27 September 2011
Multinationals like Microsoft are working with the foundation arm of the Organization of American States to inject software, know-how and money into job-training centers in about 20 countries in Latin America to bring the disabled and even former Colombian guerillas into the workforce.
| By Zachary Fagenson Managing Editor Twitter | Facebook | LinkedIn |
The foundation, called the Trust for the Americas, began in 1997 aiming to partner with private companies working throughout the region to improve information technology, transparency and governance, labor rights and reconciliation. To date it runs programs with ChevronTexaco, AES Corporation, Siemens, Julius Baer Bank, Copa Airlines, Portland Holdings, Western Union and Walmart.
A broader goal was to also change the image of the OAS from a stodgy, government bureaucracy into a nimble organization that partners with the private sector to find creative solutions to some of the region’s most pressing problems, said Dario Soto, COO for the Trust for the Americas.
He discussed the trust’s mission, the programs and countries it’s involved in today, and how it can partner with companies looking to implement new CSR strategies at WorldCity’s CSR Connections on Sept. 22.
Participation also gives companies access to many of the OAS’ ministerial meetings, and high-ranking government officials in the countries they’re implementing programs.
The OAS and companies work together to find programs that meet both the Trust of Americas’ goals, as well as the company’s CSR strategy, but they don’t require companies investing in brick-and-mortar facilities.
Instead, the OAS acts as a bridge between the local groups already working to solve problems, and the companies who have the resources, and more importantly the know-how, to implement solutions.
In its program with Microsoft, for example, Soto said the Partnership in Opportunities for Employment through Technology in the Americas (POETA) works with people with disabilities, at-risk youth and people impacted by conflicts by “working with local organization to support the creating of community training centers.
“We take organizations that are already running centers,” he added, “give them the tools they lack, give them some funds, give them a curricula and we pair them with the private sector.”
Outside the large multinational companies operating in Latin America, Seaboard Marine Senior Vice President Jose Perez-Jones said shipping companies have also role to play in the OAS’ efforts, but have yet to figure out how they fit.
“We are finding a tremendous challenge right now not only with the anti-drug programs but also the hijacking and kidnapping of our containers. No carrier takes the responsibility of taking containers inland,” he said. “I think that shipping lines, be it regional carriers or global carriers, are somewhat engaged to a degree but are never really part of the solution.”
In addition to giving companies the opportunity to provide their expertise to smaller organizations on the ground, it also gives them an ear to the community and way to vet groups working in the areas they’ve chosen.
“In our case what we do is listen to the subsidiaries, and listen to them about the key development programs,” in their region, said Marcia Texeira, Internet safety and community affairs lead for Microsoft Latin America. We “make programs relevant, then allow subsidiaries to nominate and then approve based on what’s relevant.”
The program is also designed to incentivize smaller companies in Latin America to become part of the effort.
“CSR is not the property of the multinationals,” Soto said. “It has to go to the companies at the local level as well.”
CSR Connections is one of seven event series organized by WorldCity to bring together executives on international business topics. The CSR series is sponsored by Nokia and Chevron. The next CSR meeting is set for Nov. 10.