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Description
The project aims to enable small/newly funded organizations to (i) promote their work & (ii) create communication channels with companies that want to develop Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) actions. As part of this project, a network of new/small/grassroots NGOs is expected to be created & act as an intermediary body supporting its participants. The link between this network & the business sector will be the 17 Sustainable Development Goals, since companies that get in touch with the network will have the opportunity to train their staff towards sustainability and discover how small organizations can contribute to their business development. Overall, the project’s activities aim to promote transparency, accountability and good governance of civil society organizations and the business world. At the same time, advocacy for small organizations that implement projects with a large impact for their size is expected to take place. This approach will attract the business world and, consequently, strengthen the impact of network’s organizations.
Main activities:
-development of a network of small NGOs (including organizations that promote the inclusion of vulnerable groups)
-development of tools, mechanisms & methodologies that contribute to advocacy towards SDGs and networking between new/small/grassroots NGOs and private companies
-advocacy campaigns in cooperation with journalists concerning SDGs & the social impact of new/small/grassroots NGOs
The main target group is new/small/grassroots NGOs and private companies that apply CSR actions. Foundations and public authorities are secondary target groups of the initiative.
After the completion of “Small Buddies,” 30 NGOs will be members of the newly created network , 30 companies will be aware and collaborate with the NGOs of the network and 10 advocacy campaigns will be completed (5 of them in cooperation with Media)
All the partners are new/small/grassroots NGOs that focus on enhancing their impact in society.
Summary of project results
In 2016, the SR Institute emphasized that only 65 companies had produced CSR reports. Despite the European Directive mandating the consideration of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), only 26% of the total budget was allocated to address social causes. A report from the Greek National Social Research Center in 2015 revealed that small or new NGOs rarely received funding through CSR channels. Companies cited high costs, lack of motivation, and a shortage of managerial-technical skills within NGOs as the most common challenges they faced.
The aim of "Small Buddies" was to empower new and small NGOs by enhancing their transparency and creating tools to facilitate cooperation with companies. The ultimate goal was to enlarge the social impact.
The project aimed to provide a platform for small/new organizations to advocate and promote their work, creating communication channels with companies engaged in Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) actions. Simultaneously, it offered companies the opportunity to playfully train their staff on the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), discover actions of small/new organizations contributing to these goals, and potentially collaborate with them to enhance their impact. The project implemented the following activities:
- Creation of a network with 31 members (small/new organizations).
- Development of a website containing information about 17 SDGs, 31 members of the Small Buddies network, six e-magazines of the five advocacy campaigns, results of five workshops, four guides for network members, a catalog of enterprises supporting CSR and SDGs actions, the serious game, and a forum.
- Development of four guides: "General guide," "Guide for the network members," "Guide for visual communication," "Transparency guide."
- Creation of a catalog of enterprises supporting CSR and SDGs actions.
- Development of the serious game "CSR Manager" for the education and empowerment of enterprises and organizations in CSR and SDGs.
- Implementation of five advocacy campaigns covering topics like 17 SDGs, CSR and SDGs, the work of Small Buddies network members, the impact of their actions, and the impact of the project Small Buddies. These campaigns included e-magazines, uploads to platforms like Issue, Calameo, Yumpu, social media posts on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter, YouTube, and posts on the Small Buddies and Kroma (SME) websites.
- Implementation of five advocacy workshops with titles: "Collaborating for the 17 SDGs," "Collaborating for Sustainable Cities," "Brain Drain and Gender Equality," "CSR Actions Through the Eyes of Culture," "Open Day Small Buddies - Empowerment Through Education.", attended by 108 people.
The purpose of "Small Buddies" was to strengthen advocacy for small/new NGOs, Social Enterprises, and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) towards companies implementing Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) actions. During the project and through its actions, the following were achieved:
The promotion of transparency and good governance accountability for civil society organizations and companies through the creation of two tools, the project''s website, and the catalog with CSR and SDGs supported by companies.
The promotion of the 17 SDGs and the education of companies and organizations through various means, including the CSR manager game, the project''s website, the four guides, the five advocacy campaigns, and the five workshops.
The establishment of an informal network of 31 organizations initially, which functions as a secondary body, supporting and upgrading their role.
Advocacy in favor of small, new, and innovative organizations, particularly towards companies, through the creation of an informal network of organizations that functions as a secondary body, supporting and upgrading their role and promoting their actions through five advocacy campaigns (e-magazines, social media), the project''s website, the CSR manager game, and workshops.
The development of guides and tools promoting transparency, organizational capacity, and know-how of small organizations, parallel to the establishment of an informal network.
Attracting companies through informing them about the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the work of organizations related to them. This is achieved by offering tools that gradually involve the company and its employees in Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) actions. It starts with CSR actions involving employee education on SDGs and connects this action with the activities of organizations, creating channels for introduction. Specifically, this is facilitated through the serious game CSR manager, the project''s website, and the guides.
The direct involvement of a Small and Medium Enterprise (SME), KROMA, in the advocacy campaigns of the program, as well as the participation of other SMEs in promoting workshops and events.