Microsoft Word - Dataworld Corporate Social Investment Policy.doc

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CorporateSocialInvestmentPolicy        Page1of7

CorporateSocialInvestmentPolicy

2008

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1. Background

Dataworld,asaleadingGISandICTconsultingcompanyinSo uthAfrica,believesthatithasafundamental

responsibilitytoassistinimprovingthelivesofdisadvantagedcommunitiesinSouthAfrica.Dataworldhas

thereforedevelopedaCorporateSocialInvestment(CSI)policywhichisalignedtothecompany’sstrategyand

whichcontributes

tothecompany’soverallmissionandvision.

Dataworld’sCorporateSocialInvestment(CSI)Programmeisadeliberate,focused,coherentandprogressive

programmethatis:

 Wellco‐ordinated

 Guidedbyacommonpolicyframework

 Hasclearfocusareas

 Mutuallybeneficial

 Seenasastrategicbusinessfunction

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Alignedtothecorebusiness

2. CSIProgrammeObjectives

ThefollowingarecommonlysharedobjectivesofDataworld’sCSIprogramme:

 Makeapos itive,sustainableimpactonthecommunitiesinwhichDataworldoperatesthrough

investinginimprovingthequalityoflifeofdisadvantagedcommunities

 Todevelopandempowerdisadvantagedcommunitiesthroughskillstransferandtrainingforthe

sustainabilityandlong

termgrowthofthecompany

 Tobuildandimproverelationshipswiththecompany’sexistingandpotentialstakeholdersthrough

formingmutuallybeneficialpartnerships

 Tocreateandenhancethecompany’sreputationasacaringcorporatecitizen

 Toattractqualitysociallyresponsiblestafftothecompanyaswellasretain

andenhancetheloyalty

andprideinthecompanyofexistingstaff

 Toincreasecustomergoodwillandloyalty

3. CSIPolicy

PolicyStatement

Dataworldbelievesthatbeingaresponsibleandcontributingcorporatecitizenisakeycomponentofthe

company’sbusinessstrategy.Throughitscommunityinvestmentstrategy,thecompanyiscommittedtothe

empowerment,developmentandgrowthofdisadvantagedcommunities.

PurposeoftheCSIPolicy

ThepurposeofthisCSIPolicyisto:

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CorporateSocialInvestmentPolicy        Page2of7

 outlinethecompany’sCSIstrategyandthereforeitsinvolvementincommunitydevelopmentand

upliftment

 setouttheprocessesandproceduresbywhichthecompanywillidentify,manage,andsupportits

corporatesocialinvestmentactivities

Dataworld’sCSI“Footprint”

InvestmentswillbemadeinDataworld’sareasofoperation,particularlyfocusingonthecommunitiesinthe

GreaterDurbanarea.

4. CSIFocusAreas

Thefocusareasoutlinedinthispolicyindicateareasinwh ichDataworldshalldirecttheircorporatesocial

investmentspend.Inallocatingresourcestotheoutlinedfocusareas,Dataworldshallbeguidedbytheneed

to:

 focusoncommunitiesinwhichthecompanyoperates

 emphasizeinvestmentsindisadvantagedcommunities

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supportprogrammesthatengenderempowermentanddevelopment

ProgrammeFocusAreas

Threefocusareashavebeenidentified,namely:

 Education

 TechnicalSkillsTraining

 OrphansandVulnerableChildren

Education

ThereisanationalcrisisineducationinSouthAfrica’sschoolswithlessthanathirdofSouthAfrica’spopulation

completingmatric.Thissituationisexacerbatedbytheconsiderablebarrierstolearning:poverty,poor

facilities,overlargeclasses,alackof facilitiesandresources,andillness.Theproblemisparticularlydirein

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higher‐grademaths,scienceandtechnologyeducationwhereitisestimatedthatonethirdofschoolsoffering

thesesubjectsachievedpassratesoflessthan20%.

