The Inter American Development Bank has nearly US$500,000 available in non-reimbursable cooperation for programs that promote corporate social responsibility within the Dominican Republic. The National Council of Business (CONEP) will manage the program, which will begin with a RD$5-million fund for three business initiatives intended to create a general awareness among corporations in the Dominican Republic, with the hope that more may introduce similar CSR programs.
The pioneer projects in which companies assume social responsibility as part of their business strategies are:
Educa, which will franchise the pre-school programs of the organization so that their successes may be repeated in underprivileged neighborhoods.
Helados Bon will develop a project to promote the massive planting of organic macadamia nut trees in mountain areas, which will provide shade for coffee and cacao crops. Once harvested, the macadamia nuts are guaranteed a market in the ice cream plant and the manufacture of other macadamia nut products.
Intec university is to promote the use of clean and environmentally sustainable technologies for use in micro-, small- and medium-sized businesses. The university offers a package to assist small companies in the implementation of these technologies.