Are you meeting your CSR goals?

In an era where corporate responsibility is not just a buzzword but a crucial aspect of sustainable business growth, we are thrilled to unveil our latest initiative: The CSR Product Catalogue.

We have also added a whole new section to our website: "CSR for Companies". As leaders at the forefront of shaping corporate strategy and direction, we understand the imperative to integrate social responsibility into every facet of your organisation's operations.

Why CSR Matters:

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) transcends mere philanthropy; it is about aligning business values with societal needs, thereby fostering a positive impact on communities while driving long-term success. Today's consumers, investors, and employees are increasingly gravitating towards companies that demonstrate a commitment to environmental stewardship, social equity, and ethical practices.

Our Approach:

Our CSR Product Catalogue will show you examples on specific projects that are ready to be tailored to meet the specific needs of top-level executives like yourselves. We recognize that integrating CSR initiatives seamlessly into corporate strategies requires strategic insight, innovative thinking, and actionable plans.

We Offer:

• a wide range of CSR products

• products, that are tried and tested, and ready to launch

• products, that are customisable in impact and financial commitment

• easy implementation on your behalf

• long-time presence in East Africa

• expertise partnering with the mining sector

Easy Solution:

• guaranteed financial transparency and legality through our Australian organisation

• no need for vetting or follow-up on local organisations by you

• regular financial reports provided

• impact milestones and reports issued throughout project duration

• storytelling products delivered ready for publication

Do you want to know more? Nina, our CEO, is happy to deliver a presentation on how we can you and your company have a meaningful and sustainable impact.

Contact Nina here

Thank you

ESG explained

ESG stands for Environmental, Social, and Governance. It's a set of criteria that investors and businesses use to evaluate a company's performance and impact on society and the environment.

Let's focus on the "S" aspect of ESG, which stands for "Social." This part looks at how a company interacts with people, both inside and outside the organization. It considers things like:

Employee treatment: How well does the company treat its employees? Do they provide fair wages, safe working conditions, and opportunities for growth?

Diversity and inclusion: Is the company diverse in terms of race, gender, and other demographics? Do they promote inclusivity and equal opportunities?

Community impact: How does the company affect the communities where it operates? Do they contribute positively to society by supporting local initiatives and being a responsible corporate citizen?

Customer satisfaction: Does the company prioritize customer well-being and satisfaction? Do they offer quality products or services that meet the needs of their customers?

Supply chain ethics: Does the company ensure that its suppliers follow ethical practices and treat their employees and the environment responsibly?

ESG vs CSR

ESG is similar to Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) in that both aim to assess a company's impact on society. However, there are some key differences between the two:

Scope: ESG is a broader concept that considers environmental, social, and governance aspects of a company, while CSR primarily focuses on the company's social and environmental responsibilities.

Integration: ESG is often integrated into the core business strategy and decision-making processes of a company, while CSR may be seen as a separate set of initiatives or projects.

Reporting and Transparency: ESG reporting is becoming more standardized and mainstream, with companies disclosing their ESG practices to investors and stakeholders. CSR reporting can also be a part of ESG reporting, but it tends to be more voluntary and may vary in terms of metrics and disclosure.

Stakeholder Impact: ESG takes into account the interests of all stakeholders, including employees, communities, investors, and customers. CSR may have a narrower focus, mainly addressing social and environmental issues.

To sum up, you can say ESG is about evaluating a company's environmental, social, and governance practices, with a particular emphasis on how it treats people (the "S" aspect). While similar in some ways, ESG is a broader and more integrated approach compared to CSR, which often concentrates on specific social and environmental initiatives.

What does that have to do with you and me?

You see, we often partner with companies to deliver on their CSR goals. We have the expertise and the experience. We can deliver a far better impact for less money - that’s a good ROI (return on Investment), to stay with the lingo.

Does the company you work for us have an ESG plan or even penned out some CSR goals? If not, point them our way and we are happy to have a non-binding and free conversation.

Do you want to hear something interesting?

Then you should get our Founding Director and CEO, Nina Hjortlund, to speak at your event.

