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This article was first written by Peter Cornish, LIN Center for Community Development’s Former Head of Marketing & Communication
The LIN Center For Community Development’s second annual conference How Doing Good Is Good For Business, in partnership with the Canadian Chamber of Commerce HCMC and the French Chamber of Commerce and Industry Vietnam, was held in June 2018 at the Park Hyatt Hotel in Ho Chi Minh City.
With voices from multiple sectors sharing experiences and stories, the event highlighted 3 common takeaways:
Reaching Shared Goals through Cross-Sector Partnerships
As a local, Vietnamese connection point, LIN has provided a platform where delegates have become more aware of the different key operators in the field. This is particularly important for nonprofits that require resources from corporates, not only for funding but also for human and intellectual capital including skills, leadership, and network connections to deliver their objectives. With international donors withdrawing their assistance, and little support from governmental agencies, strengthening relationships with locally-based private sector is becoming crucial.
On the other hand, the private sector also sought greater understanding of how they could optimize and strengthen their CSR tools. While developing their businesses strategically, private institutions are also looking to create greater shared value with new partners, especially those operating in the social sector.
With different sectors complimenting each other, nonprofit organizations were able to gain insights into new and innovative models for collaboration with businesses.
Identifying Added-Value Partnerships
Where governmental agencies and institutions are lagging behind, the business and corporate sectors are leading with community engagement and funding, pushing forward with long term, strategic objectives that work to create shared values across sectors.
The keynote speech by Warrick Cleine, Chairman and CEO of KPMG Vietnam and Cambodia, shared lessons from KPMG’s approach to CSR, again stressing the important of developing added-value partnerships in order to achieve shared social goals. The three-year collaborative agreement between KPMG and LIN reflects their commitment to build thriving communities and sustainable business in a Partnership for a Vibrant Vietnam.
It is anticipated that through this partnership, KPMG employees will engage more actively with the company’s CSR initiatives, expand their understanding of the differences between charity and development, and increase their leadership skills through pro bono volunteer activities in the social sector.
Looking to the Future
Key lessons that LIN has learned from hosting the conference include the importance of forward planning, sufficient funding and a dedicated team responsible for execution. As LIN looks to the future, they will continue working with the community for the community. The conference has enabled LIN to highlight the importance of connecting at all levels, not just on the grassroots level, but also on an international stage.