T. H. on 18/11/2009 17:03
Hi, I would like to know wether you want to focus the research on a specifc geography like India or BRICS countries or its a worldwide data you are seeking. Also what type of data you are looking for quantitative or qualitative ?

V. M. on 19/11/2009 04:02
The books aims to develop an argument for refocussing CSR Strategies on alleviation of world poverty, which for the most part, exists in LDCs( Lead Developed Countries) in Africa, South East Asia and Latin America. However, extreme poverty is wide spread not only in emerging economies including BRICs such as India and Brazil, but also in developed countries.

Thank you for showing interest in the project.

J. C. on 19/11/2009 09:54
Hi,

I was wondering if you are interested in extending this project to bidders from outside of India. I have been working in Africa for 3 years in local development and more recently in the extractive industry and am now applying to study for my PHd in CSR. At th moment I am based in the UK and am really interested in the project as it would be very useful for my studies.

Joanne

V. M. on 19/11/2009 10:07

V. M. on 19/11/2009 10:41
Thank you Joanne for your expression of interest in the project. I am a CSR practioner with the largest aviation/airline group in the Middle East, but am doing the project in my individual capacity.
I have been an anti-povety campaigner and fund raiser for various humanitarian causes for more than 30 years. The approach will not be academic
The research for the book will require face to face meetings, so logistically it would be far more convenient if the associate is based in India, then the issue of wages. Compared to the required output of 100,000 words or roughly 200 pages, I am not offering a decent wage by western standard. I could be wrong. If you are one of those CSR practioners who believe in higher purpose, the cause of the poort, please make a bid.

J. C. on 20/11/2009 12:36
Thanks for the reply. To be honest I have spent most of my three years in Africa volunteering or working for a local salary, mainly in the prison system and also the courts. For the past year I have been working for a small mining company on their community outreach project. At the moment financial gain is secondary to experience, and although this project is not to be from an academic approach I would still be very interested in placing a bid.

From mid-january I will most likely be based in Sierra Leone as my partner works there. I do have full-time internet access while in Sierra Leone and as I will not be working full time I really am looking to gain as much experience as possible prior to commencing a Phd. If you think the project would be feasible using Skype or email rather then face-to-face meetings then please let me know.

As you have restricted the bidding to India I am unable to actually place a bid. I am unsure of how a provider can change this setting, although you may be able to invite me to place a bid.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Joanne

V. M. on 22/11/2009 11:32
Thank you Joanne for your message. I would really love to work with you considering your experience in community involvement that too in a LDC like Sierra Leone. I travel to East Africa occasionaly, but not as freqeuntly as I travel to Asia

Let me think about how I can draw on your experience and will get back to bou soon,

J. C. on 22/11/2009 17:20
Thanks very much. I look forward to hearing from you.

Joanne

V. M. on 23/11/2009 04:21
Hi Joanne,

My random thougths on possible area of collaboration.

Please know the purpose of the book is to present a case to Corporate Dubai to make a break from the traditionall thinking that a CSR initiative need to be linked to a company's business mission and thus make its money in the 'Market for Virtue". So it does not make sense for most businesses to join the fight for ending hunger and poverty.

Am on the steering committee of the CSR network of Dubai Centre for Responsbile Business, which is an initiative of Dubai Chamber of Commerce.
A few of my colleagues are veering to the idea that there is a corporate solution to world poverty.

Once the primary data is collected and compiled and documented, I can involve you in validating the data and tightening the logic of mian thesis of the book and you can bill me for your contribution regardless of the time you spend for the project. We can compare notes either in London or Sierra Leone.