She is an experienced speaker delivering both personal stories and reflective insights with passion and wit.

Topics include:

CROSS-SECTOR PARTNERSHIPS FOR THE WIN

How to make CSR an equal working relationship drawing on the strengths and expertise of both parties resulting in better impact and sustainable results. What are the flaws and pitfalls with the current hand-out mentality for supporting local organisations?

WHY AFRICA MATTERS TO YOU

Creating sustainable economic growth throughout sub-Saharan Africa is vital for global stability. Growing population in need of jobs and quality of life has more impact on your day-to-day life than you think!

YOUR FUTURE DEPENDS ON INVESTING IN AFRICAN WOMEN

When we invest in African women it increases economic growth and development. When women are empowered they become powerful catalysts for economic development. Investing in African women reduces poverty, gender inequality, and social injustice leading to better global health and social outcomes.

WHY MUSHROOMS ARE THE ANSWER TO EVERYTHING

Growing mushrooms in Tanzania has given us a pathway to reduce poverty, provide better nutrition, create jobs, equality, health, climate change, sustainability, and long-term funding of other projects. Get the details of this inspiring and groundbreaking project stemming from a humble mushroom.

Download Nina’s one-pager speaker kit or contact her on email by clicking below.

Let’s talk wether you have a small gathering or a large conference.

CSR explained

What does CSR mean?

CSR stands for Corporate Social Responsibility.

It is all about companies going the extra mile to do good things for society and the environment, even if they are not legally required to.

CSR is important to companies because it helps them show that they care about more than just making money. When companies take actions to address social and environmental issues, people tend to like them more. Customers, employees, investors, and others see these companies as responsible and trustworthy.

By being socially responsible, companies can build better relationships with their customers, employees, and the communities they operate in. It's like saying, "Hey, we're not just here to sell stuff, we genuinely want to make a positive difference in people's lives."

Being socially responsible also helps companies manage risks. They can anticipate and tackle problems like climate change, human rights issues, or changes in regulations, which can protect their business from potential harm.

Another important aspect is that CSR helps companies attract and keep talented employees. Nowadays, many people want to work for companies that align with their values and have a sense of purpose. So, if a company shows that it's committed to doing good, it becomes more appealing to potential employees and can keep its existing ones happy.

CSR also encourages companies to be innovative. By considering social and environmental factors, businesses can come up with new ideas, develop sustainable products and services, and stay ahead of the competition.

Finally, CSR is essential for the long-term survival of businesses and the planet. By taking actions that make the world a better place, companies contribute to a more fair and sustainable future. It's about looking beyond short-term profits and thinking about the well-being of future generations.

In a nutshell, CSR is about companies doing good things beyond what's legally required, and it's important because it helps them gain trust, manage risks, attract great employees, be innovative, and ensure a better future for everyone.

Does every company have a csr programme?

Not all companies have a formal CSR program in place. The adoption of CSR practices varies among companies and industries. While many large corporations have established dedicated CSR initiatives, smaller businesses or start-ups may not have formal programs but still engage in socially responsible activities on a smaller scale.

The decision to implement a CSR program depends on various factors such as the company's size, resources, industry, values, and stakeholders' expectations. Some companies may prioritize CSR as a fundamental part of their business strategy, while others may focus on different priorities or may not have fully recognized the importance of CSR.

However, it's worth noting that the concept of CSR and the awareness of its importance have been growing in recent years. Many businesses are recognizing that being socially responsible is not only beneficial for society but also advantageous for their reputation, customer loyalty, and long-term sustainability. As a result, more companies are integrating CSR principles into their operations, even if they don't have formal programs.

In some cases, companies may engage in specific CSR activities without having a comprehensive program. They may support local charities, participate in community events, implement environmentally friendly practices, or donate a portion of their profits to social causes. These individual actions can still contribute to CSR, even without a structured program.

Ultimately, the extent and formality of a company's CSR program depend on its unique circumstances and the importance it places on corporate social responsibility.

CSR vs Social Enterprise

CSR and social enterprise are related concepts but have distinct differences.