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Investmentbytheprivatesectorandcivilsocietyiscriticaltoredresstheimbalancescreatedby40yearsof

apartheideducation.Inacountry

whereanestimated3millionadultsareilliterateandanother8millionare

functionallyilliterate,itisimperativetoincreaseaccesstoeducationandimproveteaching,particularlyinthe

maths,scienceandtechnologyfields,topreparechildrenforthefuture.

Dataworld’ssocialinvestmentprogrammeattemptstoaddresstheseneedsthroughsupporting

projects

providing:

 Technologyeducationforprimaryandsecondaryschooleducatorsandlearners

 CareerguidanceandsupportforlearnersattheGrade8‐10levelconsideringcareersinthemaths,

scienceandtechnologyfields

 Technologyrelatedequipment,suppliesandinfrastructure

TechnicalSkillsTraining

TheeducationalinequalitiesthatresultedfromApartheid,combinedwiththegrowingpressuresof

globalizationhaveledtoanincreasedmismatchofskillswithinthelabourmarketandashortfallofskilled



CorporateSocialInvestmentPolicy        Page3of7

labourinmanysectors.TheSouthAfricanDepartmentofLabourhasidentifiedskillsshortfallsasbeing

particularlyhighintermsofrequiredmanagementskills,technicians,artisansandskilledlabourers.

Dataworld’ssocialinvestmentprogrammeattemptstoaddresstheseneedsthroughsupportingprojects

providing:

 Technicalskillstrainingatschoolleaverlevel,particularlyprogrammesfocusedontraininginthe

informationandcommunicationtechnologyfield

 Technologyrelatedequipmentandsuppliesnecessaryforskillstraining

OrphansandVulnerableChildren

Thereare5.3millionSouthAfricanslivingwithHIV/AIDS,thelargestnumberofinfectedpeopleofanycountry

intheworld.Todate,morethan1.7millionSouthAfricanshavediedofHIV/AIDS,resultingin1.1millionAIDS

orphans.Thedisproportionatelylargenumberoforphansandvulnerablechildren(OVCs)inSouth

Africaisdue

totheHIV/AIDSpandemic.TheestimatedpercentageofchildrenorphanedbyAIDS,asopposedtoother

causes,increasedfrom5.6percentofallorphansin1995to43.3percentin2001.Ifcurrenttrendscontinue,it

isprojectedthatby2010nearlythree‐quartersofSouthAfrica's

orphanswillhavebeenorphanedbyAIDS.

AstheHIV/AIDScrisisimpactsmostheavilyonthepoor,thelargestnumbersofSouthAfricanorphansareto

befoundinthemostunder‐resourcedcommunities.Familiesareincreasinglystrugglingunderthestrainand

failingtoprovidefullyforthechildren'sneedswhile

thegovernment'ssocialsafetynetoftendoesnotreach

themarginalisedfamiliesandcommunities

Dataworld’ssocialinvestmentinorphansandvulnerablechildrenaimstoaddressthesechallenges,specifically

withregardtoHIV/Aidsaffectedandinfectedchildrenbysupportingprojectsthat:

 Provideeconomic,psychosocialandothersupportsuchasfood,

housing,education,andhealthcareto

HIV/Aidsorphans.

FlagshipProjects

DataworldwillbeproactiveinsettingupflagshipprojectswithintheEducationfocusarea,andwillallocatethe

majority of the CSI budget to such projects. The balance of CSI funding will be made available for grants to

smallernon‐flagshipprojects.Theflagshipprojectmustberunbyanorganization

whichhasbeeninexistence

formorethanoneyearandhasanestablishedtrackrecord.



IncaseswhereDataworldisproactiveinsettingupflagshipprojects,theywillundertaketo:



 evaluatetheprojectsinordertoassessthe needandultimateimpactoftheprojects

 drawupa formalcontractwiththeflagshipprojectswhichwillclearlyidentifytheroles,rights

andintendedbenefitsthatpertaintoeachofthepartiesinvolved.

 ensurethatflagshipprojectsare

sustainableinthelongterm,andachieverealand

measurabledevelopmentalimpact.

