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Under the current circumstances, a successful business no longer relates only to the profit-sales equation, as the shares are broader and more varied, one of them is Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).

World Bank sees the company’s social responsibility as a commitment to stakeholders and as a tool to improve the situation of the local communities in which the company operates.

The European Union it is also interested in the development and implementation of the CSR concept, which is part of the Europe 2020 strategy for sustainable economic growth. In the European Commission’s view, CSR is “a concept whereby companies voluntarily integrate environmental and social concerns into their business operations and interactions with stakeholders on their own initiative”.

CSR it is characterised by responsible, voluntary entrepreneurship that benefits employees, vulnerable social groups, society as a whole, the environment, etc. The CSR model consists of a range of business policies that are geared towards balancing societal well-being with the objectives set by the company. The default principles of this concept are of a continuous nature and have a long-lasting social impact.

Why is CSR important? Several studies find that there is a direct link between a country’s degree of development and the importance attached to business ethics. The image of a company depends not only on economic and financial indicators, product quality, new places created, but is also considerably influenced by how the company is seen by the company which forms certain expectations, how it carries out its business, how it consumes its natural resources, how it uses the work of employees, what impact the business has on community development, etc.

What are the benefits of CSR policy for SMEs: greater customer satisfaction and loyalty; motivation and loyalty of employees, good promotion; good market positioning; liaising with internal and external business partners, local authorities; more efficient use of human and production resources. Ultimately, CSR is a way for businessmen to interact with society. The literature identifies three main models of businessman’s interaction with society: philanthropy, volunteering and CSR. Business is often limited to the first 2 models only and does not consider it appropriate to go through CSR work: philanthropy and volunteering.

Philanthropy model includes all activities involving material aid granted voluntarily and unconditionally by the company to social categories or organisations in need. Volunteering; if it is done at company level, it is also part of philanthropic activities, as in this case the company invests human and time resources for the benefit of the community. This form of philanthropy is classical and common in Moldova.

CSR is also a recent concept in the terminology and practice of Moldovan companies, with recent years marked by increasing awareness among companies of their role in social development. The establishment of the Global Moldova Pact (GMP) network, as well as the increase in the number of companies joining the GMP, including ODSMEs, is proof of this. At the same time, most entrepreneurs still do not understand what CSR actually entails, nor do they perceive the integration of these principles and values into everyday practice, nor do they realise the benefits they can bring to the company.

Since 2010 ODIMM has organised the National Competition on an annual basis SME Corporate Social Responsibility Modelwith the aim of promoting this concept among entrepreneurs and disseminating their best practices. During the course of this competition, more than 85 application forms were submitted and some 29 SMEs carrying out CSR activities were awarded prizes on 4 distinct principles: responsibility towards the environment, employees, society and partners.

We greatly appreciate the activities carried out by these entrepreneurs and the contribution they make to the development of the community in which they operate.

What we want, including through this competition, is that for as many SMEs as possible the CSR principles become a philosophy of the business they manage.