CSR is typically integrated into a company's operations and can cover various aspects such as ethical business practices, environmental sustainability, community engagement, and employee well-being. CSR is generally practiced by both for-profit and non-profit organizations, with the aim of aligning business activities with social and environmental goals.

On the other hand, a social enterprise is a specific type of business entity that operates with the primary goal of addressing a particular social or environmental problem. Social enterprises are profit-driven organizations, but their core purpose is to create positive social impact rather than maximizing financial returns for shareholders. These businesses use commercial strategies to tackle social issues, combining entrepreneurship with a mission to bring about social change. The profits generated by social enterprises are often reinvested into their social mission rather than being solely distributed to shareholders.

While CSR is an approach adopted by companies to demonstrate responsibility and contribute to society, social enterprises are businesses specifically designed to create social impact through their products, services, or business models. CSR can be part of a company's broader strategy, whereas social enterprise operates with a primary focus on social or environmental objectives and uses business as a means to achieve them.

In summary, CSR represents the responsible actions and initiatives undertaken by companies to address societal and environmental concerns, while a social enterprise is a business entity created with the explicit purpose of generating social impact alongside financial sustainability.

CSR and Australia for cedar tanzania

With so many concepts and acronyms, many of them overlapping, it is easy to get a just a little confused.

We can deliver CSR programmes for companies. We have the experience and expertise - just like you would outsource IT services or accounting to companies with that expertise.

Winner of the "CEO of the Year Award 2023"

Nina Hjortlund not only got nominated in the category for CEO of the Year 2023 in the category for Best Community Empowerment Organisation. She also WON!

Below we share the article APAC Insider has publicised upon announcing the winner

Tanzania acts as a home to approximately 60 million people, but, unfortunately, 90% of said population lives in poverty. Just over half of the populace are living on a daily income that amounts to less than the cost of a takeaway coffee, with almost 50 million having to manage their lives on significantly less.

Its people struggle with what is inarguably the definition of extreme poverty, and this is something that Nina Hjortlund, CEO of Australia for Cedar Tanzania has recognised. We investigate how Nina utilises her position to advocate for a better tomorrow for the people of Tanzania.

Poverty is a horrendous state of living that has unfortunately struck a vast majority of the globe, and it’s an issue that has been ongoing for countless years. It’s a vicious cycle that traps adults and children alike, and introduces a whole host of problems that affect the entire world. Australia for Cedar Tanzania, spearheaded by Nina Hjortlund, aims to do all it can to influence change, however. Be it through its on-the-ground projects, or its informative articles on how important it is to contribute towards change, it’s devoted to making a true difference that’ll benefit the people struggling the most. 

Australia for Cedar Tanzania provides volunteers and advisors wherever necessary to its on-the-ground organisation, Cedar Tanzania, in order to try to build up a better state of living for the population of Tanzania. Not only does it provide education and better healthcare, but it contributes towards empowering the local populace to ensure that their voices are heard. It strongly values respect, safety, quality, partnerships, forgiveness, and integrity, and adheres to these prospects to deliver world-changing assistance those who desperately need it. 

At the forefront of all of this is Nina, a CEO unlike any other. After having lived in Tanzania for 13 years, Nina founded Australia for Cedar Tanzania – an organisation that supports the implementation of projects that are each built around the desire to provide more for the people of Tanzania. She takes a holistic approach towards poverty alleviation, and is already creating a sustainable and positive change for over 35,000 residents in rural Tanzania. But this is just the beginning, and Nina is constantly spreading awareness through multiple platforms and methods. 

Since establishing Australia for Cedar Tanzania, Nina has expanded the business with Swahili Sensations in 2020, which focuses on importing handmade crafts with a modern twist from Tanzania. The entire purpose of Swahili Sensations is to secure the culture and livelihood of artisans across East Africa, and its success is all thanks to Nina’s compassionate approach towards collaboration. She is frequently developing new ideas and proposing new projects, and her work is quite clearly making a difference within rural Tanzanian communities.

