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Description

CSR and Sustainability Diagnostic: Measuring, Prioritising and Reporting Material Issues

Build a documented and defensible baseline of your organisation's actual practices

  • 5 days — 35 h
  • In-person or virtual
  • All levels
  • Up to 6 participants

A sustainability initiative launched without a baseline moves blind: the actions chosen address what is visible rather than what is material, and the first questionnaire from a client or an assessor exposes data that is missing or impossible to verify.

Five days devoted entirely to conducting the diagnostic itself. The programme covers the choice of assessment framework, the collection of social and environmental data, the evaluation of practices by domain, the ranking of gaps and the final reporting. Defining policy and strategy is addressed in a separate programme.

Learning objectives

  • Define the scope and assessment framework of the diagnostic
  • Organise the collection of social and environmental data
  • Evaluate the organisation's practices domain by domain
  • Measure the gaps between actual practices and stakeholder expectations
  • Rank the issues to be addressed as a priority
  • Report the diagnostic in a form that senior management can act upon

What makes this programme different

The diagnostic is conducted end to end on an organisation brought by the group
Data collection is treated as a central difficulty rather than a formality
The final report-back is delivered to a management committee recreated in the room

Programme

1Scoping the diagnostic

Defining what will be measured

  • Set the organisational boundary and the activities covered
  • Select an assessment framework suited to the size of the entity
  • Build the diagnostic team and the timetable
  • Anticipate internal resistance before launch

2Collecting the data

The raw material of the diagnostic

  • Identify the data already available in existing systems
  • Build the questionnaires and interview guides
  • Handle missing data and estimates
  • Document sources to ensure traceability

3Assessing practices by domain

Putting activities under scrutiny

  • Analyse social practices and working conditions
  • Assess the environmental impacts of operations and purchasing
  • Examine governance and business conduct
  • Appraise relationships with suppliers and the local community

4Analysing gaps and setting priorities

Sorting what matters

  • Compare observed practices with expressed expectations
  • Cross-reference the materiality of each issue with the capacity to act
  • Identify weak points requiring immediate attention
  • Distinguish quick wins from long-term workstreams

5Reporting back and preparing next steps

A diagnostic that triggers decisions

  • Write a report that non-specialists can read
  • Present findings without apportioning blame
  • Propose ranked next steps to senior management
  • Organise the periodic update of the diagnostic

Who is it for

CSR managers · sustainability officers · consultants and executives responsible for establishing their organisation's baseline assessment.

Prerequisites

No prerequisites

Dates & locations

36 scheduled dates between November 2026 and December 2027. Seats are confirmed in the order enquiries are received.

November 2026

December 2026

January 2027

March 2027

April 2027

May 2027

June 2027

September 2027

October 2027

November 2027

December 2027

None of these dates suit you? We open additional sessions on request, and any programme can be run privately for your team.

Practical details

Before the programme
Online positioning questionnaire. Your development objectives are shared with the trainer, who tailors the practical case studies to your context.
Teaching methods
Theoretical input, workshops and practical case studies. Digital course materials and method sheets provided.
Assessment
Multiple-choice tests and role-play exercises. Assessment of learning at the start and end of the programme, with immediate and 60-day follow-up evaluations.
After the programme
One year of access to the e-learning platform. Self-assessment of the skills acquired and a 30-day follow-up session with your trainer.
How to register
Registration online or on the basis of a quotation.
Lead time
11 working days after confirmation of registration.
Accessibility
Accessible to people of determination. Contact our accessibility coordinator to design a suitable solution: contact@mpf-academy.ae
Start dates
Rolling intake: in addition to the scheduled sessions, this programme can start on request.