Why Are Social Work Professionals Relevant in Corporate Social Responsibility? A Case of CSR and Non-CSR Projects in India

Abstract

Corporate social responsibility (CSR) is legally mandated in India for corporates to engage in community development. This requires specific skills to design and implement socially impactful development projects. This article discusses (a) the differences between CSR and non-CSR projects and (b) the relevance of social work professionals (SWPs) in CSR in India. Using a qualitative research method, 13 participants from non-governmental organisations and scholars from social science universities with experience in CSR and non-CSR projects were interviewed. The comparative analysis of views relating to CSR and non-CSR projects showed significant differences in the focus of the projects, financial support, processes of due diligence and monitoring and reporting. Non-CSR projects were found to have a better focus on processes of community development; one of the significant reasons being the engagement of professionally trained social workers and domain experts. The article recommends the application of developmental social work through the inclusion of SWPs in making CSR projects people-centric and impactful.