However, despite being well equipped to lead Australia for Cedar Tanzania, Nina still isn’t satisfied with her current level of knowledge. As such, she follows her pursuit of continuous learning, and is currently undertaking a Micro Master’s at Queensland University in Leadership and Global Development. She does this, all whilst managing the practises of Australia for Cedar Tanzania. Her determination to give her best to the people who need it the most is truly inspiring, and it’s visible through every action and project that Cedar Tanzania undertakes.

Nina puts her heart into the difference she’s making and will never hesitate to explain to anyone who’s curious just how crucial it is to eliminate poverty. Her beliefs are steadfast and admirable, and the work that she’s encouraging has already proven to be making a monumental difference. And yet, Nina is insistent that more work can always be done, and it’s this dedication towards advocating for the people of Tanzania that truly makes her a CEO that stands out among the rest. 

Thank you for celebrating with us.

Are you looking for a partner?

We are!

We believer partnering across sectors makes us all stronger. That’s why we seek out companies who really wants to get bang for their buck and make a difference in the world.

When a company partner with us on their Corporate Social Responsibilities (CSR or the ‘S’ in ESG) projects, they can focus on their core competencies and business activities. CSR projects often require a significant amount of time, resources, and expertise, which may not be available within the company. By outsourcing these projects to us (or other NGOs), companies can free up their internal resources and focus on what they do best.

Another benefit to cross-sector partnerships on CSR projects is access to expertise and experience - for both the company and the NGO.

We have a wealth of local knowledge and experience in the local area, in the culture, social issues and strengths, environmental problems and potential solutions, community development, and healthcare. By working with us, companies can tap into this expertise and leverage it to achieve their CSR goals.

We have established long-standing networks and relationships with local communities, which can be difficult for companies to build on their own. We can help companies gain access to these networks and build stronger relationships with stakeholders and communities.

Partnerships enhances company reputation and brand image. When a company engages in socially responsible activities, it can help improve its public image and reputation. We deliver regular reports ready to publicise, financial reports and a solid measurement of impact. That’s a pretty good ROI!

Overall, partnering on CSR projects is a win-win situation for both companies and NGOs. Companies achieve their CSR goals more effectively and efficiently while freeing up their internal resources, and NGOs can leverage their expertise and experience to make a positive impact in the communities they serve.

What do we offer you?

We assist you, and your company, to reach your ESG goals in an easy and impactful way. We have the experience and expertise to implement sustainable CSR projects on your behalf.

We create pathways for engagement and value alignment throughout the process. We make sure the project we work on together reflects your core values and beliefs.

We provide clearly defined targets and well-documented results. We deliver regular reports both on social impact and on financial measures.

What are you waiting for?

Contact us now to be our partner!

Thank you

Nina

Best Innovation in Corporate Social Responsibility

Australia for Cedar Tanzania received a Highly Commended award for our mushroom project in Tanzania.

This award is part of Australia-Africa Minerals and Energy Group’s (AAMEG) yearly Africa Awards presented as part of the Africa Downunder (ADU) conference.

ADU is the largest mining conference with a focus on Africa held outside Africa, and AAMEG is the peak body representing Australian companies engaged in the development of Africa’s resource industry. 

What is Kilimu Bora | Smart Farming?

Kilimu Bora means Smart Farming in Swahili. All projects under this banner revolve around food security, entrepreneurship, gender equality, climate change, nutritional health, and the environment.

Our first Smart Farming project has been the establishment of mushroom farming. This includes mushroom growth, drying methods, business skills and export agreements.

Mushroom farming as a business is new in Tanzania, and we are one of the leading pioneers in the area.

Through this project we are addressing a range of social, economic, and environmental challenges. We provide skilled training for vulnerable groups such as young women and people with disabilities and their household members.

Participants are offered hands-on of training, in which they are taught both the agricultural and business aspects of operating and managing a mushroom farm. The training includes how to grow and harvest mushrooms, preparing substrate, drying and packaging, how to meet international sterilisation and hygiene standards, quality control, bookkeeping, environmental best practises and compliance, market navigation, and customer service. The participants also learn how to source organic substrate materials locally and how to store this for optimal produce production.

