Corporate Citizenship in the Global South During COVID-1: Part 1 – Africa. In Part 1 of this 4-part series, Jeff Hoffman, Institute Leader of Corporate Citizenship & Philanthropy, speaks with Dorcas Onyango, Head of Sustainability, Southern & East Africa Business Unit, Coca-Cola, and Ruth Lewin, Head of Corporate Sustainability, Discovery Limited, to learn how their companies are navigating the pandemic and providing critical support throughout the continent.

What community relations have long practiced is even more critical after the death of George Floyd. We often talk about the authenticity of “bringing our whole selves to work;” the concept works with bringing our whole company to the community. Beyond basic business functions, we bring our core competencies, and our corporate citizenship strategies to the community through cash, in-kind and product donations along with expertise; much of it delivered through our amazing employee volunteers.

There are financial, social, and health implications for companies, employees, and communities as we think about reopening the economy. Recovery will be a long and winding road, and companies have an opportunity not only to help lead but to help take us to a more green, humane, and thoughtful world.

Food security for vulnerable communities and front-line responders has taken on increased relevance and importance during the COVID-19 pandemic. These are five organizations that are responding in herculean way to help those most in need.

From Larry Fink, Chairman and CEO of BlackRock to the Gates Foundation, leaders from the investment and philanthropic worlds are making public and bold statements about climate change. Paul Washington, head of the ESG Center, speaks with Carl Pope, former Executive Director & Chairman of the Sierra Club and Satyajit Bose, Columbia University Professor about the roles of asset managers and philanthropists in addressing climate change.

For the nonprofit sector, the disruption from COVID-19 has created a new set of challenges. In addition to the government response, what role should businesses play during this crisis to support charitable organizations and communities most in need? Lindsay Beltzer, Program Manager of The Conference Board’s ESG Center, chats with corporate citizenship and nonprofit leaders on how businesses and nonprofits are coming together and evolving their partnership models in the face of the pandemic.

Today, we find ourselves in one of the most disruptive periods in modern history. Public discussion about ESG has taken the backseat to surviving and getting through the COVID-19 pandemic. This podcast explores how corporate communications can support your company’s ESG initiatives, and how to use ESG to guide your company through the COVID-19 crisis response.

The actions we take and leadership we provide in supporting our organizations and communities through this crisis will strengthen their trust in us and our ability to once again rise to future challenges.

Two months ago, corporate citizenship and philanthropy professionals were primarily treating COVID-19 through their disaster relief plans and focusing on China. Now is the time to shift gears by looking at our own communities and the most vulnerable.

With the focus on the health and safety of staff and partners, how do you balance your work between planning for the impacts of COVID-19 and identifying alternative volunteer experiences for workers in response to travel restrictions and cancelled events?