ECCA Nepal understands that economic development initiatives and facilitations are effective and sustainable only if these initiatives are aligned with business principles. ECCA Nepal believes in global compact's three bottom lines of sustainable development viz: -planet, people and profit. Since its establishment, ECCA Nepal has been working for the conservation and advancement of planet and people. Enterprise Initiatives (EI) is a new endeavour of ECCA Nepal walking-the-talk towards ‘think like business'

Vision
A self reliant, socially, ecologically and economically developed and vibrant society through the growth of sustainable entrepreneurial initiatives

Mission
EI facilitates entrepreneurial and economic development initiatives and ideas through appropriate intervention with people directly and indirectly involved with such initiatives

How does EI function
EI is established as an additional wing of ECCA. EI seeks to work independently as one of the departments as well as work together with other departments of ECCA. EI facilitates development and implementation of commercially viable projects and entrepreneurial initiatives.

Corporate Social Responsibility
Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is another approach for EI to explore private sector world for resources. CSR being a cross cutting theme ECCA will be implementing CSR approach in different programs of ECCA. The CSR approach focuses on the triple bottom line approach which is economic, environment and society.

CSR Activities

SRBD Network ( www.srbdn.org.np)

ECCA has been backstopping Socially Responsible Business Development Network (SRBDN) a multi-stakeholder forum since 1 st January 2008. SRBDN has been successfully continuing since its establishment in the year 2004.

Facilitating NGO Private Partnership
In Nepal there is an apparent gap between the private and the NGO sectors. Private sector is increasingly under pressure to act responsibly and NGOs are looking for alternate and continual sources of funds apart from the conventional donor support. Thus, NGO Private Partnership is an opportunity for forging partnership between two sectors where ECCA acts as a facilitator to create a win-win situation between two sectors.

Advocacy
EI also involves itself in creating awareness and advocacy on CSR in businesses, NGOs, associations and academic institutions.

CSR Campaigns

Private sector has been involved in the social activities for years. This sector has been practising its own way of social / philanthropic activities. The activities it has been involved in are more of one-time basis than a regular one. Therefore, keeping this thought in mind and having experience of working with both private and development partners, EI has come out with different development campaigns where both private and NGO sectors could partner up and achieve a win-win situation. These campaigns are developed under three board themes as- Environment, Health and Education.

• Plant-a-tree – planting a tree to offset ones carbon emission
• Bagmati River Conservation Program – adopting a stretch along Bagmati river and conserve it
• Light-for-all – promoting solar tuki as alternative energy
• Safe Drinking Water – Promoting safe drinking water in poor communities
• School Environment Program – Having the basic environment in schools
• Support-a-child – sponsoring students

For details on the above campaigns please contact ei@ecca.org.np

Network

South Asia Forum on Responsible Business (SAFoRB) is a regional voluntary association which aims and aspires to collectively and coherently promote responsible practices among businesses operating in the region. ECCA Nepal is a committee member of the forum representing Nepal .

FNCCI CSR Forum is a cell which promotes responsible business to the member organizations of FNCCI. ECCA Nepal is one of the committee members of the CSR forum.