Our high-quality mushrooms can be sold both locally and internationally thanks to our innovative custom-built driers, not using electricity but only the heat from the sun and a clever use of the airflow.

During the selection of participants priority was given to young women and to people with disabilities or their household members.

Gender inequality is prevalent in Tanzania and starts for girls already at a very young age when they often are deprived of the chance of an education in favour of their brothers. Without a good education, many girls and young women will remain both financially and emotionally dependent on parents, partners, or husbands. People with disabilities bear the double burden of poverty and exclusion due to financial, social, and environmental barriers coupled with a high degree of stigma present across Tanzania.

Why Mushrooms? 

90% of the Tanzanian population of 60 million people are living on less than $5.00 PPP. 49% is surviving on less $1.90 PPP per day – the international definition of severe poverty. Of these, the vast majority, 80%, are living in rural areas such as the Nyamatongo Ward.

Choosing mushrooms as the vehicle for agri-business is beneficial for several reasons:

No Land Required

Mushrooms are grown in buckets and indoors, and hence easier allow women and disabled people to become equal participants in their family’s and community’s economic life.

Research shows that fewer women and people with disabilities own land, and that they do not have equal access to manual labour.

Year-Round Crop, Independent of Rainfall

Through careful selection of species and growing conditions, mushrooms can be grown year-round regardless of change in rain patterns.

Climate change has shown irregularities to rainfall in the region with current draught and famine in the Horn of Africa. More specifically, the Mwanza region has experienced persistent irregular rainfall over the last number of years, which can have extensively harmful effects on local agriculture.

Minimal Initial Investment

This allows for economic opportunity even for women and people with disabilitiess with minimal control of their family finances.

Our project encourages collaborative farming and includes financial support and training during the initial set-up period.

Fast Return on Investment

The mushroom growth cycle can be as short as 8-10 weeks, allowing farmers to see profit extremely quickly.

This is important for the ability to establish income and re-investment in next growth cycle.

Not Labour Intensive

Mushrooms can easily be grown by any member of the household without the need to hire additional help. One of the main barriers seen to extensive farming is access to labour and machinery.

No Educational Background Required

After a relatively short training period, participants are ready to begin cultivating mushrooms.

We embrace a hands-on learning process which allows participants to gain the necessary skills no matter previous level of schooling and their academic capabilities.

High Nutritional Value

Mushrooms are rich in protein, vitamins, and minerals and provide an excellent nutritional boost in areas that suffer from malnutrition such as the communities in which we are working.

Community Benefits

We encourage all our participants to establish collaborative farms servicing the local community. Collaborative farming minimises investment costs for the participants including cost to transport bio waste, initial purchases of buckets and tools, and a cost-effective solution to house the farm.

A collaborative farm has other advantages too: the strength of the shared knowledge and the ability to support each other in farming duties. This increases the success rate of the farm as well as enhances the quality of the produce.

By giving a preference to women and people with disabilities and their household members we are ensuring the initiative is supporting the most vulnerable groups within the community. Through research, it has been proven that when women are being supported in taking up income generating activities, the financial outcome is then reinvested for the benefit of the entire household i.e., invested in children’s education and health or in long-term and sustainable investments in collective living standards.

Having an increased production of fresh mushrooms will benefit the entire community of more than 35,000 people through access to an additional and affordable crop with high nutritional value.

Stunted growth and development are caused by a combination of malnutrition, prolonged and repeated infections, and untreated worms and parasites. This is common sight as it affects 38% of children under 5 years old in rural Tanzania. Supplementing their diets with oyster mushrooms will assist in combatting stunted growth in children.

 Sustainability

Responsible Cyclic Agriculture and Prevents the Burning of Agricultural Waste

Our mushrooms are grown on agricultural waste, saving expenses, and preventing the common practice of burning waste.

Avoiding burning of agricultural waste ties in with climate change best practises.

No Pesticides or Fertiliser Required

This both saves on expenses while also ensuring no chemical runoff or harmful agricultural practices. Spent substrates can be reused or sold as fertilizer after the mushroom growth is complete.

