More information
Description
Croatian Employers’ Association is a voluntary, non-profit and independent employers’ association that protects and promotes the rights and interests of its members. The main activities of the CEA are to identify, protect and promote the economic and social rights of employers and workers, conduct a harmonized economic, social and development policy, to encourage, conclude and apply collective bargaining agreements and to bring them into line with economic, social and development policies.
The Project
The idea of the project is to support members of the CEA, especially SME’s, in implementing ESG in their business environment. More than 90% of Croatian employers are SMEs with human and financial resources that are not enough for covering topics like ESG.
As companies across sectors embrace the philosophy that social and environmental issues should be of equal concern as profits — the profile of ESG has become elevated. All three elements of ESG: environmental, social and governance are seeing increasing scrutiny.
CEA needs to build its own capacities to be able to help employer''s – CEA members. CEA members will receive training on ESG from Confederation of Norwegian Enterprise, Oslo (NHO). Upon building its own capacity, CEA will be able to provide training and build business skills in area of ESG to its members during the project (on workshops, but) also after the project (on web).
Increasing the capacity of CEA will enable it to achieve long lasting value that will enable dissemination of knowledge for a longer duration. This will make CEA possible to execute various follow-up activities which would increase the added value of the project itself long after the activities within it have been executed.
Summary of project results
The project aimed to address the lack of capacity among Croatian SMEs, particularly in integrating ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) principles into their business practices, as most SMEs lack the human and financial resources to manage these issues. It also sought to build the capacity of the Croatian Employers'' Association (CEA) to provide ongoing support and training on ESG to its members. The goal was to help companies meet increasing scrutiny on ESG topics and ensure sustainable business practices
The project conducted five workshops across various Croatian cities to train SME members of the Croatian Employers’ Association (CEA) on implementing ESG principles in their businesses. It also facilitated individual mentoring and consultations for companies seeking customized guidance on ESG requirements. Additionally, a final conference was held to further disseminate knowledge and promote the project’s outcomes.
The project successfully trained numerous SME members of the Croatian Employers’ Association (CEA) on ESG implementation, enhancing their capacity to address social and environmental issues in their businesses. Participants benefited from workshops and tailored mentoring, leading to increased awareness and skills in managing ESG requirements. As a result, CEA strengthened its role in supporting employers and fostering sustainable business practices among its members, contributing to long-term value and knowledge dissemination.
Summary of bilateral results
The project established strong bilateral cooperation between the Croatian Employers’ Association (CEA) and the Confederation of Norwegian Enterprise (NHO), enabling knowledge transfer on ESG implementation. Joint activities included workshops led by Norwegian experts and ongoing mentoring, which provided Croatian SMEs with tailored support in integrating sustainable practices. This collaboration enhanced the CEA''s capacity to assist its members effectively, ensuring sustained engagement in ESG initiatives beyond the project’s duration.