This presentation was part of the ProSPER.Net Leadership Programme 2017 'Building Transformational Leadership Towards the SDGs'

1. Supporters
Overview of CSR in ASEAN,
and the role of the
ASEAN CSR Network

2. What is CSR?
Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is NOT
about how money is spent. It is about how
money is made.
It is beyond charity and philanthropy
It is business responsibility for their
impacts on society

3. Planet
Environmental
Performance
Profit
Economic
Performance
People
Social
Performance
Environment
(Planet)
Economy (Profit)
Society (People)
What is CSR?

4. ASEAN Political-Security
Community (APSC)
“Support the ASEAN Foundation
to strengthen its collaboration
with the private sector and other
relevant stakeholders to instill
CSR”
ASEAN Economic
Community (AEC)
“Work closely with stakeholders
towards promoting CSR activities”
ASEAN Socio-Cultural
Community (ASCC)
“It shall also promote PPP, social
entrepreneurship and CSR for
inclusive and sustainable socio-
cultural development”
“Promote the integration of
Sustainable Consumption and
Production strategy and best
practices into national and
regional policies or as
part of CSR activities”
ASEAN 2025: Forging ahead together
CSR highlighted in ASEAN 2025 Blueprint

5. Status of CSR in ASEAN
Countries Member of
ACN?
Number of UNGC
business signatories
Number of
UNGC
signatories
UNGC
network?
Brunei Darussalam No 0 1 No
Cambodia No 3 4 No
Indonesia Yes 47 122 Yes
Lao PDR No 0 1 No
Malaysia Yes 32 47 Yes
Myanmar Yes 308 317 Yes
Philippines Yes 13 56 Yes
Singapore Yes 49 64 Yes
Thailand Yes 59 68 Yes
Vietnam Yes 25 76 Yes
As of Oct 2016
Source: UNGC

6. Status of CSR in ASEAN
ASEAN will charts its own CSR agenda/framework,
but can learn from others’ experiences
Source: UNGC
1 0
111
1
61 65 55 65
36
66
1 4
122
1
47
317
56 64 68 76
0
50
100
150
200
250
300
350
Brunei
Darussalam
Cambodia Indonesia Lao PDR Malaysia Myanmar Philippines Singapore Thailand Vietnam
UNGC Signatories in ASEAN
Mar-14 Oct-16

7. 461
756
0
100
200
300
400
500
600
700
800
ASEAN
UNGC Signatories in ASEAN
Mar-14 Oct-16
Source: UNGC
Status of CSR & Sustainability Signups

8. ASEAN will charts its own CSR agenda/framework,
but can learn from others’ experiences
“Voluntary” “Philanthropic” “Top-bottom”
International
commercial
treaties constraints
Little attention to
SMEs
What are the gaps?
Status of CSR in ASEAN

9. www.asean-csr-network.org
Vision
A responsible business community that makes ASEAN a better place to live for all
Mission
To promote and enable responsible business conduct in ASEAN to achieve sustainable, equitable
and inclusive social, environmental and economic development
Who We Are
• Registered as a company limited by guarantee in Singapore
• International Charity Organisation status
• Accredited as an ASEAN Entity under Annex 2 of the ASEAN Charter
• A leading regional network of CSR networks in ASEAN
ACN to help bridge the gaps

10. ASEAN CSR Vision 2020 was initiated and launched by the
ASEAN CSR Network (ACN) in June 2014 with the support
from the Swedish International Development Co-operation
Agency (SIDA)
The 3 pillars illustrates the multi-prong approaches that ACN
uses to ensure that several measure are taken to work with
respective partners to achieve the vision.
ASEAN CSR Vision 2020

11. SHARED
VISION
CAPACITY
BUILDING
COLLECTIVE
ACTION
To coordinate the formulation of
a shared CSR vision that is in line
with international standards, and
guide multi-sector collaboration in
capacity building and policy
development
To harmonise CSR efforts at the
regional level by providing a
platform for coordination,
cooperation and information
exchange
To support businesses and
maximize their resources in
doing CSR through
knowledge sharing and
training
Turning the Vision into Action

12. Some examples
Corporate Governance & Responsibility: Theory Meets
Practice, 20 – 22 July 2016, Singapore
organised by ACN and CGIO, NUS
In realising the ASEAN CSR Vision 2020
Launch of Sustainability
Consortium of Professionals
and Educators (SCOPE)

13. Sustainability Consortium of
Professionals and Educators (SCOPE)
PLANS
1) A dedicated website
2) Roundtables for Professionals and Educators
• 1st Roundtable in Nov 2017
3) Research workshop/conference for
Academics
4) Teaching materials for Universities
5) Training programmes for Practitioners
6) Promote and showcase sustainability
initiatives
7) Research projects
Sign up at:
http://tinyurl.com/scopeCSR

