The Current Practice of Corporate Social Responsibility in Ethiopia

Abstract

The responsibility of the organization for the impacts of its decisions and activities on the society and the environment, called Corporate Social Responsibility is evolving investment approach aimed mainly to contribute for sustainable development and welfare of the society. CSR is being integrated with economic and investment policy of different countries and practiced in different modalities. In Ethiopia, literatures indicates that only limited local as well as international or multinational organizations have been practicing CSR in a fragmented ways. Accordingly, this research was aimed to examine the practice of corporate social responsibility in Ethiopia, specifically in Hilton Hotel located at Addis Ababa. Up on the nature and purpose, the research is led by qualitative approach. Key informant and in-depth interviews were used as main data collection techniques. In addition, document review and systematic observation were also used to get supportive data. In-depth interviews were conducted with beneficiaries whereas key informant interviews were employed with managers of organizations. Totally 20 research participants: four employees, four key informant interviewees, and twelve beneficiaries were participated in this study. Purposive sampling technique was used to select the research participants based on the predetermined objectives of the research. The finding of the study shows that Hilton Hotel has several corporate social responsibility programs (CSR) in relation to employees support, community service, environmental protection, and customer handling. Provision of health insurance, freedom of associations for labor, facilitating continues skill based training, support to local NGOs, offering scholarship opportunities, and providing charity and other emergency support are some of the involvements Hilton Hotel has made through its CSR program. This research concluded that though there are several CSR made by the hotel but these have been made without regular budget as well as working procedures.