Cross-sector partnerships between NGOs and business: The Indian Context

Abstract

There is growing awareness that the current global challenges are too vast and complex for any one sector to solve on its own. In recent years, corporations have been increasingly broadening their agenda to address social and environmental issues, and cross-sector partnerships are gaining momentum. Partnerships are a pivotal part of reaching society at large, and by combining forces, NGOs and corporations, supported by government, can achieve change on a deeper level. In the Indian context, economic growth parallel with pressing developmental issues and growing disparities has put pressure on the business sector to take action. In 2013, the Indian government passed a law making CSR mandatory for businesses of a certain turnover, putting CSR firmly on the agenda. The law encourages partnerships as a means of implementing CSR initiatives, and due to this partnerships are becoming an integral part of the CSR framework. This study aims to gain insight in to the current state of cross-sector collaboration between NGOs and business in India, through the perspectives of CSR practitioners of both sectors. Based on semi-structured interviews with CSR practitioners and participant observations within a partnership network for CSR, the study describes the different components of the changing partnering landscape. The results reflect that with the change and transitional environment that India is currently experiencing, becoming a developed country in one aspect, while having to deal with major social issues, NGO-business partnerships can provide a means to bridge the developmental gap.