CriteriaforSelectingProjects

AllorganisationsandprojectsidentifiedforfinancialsupportfromDataworldmust:

 haveanultimateobjectiveofimprovingthequalityoflifeofmembersofdisadvantagedcommunities

withinSouthAfrica

 focusonthedisadvantagedcommunitieswithinwhichDataworldoperates

 beabletodemonstratesomeformofsustainability



CorporateSocialInvestmentPolicy        Page4of7

 beimplementedbyorganizationsregisteredasNonProfitOrg anisationswiththeDepartmentofSocial

Development’sNPODirectorateandhaveSection18(A)taxexemptionstatus

 provethatmorethan75%ofthebeneficiariesareblackinaccordancewiththerequirementsof

the

scorecardoftheBroadBasedBlackEconomicEmpowerment(BBBEE)Charter

GeneralExclusions

Dataworldwillnotofferfinancialsupportto:

 Profit‐makingorganisationsandcompanies

 Religiousorganizationsforsectarianactivities

 Politicalpartiesorgroupswithpartisanpoliticalaffiliations

 Labourunions

5. CSIBudget

 Dataworld’sCSIexpend iturewillbecalculatedaccordingtoaspecificformulaofaminimumof1%netprofit

aftertax.Thebudgetwillrunfromthe1Apriltothe31

ofMarcheachyear.

ThefollowingsplitisproposedforDataworld’sCSIbudget:

FlagshipProject=60%

 Non‐flagshipProjects=40%

Non‐financialcontributionswillincludestaffhoursinparticipatinginemployeevolunteerismduringcompany

workinghoursaswellasmaterial donationsofcomputerequipmentandsoftware.

6. EmployeeInvolvement

DataworldrealizesthevalueofinvolvingemployeesinitsCSIactivitiesandassuchwillendeavourtodevelop

andimplementanemployeeparticipationprogrammethatwilladdresstheneedsoftheemployeesina

holisticmannerwhilstalsoachievingitscorporateobjectives.

Dataworldwilldevelopaformalemployeevolunteerprogrammewhere

employeeswillbeencouragedto

volunteerthroughouttheyearatarangeofcommunitydevelopmentprojects.Employeeswillbeentitledto

twohalfday’spaidleavetovolunteerataproject.

Thesevolunteerprojectswillincludetheprojectsthatthecompany’sCSIprogrammesupportsaswellasstaff‐

nominatedprojects

andidentifiedcommunitydevelopmentprojects.

Employeevolunteeringsupportcanincludevolunteertime,financialcontributionsanddonationsinkind.The

volunteerneedsofprojectsthatthecompanyissupportingwillbeidentifiedandcommunicatedtoemployees

toensurethatemployeesareawareoftheopportunitiesavailable.

7. Decision‐makingStructure&RolesandResponsibilities

AformalCSICommitteewillbeestablishedtoensurethataco‐ordinated,coherentandfocusedsocial

investmentstrategyisrealized.TheCSICommitteewillmeetonamonthlybasis.

TheCommitteeshallbechairedbytheCSIco‐ordinatorandinclude(butnotbelimitedto)thefollowing

members:



HumanResourcesrepresentative



CorporateSocialInvestmentPolicy        Page5of7

 Financialrepresentative

 Staffrepresentatives(fiverepresentatives)



TheCSICommitteeresponsibilitieswillinclude:

 Approvalofselectedprojectsforinvestmentincludingflagshippro jects

 Allocationofbudgettoselectedprojects

 Drawingupofcontracts/gr antagreementswiththeselectedprojects.



