Nestl? has renewed its long-standing collaboration with International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), committing CHF 5 million over a five-year period to the two organisations.
Listening to a webcast of Nestl??s 2014 Global Creating Shared Value Forum, which was held in held at the group?s global research centre in Lausanne, Switzerland, Mr Paul Bulcke Nestl??s Chief Executive Officer said both organisations had benefited from each other?s expertise over the years.
The forum on the theme: ?A new Role for Business: Nestl??s Creating Shared Value (CSV)? was organised in collaboration the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development.
The forum provided the space for debate and discussion for members of academia, industry, international institutions and civil society from around the world on the changing role of business in the society.
Mr Bulcke noted that Nestl? was IFRC’s first corporate partner in 2002 and since 2006 the IFRC and Nestl? have been working together with a particular focus on improving rural communities? access to water.
Nestl?, he said with the renewal of the collaboration, would expand the water access and hygiene project from Cote d? Ivoire to Ghana as well as sponsoring the production of the IFRC’s annual World Disaster Report.
Through the collaboration, 100,000 people in Cote d?Ivoire cocoa communities now have access to clean drinking water and sanitation facilities.
?Nestle believes that for a company to be successful, over the long term and create value for shareholders, it must create value for society.
“We have moved from a purely philanthropic relationship to one that embodies our CSV business model and results in a lasting difference for the communities that surround our operations,” Mr Bulcke added.
Mr Elhadj As Sy, IFRC’s Secretary General said the Organisation?s staff and volunteers are always there on the side of communities in support of their response to humanitarian challenges across a continuum of crises prevention, response and recovery.
“Our work on water and sanitation is a key component of the continuum, and we are pleased to partner with Nestl? in that area. Safe access to water and sanitation provides a fertile ground for better health and quality of life,” he said.
The agreement was announced at the company?s annual CSV Forum, Nestl? believes that for a company to be successful over the long term and create value for shareholders, it must create value for the society.
Participants discussed how civil society and the private sector could work in partnership to strengthen and speed up sustainable development with focused on the key areas of nutrition, water and rural development.
GNA
