Introduction
The WODA metal industry CSR program aims to integrate social, environmental, and economic concerns into the values, culture, decision-making, strategy, and operations of the company. If implemented in a transparent and accountable manner, this program is expected to create an enabling environment within the industry and harmonize the company’s relationship with the host community. This action will minimize risks and avoid conflicts with the host community, thereby making the investment sustainable and more profitable. This proposal deals with the CSR program activities to promote the health, safety, and security of the community affected by the project. The challenges the community is facing are related to basic public services such as lack of access to potable water, clean energy, basic health services, and quality education.
Although the government is primarily responsible for providing these services, the private sector, as part of the community, is duty-bound to complement the government’s efforts to overcome the mounting challenges the community is facing. Hence, the CSR program has developed a community outreach program that is in line with the government’s strategy and the UN 2030 sustainable development agenda. By creating employment for two thousand people, WODA will contribute to ending poverty and meeting Goal 1 of the Sustainable Development Goals. However, based on the assessment the CSR team has undertaken, apart from employment, the host community needs access to clean water and electricity, quality education at primary and secondary levels, and access to basic health services.
This project proposal aims to develop action for WODA in meeting the needs of the community in partnership with other stakeholders in the surrounding area with a common agenda and government agencies of vested interest. The project will be implemented phase by phase, first focusing on the school support and later extending the program to the community at large.
Goal
The goal of the project is to establish a community support program as part of WODA’s Corporate Social Responsibility program in partnership with other major stakeholders to provide access to clean and potable water, clean energy, basic health services, and better primary and secondary education.
Outcome
Through this action, the community’s basic needs will be met as demanded by the UN 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda, specifically Goals 3, 4, 6, and 7. On the other hand, WODA will foster a healthy relationship with the host community, thereby making its investment more sustainable.
Deliverables (Outputs)
- Establish a school support program.
- Establish a community water allocation program.
- Provide access to electricity for the affected community.
- Establish a health clinic for its employees and the community.
- Prepare sustainability promotional materials such as posters, flyers, and publications in Amharic, Oromifa, and Chinese.
CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY PROGRAM WODA metal industry CSR program aims to integrate social, environmental, and economic concerns in the values, culture, decision-making, strategy, and operations of the company This project proposal deals with the CSR program activities to promote the health, safety, and security of the community affected by the project. Some of the challenges the community is facing are related to basic public services such as lack of access to potable water, clean energy, basic health service, and quality education
1. School Support Program
The program aims to establish a school support program by constructing four standard classrooms.
2. Establish a Community Water Allocation Program.
Provide safe and reliable water for the affected community.
3. Electricity support program
Support the community’s electricity by taking the incentive with the neighbor company.
4. Environmental Protection
Recycling and reusing the waste generated and planting trees.
Community Support Program
The CSR team has identified an elementary school in Harojila Kebele located two kilometers away from the WODA metal industry. There are 550 students enrolled in the school from preschool to eighth grade with an age group from five to fifteen. There are more than six hundred households benefiting from the school. The school has sixteen teachers, and the student-to-teacher ratio is less than forty, which is reasonable. However, the condition of the classrooms is very poor, with the exception of the preschool, which was built with support from a Danish couple as shown in the picture below. The school does not have a library to store books and reading materials.
The team also observed the school does not have access to electricity, which is essential for proper lighting of classrooms and upgrading the educational system with essential tools such as computers and the internet. Apart from electricity, water availability for drinking and sanitation is a major concern. The school has managed to dig a borehole 67 meters deep with donor assistance; unfortunately, the borehole, which is hand-driven, failed to function. The team feels if the borehole is properly managed, it can provide not only the school but the nearby community with sufficient potable water to meet drinking and sanitation needs.
The CSR team, therefore, proposes the following actions:
- Upgrade the classrooms with the same standard as the preschool classes built by the Danish donors in the first phase of the project cycle. The budget required for the first phase based on external experts’ estimates ranges between 900,000 and 1.2 million birr. If the construction is undertaken by WODA’s team, it will be much cheaper. The proposed timeline to complete the action is December 31, 2019. The picture below shows the current condition of the classrooms.
- Connect the school to the power grid to access electricity. The estimated cost for the transformer and installation is about 550,000 birr. The fund can be raised by involving partners in the neighborhood with common interests. The timeframe depends on the availability of the budget, which depends on the commitment of partners.
- When electricity is available, install a water pump to use the borehole effectively. The cost of the pump and storage will be determined once the water discharge rate is known. The cost will be shared with potential partners. The picture below shows the current status of the borehole.
- Provide the school with proper toilets that meet the health bureau’s sanitation standards. The pictures show the current latrine used and the proposed future toilet facility.
- Develop an electricity access program for the nearby community with Oromia Energy Bureau and the Woreda.
- Establish a community program at the WODA clinic (this has to be decided by the management).
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Download Community Support Program Plans