Monitoringtheeffectivenessoffundedprojects

 Co‐ordinatingtheimplementationofaneffectiveCSIcommunicationprogramme

TheCSIprogrammewillbemanagedonadaytodaybasisbytheCSICo‐ordinatorwhoseresponsibilitieswill

include:

 DeterminingtheCSIpolicy andstrategy

 DeterminingtheCSIbudget

 Identifying,screeningandselectingCSI projectstopresenttotheCSICommittee

 ControllingtheCSIexpenditure

 Managingtheimplementationofselectedprojectsonadaytodaybasis

 ExternalandinternalCSIreporting



TheCEOandCFOwillberesponsiblefor:

 FinalapprovaloftheCSIbudget

 FinalapprovaloftheCSIpolicy

8. ReportingStructure

ProjectReporting

 Exactreportingformatsanddatesforreportsubmissionshallbesetoutinthegrant agreementstobe

signedbyeachofthemajorprojectsfunded.

 Volunteerprojectssupportedthroughemployeevolunteerhourswillberequiredtosigncontract

letterswhichwillspecifyreportingrequirements

ManagementReporting

 TheCSICo‐ordinatorwillreporttotheCSIcommitteeonallCSIactivitiesthroughprojectprogress

reportsattheCSIcommitteemeetings

 TheCSICo‐ordinatorwillreporttotheCEOandCFOannuallyontheCSIprogramme

 TheCSICo‐ordinatorwillreporttostaffregularly

ontheprojects’progress

9. Communication

TheCSIcommunicationplanwillcommunicateinformationonDataworld’sCSIact ivitiesandsuccessesboth

internallyandexternally.Theaimofthecommunicationplanistoenhancethecompany’sreputationforgood



CorporateSocialInvestmentPolicy        Page6of7

corporatecitizenshipandensurethatstaff,theBoardofDirectors,customers,investors,potentialpartnersand

allrelevantstakeholdersarekeptinformed.

Thedevelopmentandimplementationoftheexternalandinternalcommmunciationplanwillbethe

responsibilityoftheCSICo‐ordinatorand

theHRManager.

InternalCommunication

TheinternalcommunicationplanwillprovidefeedbacktostaffandmanagementontheCSIpolicyand

strategy,projectsselected,projectachievements,andprojectvolunteeropportunities.Thiswillbe

communicatedthroughthefollowingmediums:

 Email

 Intranet

 Staffmeetings

 Payinformationslips

 OfficeNoticeboards

 Newemployeeinduction

packs



ExternalCommunication

Theexternalcommunicationplanwillcreatepublicawarenessforthecompany’sCSIprogrammeandtheirrole

incommunityupliftmentthrough:

 Companywebsite

 Companyprofile

 Salespresentations

 Tenderdocuments

 SmartXchangenewsletter

10.EvaluationandFeedback

Aneffectiveevaluationandimpactanalysisprocesswillbedevelopedandimplementedandwillapplytoall

selectedprojects.Themeasurementandevaluationoftheprojectswillbedefinedwithinthegrantagreements

whichsettheframeworkforperiodicevaluation.

Forflagshipprojectsapre‐fundingevaluation,sitevisitsandend

ofcontractevaluationwillbeconductedwhere

afullimpactanalysiswillbeundertaken.Furthermorefundedorganisationswillberequiredtohaveanin‐built

monitoringelementfortheprogrammebeingfunded.

Theextentofevaluationonnon‐flagshipprojectswillbedeterminedaccordingtothesizeofgrant.A

non‐

professionalevaluat ionprocesswillbeusedinvolvingtheuseofapplicationforms,conductingsitevisitsand

developmentofformalcontractswithsetreportingrequirements.

FulldisclosureofgranteesandtheamountofgrantsmadeareinthebestinterestofDataworldintermsofgood

CorporateGovernancepractices.



CorporateSocialInvestmentPolicy        Page7of7

EffectiveDate:

Thispolicyiseffectivefromthedateofsignatureasshownbelow.



DATEREVIEWED: ________________________________



DATEAPPROVED: ________________________________



APPROVEDBY: ________________________________



REVIEWINGAUTHORITY: _____________________________