Corporate Citizenship and Corporate Social Investment Drivers of Tri-Sector Partnerships

Abstract

There is a growing literature about both sustainable development and corporate social responsibility. Few links are made between these two important areas of work. This paper does not review this literature; rather, it suggests a conceptual approach to bridge the two areas. It then explores the new roles and responsibilities of business within a new operating paradigm that has shifted from a ‘do no harm’ approach to a ‘demonstrate positive development benefit’ imperative. The paper then makes a case for business to respond to a growing range of both global and project-specific drivers of corporate social investment. To do this, the paper draws on case studies in the mining and energy sectors of tri-sector partnerships between business, civil society organisations and government/intergovernmental agencies. Finally, the paper suggests that management tools, such as tri-sector partnership models and sustainability performance indicators, have a role to play in assisting both companies and their stakeholders in assessing the extent to which their production activities are contributing to, and not detracting from, sustainable development goals.