J. C. on 23/11/2009 23:01
Hi,

I am definitely keen to be involved in the project. Having spent the majority of my time working with the local NGO community in Sierra Leone I have become pretty disillusioned with the current development situation. Working with the private sector, and understanding the challenges that it faces in a country like SL has also been a real eye opener. I am very interested in the impact that business can have on economic growth/ fighting global poverty. However I am also a bit concerned with the way in which the whole international CSR framework is being developed. Obviously my experience is in the extractive industry and I believe the potential benefits that this industry could hold for the people of SL are endless. However I find the CSR dialogue is less focused on a realistic relationship between business and the fight against poverty. I am somewhat worried that it is, as development has often done, treating communities as passive recipients of a socially responsible business. In many ways I think this overburdens the private sector, and takes away any responsibility from the community. More often than not business can then just build a health centre, which is never truly owned by the community, and often reinforces the already existing power structures within that community. Therefore in many ways the absence of a realistic relationship undermines the potential impact of that business and allows it just to 'tick the CSR box' and carry on with business.

I would be interested to know what data you will be collecting. Obviously my main area of experience is very much grounded in the academic research/ literature review. I completed my Masters in Development Management and Governance in 2006 from the University of Swanesa, Wales, with a distinction. Fifty percent of the Masters program was a research thesis.

In terms of practical research I have worked a lot in the prisons in SL collecting data on those prisoners awaiting trial, and the preparation of reports of these findings for the attention of the judiciary and prosecution service.

As I will be in Sierra Leone, and have already established contacts with the larger donors there, and a number of larger Mining Companies and also some members of the Sierra Leone Investment Promotion Agency perhaps this could be of assistance. I know that the latter organisation has expressed interest in some CSR research which they could then use when working with new investors in the country.

Ok I will stop writing now - I apologise for my random thoughts and hope they have not been overwhelming. Let me know what you think.

Thanks

Joanne

V. M. on 24/11/2009 05:04
Thank you Joanne, I am not a competent polemicist to participate in a CSR debate with specific focus on poverty alleviation efforts. I have picked up a little domain knowledge from my field experience and interactions with development scholars and actvists like you. While working for a school project in Chaleas Das commune in Cambodia, I used to have long conversations with Daniela( the young American founder and director of PEPY). A geat visionary and institution buillder, Danilea was sceptical of the effectiveness of development aid. Her argument is similar to the main thesis of " The White Man's Burden". Early this month, I had a chance meeting with Gloria Sinmoneaux, the founder of harambeearts, and a Full Bright scholar, at Nairobi airport. Both are poles apart in ideology, but they share my dream,, the dream of a nondescript , severly malnourished peasent child,, of catching a butter fly from the rainbow.

V. M. on 24/11/2009 11:34
Hi Joanne,
My apologies for not answering the question you raised. My work place, for that matter any international airport, is like a theater of war, can't get to sit at desk for a few mins.

Back to the question. The point of departure is the argument presented in " The Corporate Solution to Global Poverty", but my take will be similar in to that of The Blue Sweater ( Jacqueline).
No heavy stuff like Sachs.

Will explore the case approch and redistribution of poverty. Will draw upon my experience in disaster response and relief work.

J. C. on 26/11/2009 22:11
I can appreciate working in an airport would be pretty chaotic!

I have had a chance to check out Jacqueline's website and tink I have a better understanding of the angle that you are interested in starting from. I guess I am now trying to work out the next best step to take in terms of making a bid/ contacting you.

Joanne

V. M. on 01/12/2009 04:29
Thanks you Joanne. I need to go back to PPH Customer Support to get those from outside India to make a bid, but now that I have decided to work with both Shubra and you, I think PPH can put you in touch with me so that I can negotiate the issue of remuneration directly with you. One option i wish to suggest I will make the advance payment you want and settle the final payment against your invoice. I leave it to you to determine your remuneration which in your judgement is a fair recognition of your efforts. You specific area of support will be in the following areas : the extent and distribution of global poverty, causes, CSR literature review, the poverty alleviation efforts of national governments,of international development organisations, of international and national NGOs, and of MNCs with specific focus on their CSR programme. Finally, review of full content after first rendition to test the logic of the main argument of the book.

I will be calling PPH customer support first thing tomorrow.

Kind regards,
Viswanathan Manikan