Corporate Sustainability and COVID-19 Responses in West Africa: The Potential for Sustained Linkages Between Philanthropy and CSR Practices

Abstract

There is an emerging history of corporate charitable giving targeted at socio-economic development challenges in West African countries such as Nigeria and Ghana. This has been done through either culturally embedded forms of giving or institutional strategic forms of giving. Some of these types of corporate giving had been criticized for being unsustainable, ad-hoc and inadequately targeted. West African countries such as Nigeria and Ghana have also been in the spotlight, because they are countries endowed with abundant natural resources and increasing business presence (multinational and local). Yet the development and business environment challenges of these countries, pre-COVID, were still significant. The intended analysis of corporate responses to the crisis presented by Coronavirus is an opportunity to explore the context and forms in which corporate charitable giving emerges. It is also an opportunity to re-evaluate the role of such philanthropy and to suggest potential ways in which such responses can be embodied in sustained corporate responsibility practices geared towards sustainable human development. The chapter presents as illustrative cases, the response to Coronavirus by corporate organizations in the region which, prior to the crisis, were moving beyond basic charitable giving towards sustained Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) practices to drive sustainable development. These cases will also include COVID-specific responses such as the Private Sector Coalition Against COVID-19 (CACOVID, Nigeria) and COVID-19 Private Sector Fund (Ghana). These funds have been involved in collaborative private sector provision of medical equipment, treatment facilities and palliatives for the poor. This has also involved critical public and private sector engagement, as well as strategic impact initiatives geared at enhancing public health and well-being. The chapter also explores two specific company examples for analysis of potential impact and challenges. The aim is to suggest what this might mean for CSR practices in the region.