14. www.asean-csr-network.org
AICHR Seminar on Promoting CSR & Human Rights in
ASEAN, 3 – 4 Nov 2016, Singapore
Organised by ACN, AICHR –S’pore and MFA
L – R: Dr Amy Khor, Singapore’s Minister of State for the Environment & Water Resources and Health; H.E. Barry Desker,
Singapore’s representative to AICHR
Interactive Panel Discussions and Workshops
One of the outcome of this was a Regional
Strategy on CSR & Human Rights being drafted
and presented to AICHR
Speakers at Conference

15. Guidelines
ACN had also been active in providing its expertise. Apart from conferences, research, ACN was
also an active contributor to the ASEAN Guidelines for CSR on Labour
The ASEAN Guidelines for CSR on Labour was adopted at the 24th ASEAN Labour
Ministers Meeting which was convened on 15 May 2016 in Vientiane. Prior to this
meeting, the Thai Ministry of Labour organised a workshop in March 2016 to draft the
ASEAN CSR Model on Labour. ACN was one of the resource persons at the workshop. In
August 2016, The Thai Ministry of Labour together with ASEAN Secretariat, ACN and ILO
covened an ASEAN CSR on Labour Forum to socialize the Guidelines.

16. www.asean-csr-network.org
Regional Business Integrity Conference, Culture of
Business Integrity, 6 – 7 Mar 2017, Singapore
Organised by ACN
Delegates at Conference Working Group on Business Integrity and Partners
One of the outcomes of this meeting was the signing of the regional
business integrity pledge "Integrity Has No Borders", showing their
commitment and support for the business integrity movement in
ASEAN.
Speakers and ACN Board of Trustees at Conference

17. ASEAN CSR Fellowship
ACN organised the inaugural fellowship programme which selected 16 Fellows from different
countries in ASEAN being groomed as the new leaders in CSR. This programme is on-going
throughout 2017
Fellows will be visiting 4 countries in
ASEAN to participate in study
tours, meet government officials,
business leaders, academics, civil
society practitioners and
conclude with a Capstone Project
which Fellows can implement in
their respective countries

18. Small Grants Fund Programme
Launched in February 2015, the Small Grants Fund is designed to provide
access to supplementary funding ranging from SGD $3000-$10,000 to
local and regional organisations engaged in work to promote CSR with
an interest in linking their work to regional objectives.
Typical projects supported include Business and Human Rights, Business
and Labour, Business Integrity, Food Security and Sustainable Agriculture;
all of which are relevant to the ASEAN CSR Vision of 2020 which seeks to
mainstream responsible business conduct to build an inclusive, equitable
and sustainable ASEAN.
Thus far, the past 3 rounds have seen a total of 29 projects backed in 9
ASEAN countries, amounting to SGD $280,000 given in grants.

19. www.asean-csr-network.org
Research
The following studies were carried out between ACN and CGIO, NUS which looked into the
depth of sustainability reporting as well as Corporate Disclosure on Business Integrity carried out
in countries in ASEAN

20. Participating Organisations
The following were ACN’s Founding and Participating Organisations since its inception.

21. Corporate Partners
Corporate Partners support ACN with financial contribution and also, other collaboration such as
speaking at conferences, training to promote responsible practices.

22. Supporting Partners
The following were some of ACN’s past and current Supporting Partners who had supported ACN in its
research, workshops, training, conferences. Support could be in kind or by providing knowledge,
resources.
WORKING GROUP ON
BUSINESS & HUMAN RIGHTS

23. Donors
The following donors had made it possible for ACN to cover its operations as well as run its
programmes to promote responsible business.

24. Thank You
Please follow us
https://www.facebook.com/ASEANCSRNetwork/
https://twitter.com/aseancsrnetwork
http://asean-csr-network.org

25. Scope of the Study “Sustainability Reporting in ASEAN”
Top 100 mainboard companies
by market capitalisation
(as of 30 June 2015)
Covered disclosed information
from 1 Jan 2014 to 31 Dec 2015

26. Indonesia (IDX) Malaysia (Bursa) Singapore (SGX) Thailand (SET)
Sustainability
Reporting
Enforcement
Level
CSR disclosure as a
part of listing rule
from financial year
ending on or after
31 December 2012
Sustainability
statement
disclosure as a
listing requirement
starting from year
2007
‘Comply or
explain’ basis as
a part of listing
rule from financial
year ending on,
or after 31
December 2017
CSR disclosure as
a part of listing
rule, effective
from 1 January
2014
Sustainability
Reporting
Written
Guidance
Nil Bursa’s
‘Sustainability
Reporting Guide’
SGX’s ‘Guide to
Sustainability
Reporting for
Listed
Companies’
CSR Institute’s
(CSRI) ‘Guidelines
for Sustainability
Reporting’
Sustainability
Index
KEHATI-SRI Index FTSE4Good Bursa
Malaysia Index
SGX Sustainability
Indices
Nil
Sustainability reporting initiatives in ASEAN

