The recent end of the Agreement on Textiles (an internationally-agreed quota system) means a million garment factory workers in poor countries like Bangladesh and Cambodia are losing their jobs – leading to wholescale poverty.

• How can a multi-stakeholder project responsibly manage the transition?
• What can be done to overcome the damage to workers, communities and economies?
• Are multinationals culpable for allowing this to happen?
• What can – or should – be done in terms of practical aid?

Nike, Director of Business Integration and Collaboration, Caitlin Morris

World Bank Group, Operations Officer, Social Protection, Amy Luinstra

2.45 – 3.45

Case Study & Discussion:

Visa & FINCA: Encouraging entrepreneurs in developing countries:

Visa has established a partnership with the Foundation for International Community Assistance (FINCA), a non-profit organization that provides loans, savings programs, and technical support to promote self-sufficiency in some of the world’s poorest communities.

The partners’ combined expertise will enable low-income entrepreneurs to manage their money more safely and flexibly.

The partnership includes significant resources from all parties, including a newly-awarded $610,000 grant from USAID.

Visa International, Product Director, Consumer Products, Sandy Thaw

FINCA, Manager, Corporate Relations, Cheri Mitchell

U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), Global Development Alliance Secretariat ,Barbara Addy

3.45- 4.15 Extended Networking and Exhibition Break

4.15 – 5.15 Panel Discussion: NGOs: Putting their own reputations on the line

While the business case for CSR is well documented, NGOs sometimes come under heavy fire from their stakeholders for accepting corporate philanthropy, or engaging in fully-fledged partnerships. They also risk damage to their credibility and reputation if a partnership goes wrong and the desired outcomes are not achieved.

Find out:

• Are NGOs justified in accepting corporate aid and finance – no matter where it comes from – when they need the cash and resources to meet their objectives?
• What kind of pressure are NGOs most likely to experience when they engage in partnerships?
• What criteria do business have to meet to be deemed suitable partners?
• Who’s really choosing who?
• Are there any serious disadvantages for NGOs in partnering?
• What happens if the business partner hits the headlines – for the wrong reasons?
• What tangible results and gains do partnerships produce for society – what’s the NGO perspective?

As Day One draws to a close, you’ll hear contrasting opinions from:

• The National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy: Publishes expert reports and articles with practical findings for business funders and nonprofit leaders.
• Amnesty International USA: Grassroots activist organization with over 1.8 million members worldwide, focused on human rights.
• GivingGlobal: Nonprofit, Brings together business donors/philanthropists and NGOs in search of funding.
• Friends of the Earth: Global grassroots NGO, renowned for its activism, campaigns and success at achieving change.

National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy, Executive Director, Rick Cohen

Amnesty International USA (AIUSA),Director, Business and Human Rights Program, Mila Rosenthal

GivingGlobal, Founder & President, Pamela Hawley

Friends of the Earth, Chief Executive Officer, Beatrice Olivastri

5.15 - 7.00 Cocktails & Networking

Click here to request more information and receive the latest version and changes of the programme!