CASE STUDY LAUNCHED ON ‘WORLD OF DIFFERENCE’CORPORATE RESPONSIBILITY PROGRAMME OF VODAFONE FOUNDATION IN #INDIA
CASE STUDY LAUNCHED ON ‘WORLD OF DIFFERENCE’CORPORATE RESPONSIBILITY PROGRAMME OF VODAFONE FOUNDATION IN INDIA
LEADERS IN SOCIAL INVESTMENT CONVENE TO EXPLORE FLAGSHIP EMPLOYEE ENGAGEMENT PROGRAM
- Conducted by pfc Social Impact Advisors, the World of Difference Case Study will become part of the curriculum in the Impact Investing Programme at said Business School, University of Oxford, UK
- To also feature in forthcoming Stanford University Press (SUP) Publication
- Will be shared with business schools worldwide
New Delhi, 23 November, 2015: Leaders across corporate responsibility (CSR), impact investing and philanthropy convened today to explore World of Difference (WoD), Vodafone Foundation’s flagship CSR initiative in India.Timed to coincide with the launch of the case study conducted by pfc Social Impact Advisors, it offers an in-depth analysisof ameaningful corporate social responsibility programme that utilizes employee engagements as a tool to impact the community in which Vodafone India operates.
| WOD Impact
(Source: 2014 CLIPS India Foundation Study) WOD volunteers · 98% satisfied in working for Vodafone · 85% were more visible in eyes of their colleagues · 96% became more effective in their jobs NGOs · 82% – internal processes improved · 65% – WOD helped save money Vodafone · 61% WOD participants interested in working with Vodafone for long · 83% spoke highly about Vodafone · 78% encouraged friends to participate in WOD
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The study titled “Making a World of Difference in Tackling Wicked Problems & Creating Deliberate Leadership” was released today. The case is part of a global series of cases to be taught as part of the curriculum on leadership and coplexity in the Oxford Impact Investing Programme, Said Business School, University of Oxford.Additionally, it will be featured in the forthcoming Stanford University Press (SUP) book “Good, Evil, Wicked: The Art, Science and Business of Giving” on the future of social investing, philanthropy, and impact investing.
The WoD programme provides a unique opportunity for Vodafone India employees to donate their time, skills, expertise and passion to work for a charitable organisation of their choice for a period of 8 weeks, all while they continue to receive salary and all benefits. Since November 2011, 128 skilled employees have donated over 56,910 man-hours working on 128 different social projects with diverse NGOs over 8 weeks to enhance capacities, address technology gaps and resolve issues impairing women empowerment.Participants came back richer with the experience gained of working first hand with communities to address real social issues and challenges.
Speaking on the occasion, P. Balaji, Director – Regulatory, External Affairs & CSR, Vodafone India, “The success of World of Difference programme in India has demonstrated how an effectively implemented CSR initiative can become an inspirational and aspirational model of employee engagement while having a positive impact on the society. It has set a benchmark for businesses to develop measurable sustainability programme that will derive quantitative benefits for the society, business and the employees. We at Vodafone India are extremely proud to be a part of this journey.”
Commenting on the rationale behind studying the WOD programme, Ms. Gayle Peterson,Senior Managing Director, pfc Social Impact Advisors, and Associate Fellow and Program Director, Oxford Impact Investment at the Said Business School, University of Oxfordsaid, “Today’s launch of Vodafone Foundation’s World of Difference research study spotlights one of 20 cases conducted by pfc Social Impact Advisors to show how Deliberate Leadership informs and guides solutions to Wicked Problems, i.e., intractable, messy and interconnected issues. The study, conducted through the lens of Deliberate Leadership, offers greater transparency around how an ambitious CSR program, such as Vodafone’s World of Difference, engages Vodafone employees in their local communities to solve social sector challenges. What makes the case particularly compelling is that it allows students globally to understand Vodafone’s India’s strategy to change the world.”
