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Description

CSR Fundamentals: Understanding the Issues, Setting Priorities and Getting Started

Gain the reference points needed to position CSR within the real activity of your organisation

  • 1 day — 7 h
  • In-person or virtual
  • Foundation
  • Up to 6 participants

Corporate social responsibility enters organisations through several doors: client requirements, questions from candidates, expectations from investors and lenders, and reporting requirements passed down the value chain. Without shared reference points, everyone attaches a different meaning to it and the initiative is reduced to isolated actions whose effect remains invisible.

This one-day introduction sets out the vocabulary and the structure of a CSR approach. It positions CSR in relation to sustainable development, then walks through how a structured approach works: priority issues, stakeholder dialogue, action plan and monitoring indicators.

Learning objectives

  • Position CSR in relation to sustainable development and market expectations
  • Identify the areas covered by a corporate social responsibility approach
  • Map the stakeholders concerned by your organisation's activity
  • Prioritise the material issues specific to your sector
  • Build an initial action plan supported by monitoring indicators

What makes this programme different

Issues are prioritised against each participant's actual business activity
CSR vocabulary is clarified term by term from the outset
The day ends with a start-up action plan rather than a presentation

Programme

1What Are We Talking About

Establishing a shared vocabulary

  • Corporate social responsibility and sustainable development
  • Social, environmental and governance dimensions
  • Existing international frameworks and reference standards
  • Expectations of clients, investors and candidates
  • Common misconceptions about the cost of a CSR approach

2Material Issues and Stakeholders

Identifying what matters for your organisation

  • Mapping internal and external stakeholders
  • Gathering their expectations and constraints
  • Identifying issues specific to the sector of activity
  • Prioritising material issues
  • Points of caution regarding publicly stated commitments

3Structuring the Approach

Moving from intentions to an action plan

  • Formulating realistic and verifiable commitments
  • Building the action plan and assigning responsibilities
  • Selecting monitoring indicators
  • Engaging teams and internal communication
  • Frequent mistakes at start-up stage

Who is it for

SME business owners, newly appointed CSR officers, HR managers, quality managers, buyers and staff involved in an emerging initiative.

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

February 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.