27. Companies with sustainability reporting
[VALUE] 100
71
100
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
Indonesia Malaysia Singapore Thailand
NumberofCompanies

28. ASEAN will charts its own CSR agenda/framework,
but can learn from others’ experiences
48.4 47.7 48.8
56.8
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
55
60
65
70
Indonesia Malaysia Singapore Thailand
LevelofDisclosure
Average level of disclosure in ASEAN
50.4
Level of sustainability disclosure in ASEAN
60.7
63.2 64.9
77.5
55.4
48.0
51.3
56.0
31.4
36.3 37.1
41.4
46.1
43.4 41.9
52.3
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
Indonesia Malaysia Singapore Thailand
LevelofDisclosure Governance Economic Environmental Social
Level of sustainability disclosure by indicator
Overall Level of Disclosure

29. • Higher quality of disclosure generally observed when countries used
GRI framework
• GLCs/SOEs tend to fare better on their quality of disclosures
• Companies see the relevance in sustainability but majority of them
are unable to identify its key impacts, risk and opportunities
• Only a small proportion of companies disclosed information on
materiality from all countries
Summary of Key Findings (General Observations)

30. • Indonesia – Economic and Social indicators are relatively well-disclosed
but need to look further into Governance and Environmental aspects
• Malaysia – more comprehensive sustainability reporting landscape
expected with the newly-implemented reporting guide by Bursa
• Singapore – higher proportion of companies are expected to
communicate sustainability when on the ‘comply or explain’ basis
• Thailand - highest quality of disclosure, especially within the Energy sector
What are the reasons?
Summary of Key Findings (Country Observations)

31. Recognition
• SET Sustainable Awards
• SET Social Enterprise
Investments Awards
SET Sustainability Rankings
• Thailand Sustainable
Investment List
• Dow Jones Sustainability
Indices (DJSI)
Government Initiatives
• Ministry of Industry has initiated
‘Green Industry Project’
• Minstry of Social Development
and Human Secuirtiy
developed a “CSR Strategic
Plan” in 2014
Capacity Building
• CSRI distributed a handbook
based on GRI
• SEC offers 7 types of reporting
workshops
SEC: Securities and Exchange Commission
SET: Stock Exchange of Thailand
CSRI: Corporate Social Responsibility Institute, which is under the SET
1. Push from Government & SEC/SET

32. 2. Business risks: Higher scores linked to business risks
Environmentally-sensitive industries
have business risks that are related
to sustainable efforts
Less resources
required relative
to other sectors
Positive relationship
between social
and environmental
scores

33. 2. Business risks: Higher scores linked to business risks
Rank Name Sector
1 Thai Oil Energy
2 Siam Cement Materials
3 PTT Exploration &
Production
Energy
4 PTT Global Chemical Materials
5 IRPC Energy
6 Ratchaburi Electricity
Generating
Utilities
7 PTT Energy
8 Charoen Pokphand
Foods
Consumer Staples
9 Banpu Energy
10 Advanced Info Telecommunication
Services
Majority of Top 10
companies with highest
sustainability disclosure
rate are from
the energy/
environmentally-sensitive
industries
Top 10 companies

34. 3. Sufficiency Economy Philosophy
3736
36 out of the top 100
companies disclosed the
King’s Sufficiency
Economy Philosophy as a
reason behind their
sustainability activities
37 out of the top 100
companies disclosed that
they were influenced by
Buddhism

35. 3. Sufficiency Economy Philosophy unique to Thailand
Thai Sustainable Development
Sufficiency
Economy
Philosophy
Thai
Buddhism
The King
of
Thailand
Sustainability in Thailand focuses on pho phieng, sufficient, adequate — or “just enough”

36. 3. Sufficiency Economy Philosophy critical to better practices
Thai
Sustainable
Development
Sufficiency Economy
Philosophy Recognise need
for culturally
sensitive,
home-grown
approaches

37. Thailand also tops ASEAN on
‘corporate disclosure on business integrity’
Top 50 companies
• By market capitalisation as of
31 December 2015
• In 5 ASEAN countries
(Indonesia, Malaysia,
Philippines, Singapore, and
Thailand)
• Publicly available information
as of 31 April 2016

38. Category Question Description
Internal
commitment to
anti-corruption
1 Zero-tolerance statement
2 Commitment to comply with laws
3 Leadership support
4 Code applied to all employees and directors
7 Training programme for all employees and
directors
External
commitment to
anti-corruption
5 Code applied to agents
6 Code applied to suppliers
8 Gifts, hospitality, travel policies
9 Prohibition of facilitation payments
13 Disclosure of political contributions
Reporting and
monitoring
10 Prohibition of retaliation for reporting
11 Confidential reporting channel
12 Regular programme monitoring

39. 39% 40%
43% 47%
57%
45%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
Indonesia Malaysia Philippines Singapore Thailand
Overall level of disclosure on business integrity
Average level of disclosure rate per country
Average level of disclosure rate across 5 countries