Photo: EJB

 
 

SME Integrity in Egypt

The Integrity Network Initiative was established as a business-driven collective action network to strengthen integrity standards in the Egyptian business environment, to build the capacity of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and to tackle some of the most pressing corruption challenges affecting businesses in Egypt. It is implemented by the Egyptian Junior Business Association in cooperation with the United Nations Global Compact.

SMEs – cornerstone of the initiative

The initiative aims to use collective action to tackle pressing corruption challenges and have an impact on creating a cleaner business environment in Egypt in general. However, due to the crucial importance of SMEs to the Egyptian economy, and their often underdeveloped capacity to tackle corruption challenges, they were designated as the cornerstone of the initiative. According to research conducted at Cairo University, SMEs represent 75 percent of the employed workforce and 99 percent of non-agricultural private businesses, a fact alluding to their importance to the Egyptian economy. However, they also face some particular challenges when it comes to countering corruption – challenges they are often insuffi ciently equipped to tackle individually. SMEs are thus the core benefi ciaries of the initiative’s capacity-building and training efforts. The initiative gears its resources toward providing training and support to help SMEs in implementing anti-corruption policies and practices within their organizations. It further incorporates other relevant stakeholders, such as larger companies, civil society, and public-sector stakeholders, to provide a platform for the initiative as well as incentives and support for SMEs.

Approach

1. The Integrity Network Initiative has established a tailored anti-corruption standard in the form of a 10-step “Integrity Pledge.” The standard is complemented by a capacity-building program for SMEs to train the management and the compliance focal points on implementing the standard.

2. The initiative continues to build a surrounding “multi-stakeholder” network of partners that provides a joint platform and support structure for SMEs.


The power of the group

Since its launch in 2014, a number of highly committed members have contributed tremendously to the initiative’s success. Today, the initiative has grown to include a larger number of SMEs, large corporations, and civil society stakeholders that jointly contribute toward its efforts. As more companies join the effort, the initiative aims to create a “lighthouse” that will allow members to benefi t from each other’s experiences while showing to others that integrity can be a viable business option, even under challenging conditions. Thus, through collective action, advancing integrity becomes possible where individual action may be unfeasible. Especially for SMEs, being part of a group can help to strengthen their positions when withstanding corruption, benefi ting from the experiences of others, as well as receiving support and incentives (material and immaterial) from larger members to encourage their commitment. 


More information: www.ejb-act.com

About the Authors
Schoeberlein, Jennifer
 
Salama, Quasay
 
Egyptian Junior Business Association

The Egyptian Junior Business Association (EJB) is a non-governmental organization that was founded in 1999 by a group of young business executives & entrepreneurs. Today, EJB is considered one of Egypt's premium and most influential business associations. With branches in Cairo, Alexandria, Delta, Port Said, South Sinai and Upper Egypt and with 16 committees, containing a network of more than 450 prominent members of senior and highly successful business men and women between the ages 21 to 45, representing various sectors and more than 180,000 employees.

EJB works as a channel for SMEs owners with the Government to improve the Egyptian Business Environment to be more fertile for SMEs, through tackling the major obstacles that hinder the economy, and recommend solutions from the business sector perspective and communicate the outcomes to concerned entities. Allowing members’ businesses to thrive is one of the most important objectives thus EJB acts as a networking Hub for forming new business partnerships and match making between members.
EJB communicates its vision, mission and objectives across the country to all business-related entities including, but not limited to, Ministries, Business Organizations, Business Chambers, Industrial Chambers and Commercial Offices among others.

Source: http://www.ejb.org.eg/

 
The views expressed in this article are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect CSR Manager's editorial policy.
 
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