Adds Ms Peterson, “Vodafone India is offering new models for other CSR initiatives and social investors as they grapple with the most complex challenges facing India and the world—poverty, lack of access to education, food, water, jobs, and a more productive and sustainable life. That is what World of Difference attempts to achieve. Vodafone’s willingness for self-reflection and sharing openly with peers about WOD and the challenges and successes faced are what makes the case both unique and worth discussing. The fact that we are convening colleagues to discuss/debate new ways of thinking about CSR is important. It is through our creative collective that we will make a difference.”
A comprehensive study of the programme conducted by CLIPS Foundation found overall high satisfaction and positive benefits for the volunteers, NGOs and the company as a whole. The research reveals that the WoD programme has improved employee loyalty and morale at Vodafone India. It has given employees an opportunity to disseminate their technology, understand emerging markets and increased their respect for the Vodafone brand within the community.
The case was reviewed by the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, today’s host in New Delhi.
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Notes to Editors
About Vodafone Foundation
Mobilising the community, mobilising social change.
The Vodafone Foundation in India recognises the power of mobile technology to address some of India’s most pressing challenges relating to education, health, equality and access. We are committed to enable people and technology to drive innovation, disseminate knowledge, and create shared value to improve lives.
By leveraging our mobile technology in the four areas of m-women, m-education, m-health and m-agriculture, it works in partnership with charities, development agencies and the community to drive social change on a large scale in India. As part of its social investment programme, the Vodafone Foundation in India also focusses on disaster relief and implements ‘World of Difference’, a unique employee engagement programme.
In countries in which Vodafone operates, a unique footprint of 27 Vodafone Foundations operate to deliver our social investment programme. These programmes are directed and chosen by the Foundation Trustees and receive funding from the Vodafone Foundation in the UK as well as their local Vodafone company. For more information, please visitwww.vodafone.in/foundation
Abou pfc Social Impact Advisors:
pfc Social Impact Advisors is a global nonprofit consultancy that helps people and organizations with money, time, and vision do good. Clients are foundations, individuals, impact investors, corporations, governments, and intermediaries at the leading edge of social change. pfc is driven by the belief that the world¹s wicked problems are the problems most worth solving. They are the issues that keep everyone around the world up at night – poverty and income disparity, food and water scarcity, climate change and energy shortages. They are also the issues that are borne most heavily by the most vulnerable populations -women, children, and their families. Whether Detroit or Delhi, LA or Lagos, Mexico City or Moscow, pfc works with partners to take on-the-ground lessons and help find cutting edge solutions in these complex times. Services include: strategy development and planning; trendsetting research; learning and evaluation; and teaching and coaching. For more information: www.pfcsocialimpact.org
About Gayle Peterson:
- Senior Managing Director, pfc social impact advisors
- Associate Fellow, Said Business School
- Programme Director, Oxford Impact Investing Programme
As co-founder of the international philanthropic consultancy pfc social impact advisors, Gayle has extensive experience in market-based change to support innovations in business and social sector strategies to achieve global social change.
She has managed and assessed more than US$12 billion in investment resources on behalf of the world’s largest foundations and corporations. Her programme expertise includes poverty alleviation (with special emphasis on women and children, particularly girls), strategic learning and evaluation, multi-sector partnerships, food systems reform, and triple bottom line strategy. Gayle’s first Master’s Degree in Social Policy and the Law is from the University of Chicago.
Gayle’s thesis for her MSc from HEC, Paris School of Management and Saïd Business School, University of Oxford, “Wicked Problem Construct: Business and Social Sector Strategies for Global Change,” focused on women (and children) at the centre as she examined how to connect the top trillion in resources with the bottom billion around the world who live in poverty in a way that is ethical and effective. Gayle is currently working on a book for Stanford University Press, “Good, Evil, Wicked: the Art, Science, and Business of Giving” which includes data based on 1,000 interviews with social investors in 10 of the fastest growing economies in the world and focuses on how emerging leadership styles that are shaping trends in social change.
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