Short-Term Dreams: Corporate Social Responsibility Projects in Developing Economies

Case from Journal

Reference no. 622-0021-1
Subject category:  Production and Operations Management
Authors: Lucy Simani Wamalwa;
Published by:  The Case Centre
Published in:  “Case Focus – The Journal of Business & Management Teaching Cases, Middle East and Africa Edition”, 2022
Length: 13 pages
Data source: Published sources
Topics: Project designMonitoring and evaluationStakeholder engagement and CSR https://www.thecasecentre.org/products/view?id=178966

Abstract

The case focuses on the role of the government and private sector in creating self-sustaining models for future growth. It explores the need for an alternative source of funding for crises and natural disasters other than reliance on foreign aid. The case also highlights issues that affect the sustainability of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) projects in developing economies. It centres on the 2011 Kenyans for Kenya (K4K) fundraising project, initiated by leading telecom company Safaricom, to aid those affected by the drought in the northern regions. Early indicators of the projects show they were very successful. 10 years later, however, almost all the projects had fallen apart. The case challenges students to focus on the sustainability of the projects when designing them and the importance of project design, monitoring, and performance evaluation. The case also explains why projects set up by temporary organisations such as K4K initiatives are likely not to be sustainable