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Collaboration and Partnership in the Context of Indian CSR: The Global Compact Local Network and the I4D Project

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Collaboration for Sustainability and Innovation: A Role For Sustainability Driven by the Global South?

Part of the book series: Greening of Industry Networks Studies ((GINS,volume 3))

Abstract

The recent emergence of sustainability partnerships and the activities and commitments of some prominent global actors has not received enough empirical attention in the academic literature. In this chapter, we examine the collaborative dynamic of a relatively new initiative – the Investors for Development Project (I4D). Specifically, we investigate how its partners i.e. Northern Governments, United Nations Economic and Social Commission Asia Pacific, the UN Global Compact, and the wider community in the CSR field, have fueled the promotion and awareness of sustainable and responsible business in Asian economies. We find that financial and leadership commitments play an important role in shaping the sustainability efforts among Global Compact participants in Asian nations. In particular, we observe how the aims of this project have, to some extent, addressed some of the reported challenges of implementing CSR among the Indian business sector. We further find that the I4D model, conceptualized in this study as an inclusive partnership of global actors, does offer a platform for collaboration and networking opportunities among various stakeholders genuinely concerned for sustainable development in the South. We offer a discussion on the potential of this initiative, and make calls for more strategic insights that can move the scientific research in this field.

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Acknowledgements

This chapter is the outcome of a truly collaborative effort, and although I serve as the sole author, a number of individuals have contributed in these conversations. I would like to thank Diego Vazquez and James Cordeiro for their exceptional guidance and recommendations to refine the empirical and theoretical contributions of the chapter. I am also grateful to the following people who graciously shared their time, concerns, and suggestions: Michael Karimian from UNESCAP – Trade and Investment Division, Thailand; our Colleagues from the UN Global Compact Office in New York, and my research assistant Vivek Alex – MBA Candidate at William Paterson University.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Marketing and Management Sciences, William Paterson University, 1600 Valley Road, Room 3071, Wayne, NJ, 07474, USA

    Jorge A. Arevalo

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  1. Jorge A. Arevalo
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Correspondence to Jorge A. Arevalo .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. School of Management, Royal Holloway University of London, Egham, Surrey, United Kingdom

    Diego A. Vazquez-Brust

  2. School of Business, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Worcester, Massachusetts, USA

    Joseph Sarkis

  3. Brockport College at Brockport, State University of New York, Brockport, New York, USA

    James J. Cordeiro

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Arevalo, J.A. (2014). Collaboration and Partnership in the Context of Indian CSR: The Global Compact Local Network and the I4D Project. In: Vazquez-Brust, D., Sarkis, J., Cordeiro, J. (eds) Collaboration for Sustainability and Innovation: A Role For Sustainability Driven by the Global South?. Greening of Industry Networks Studies, vol 3. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-7633-3_10

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