With the current hike in fertiliser price and scarce availability this makes mushroom farming a very appealing and cost-effective crop. In addition, in rural areas women are often at a significant disadvantage in regard to purchasing quality fertiliser, since access to such products are often prioritized towards male farmers.

Long-Term Financial Growth Potential

There are several ways a farm could expand: Entrepreneurs can expand into more exotic, high-value mushroom strands as their financial stability increases. Alternatively, there is a growing market for medicinal mushrooms.

Further several niche products are being produced such as mushroom leather, mushroom bricks, or to dispose of oil spills and non-degradable waste products.

Part of our long-term project plan is to provide a safety-net option to purchase any surplus production which will be dried and exported as wholesale to the international market.

High Demand on the International Market

Dried mushrooms have a one-year shelf life and can be sold internationally to a wide range of customers. This includes both B2B and B2C customers, wholesaling, distribution, and to businesses for further processing.

We currently have buyers in Singapore and in East Africa for distribution in Europe and in the USA.

Financial Sustainability after Seed-Funding

After initial central set-up and establishment of first round of collaborative farms the project is financially sustainable with income generated from export of central production as well as surplus production from the collaborative farms.

As a not-for-profit, any financial surplus will be re-invested into further strengthening and expansion of the mushroom project or into our healthcare services.

Furthermore, interest has already been shown from international impact investing companies for further scaling and expansion.

Scalability to other areas

Long-term plans include scaling this project to other areas outside of Nyamatongo Ward. Interest for our project has been shown by organisations working in the refugee camps in the Kigoma area housing approximately 250,000 residents.

Additionally, a potential collaboration with companies working with other dried fruit and vegetables could be imagined. Also in this area, interest has been shown from potential partner companies.

What now?

Currently we are actively seeking seed funding for a year-long upscaling after which the project is financially sustainable.

Our goals include creating a permanent production and ongoing teaching centre at our Community Centre. In the first year we are aiming to have successfully trained 200 residents in mushroom farming. We will deliver ongoing support to new farms and provide teaching in business skills and banking.

Wellbeing and nutritional health will improve throughout the area for all its residents. There will be a steady supply of highly nutritious locally sourced produce and indirectly an increase in household income. It will also strengthen women and people with disabilities position in their communities. 

Through an upscaled project we will also be able to safety-net newly established mushroom farms against loss from over-production by setting up procedures to approve and test each farm is in alignment with international requirements allowing their produce to be used for export.

You can of course help us get a head start towards our ambitious AUD $150,000 goal by clicking on the big green button to donate. Even $20 gets us towards this goal.

If you want to know more about the project you can contact Nina here.

 Thank you!

Why should a not-for-profit be a member of a private sector industry group?

Yesterday was my first day as a member of AAMEG. AAMEG stands for Australia-Africa Minerals & Energy Group.

What am I, as the head of a Not-for-profit, doing as a member of a mining and oil & gas industry group?

The thing is, we have successfully collaborated with the private sector on several projects. Many of these private sector companies being from the mining industry. 

AAMEG CEO Roger Staley

How do we collaborate?

To me, a collaboration is not just for a private sector company to hand over a cheque and then be done with their ESG commitments. I like to invite the private sector to actively participate with their knowledge and expertise. This could be sharing technical knowledge, that could improve delivery of a project. Or lend us administrative capacity, that is more efficient than what we have access to. It can be practical assistance with logistics or training workshops. The possibilities are endless.

What can we offer the mineral and energy sector?

Our strength is we work holistically and on many different projects simultaneously. We have great experience in project development and therefore we can align any of our projects to fit in with your company’s core values.

Another strength is our global registrations. With our on-the-ground entity “Cedar Tanzania” being registered in Tanzania as an NGO, Australia for Cedar Tanzania in Australia, and further registrations and offices in Switzerland and Bulgaria, we have many people and networks to draw on. 

Through that, we can also guarantee we are adhering to rules and regulations in whichever country we are working in.

Well, this goes for any private sector we collaborate with. Not only the mineral and energy sector.

Do you want to collaborate too?

We welcome new partners, new ideas, new projects.

Send me an email and let's start the conversation.