In 2006, AVINA, together with the Ethos Institute, the Interchurch Organization for Development Cooperation (IICO) and the Forum Empresa, created the Latin American Program for Corporate Social Responsibility (PLARSE) to promote corporate social responsibility (CSR) throughout Latin America. Other organizations have joined the forum, including, for example, the Colombian Council for Corporate Responsibility, the Bolivian Corporation for CSR, the Nicaraguan Union for Corporate Social Responsibility, the Paraguayan Association of Christian Businesspersons, and Peru 2021. Together, these organizations represent more than 900 Latin American companies employing some 180,000 people and contributing significantly to the regional economy.

The facilitating role played by AVINA in each country has been fundamental to building up this network by strengthening PLARSE and the growing business movement to standardize CSR indicators at the continental level. PLARSE’s members have rolled out joint projects to increase the knowledge and practice of CSR among companies, civil society and the press, catalyzing processes in each country in addition to placing the issue on the media agenda.

PLARSE promotes the reduction of poverty by fostering cooperation between the sectors in innovative and inclusive business strategies. It is also building a network of journalists committed to CSR in each country and is developing alliances with business sectors to create national and regional awards that highlight the contribution of journalists to the advancement of CSR.

The initial results of these coordinated actions have been promising. The growing interest of other countries and institutions indicates a potential for further expansion. In Argentina, for example, AVINA partners in the business sector created the National Movement of Businesspersons for Social Responsibility which promotes, together with the Argentinean Institute for Corporate Social Responsibility, strategies aligned with those of PLARSE in seeking action on a more systematic and wider scale.

The network of organizations promoting CSR throughout Latin America is gaining visibility and strength. We hope that this mobilization will contribute to the development of a common CSR agenda throughout the continent that will lead to concrete changes in business culture and practices in the near future..

Examples of the publicity campaign “Una Empresa Con Principios No Tiene Final” (a principled company won’t go bankrupt) launched by Argentina’s national movement for socially responsible enterprises, founded by AVINA partners and business persons.