Maryna Saprykina is the director of the Corporate Social Responsibility Development Center, an organization that works to promote and support sustainability and social accountability in Ukrainian business.
The Center focuses its efforts on four priority directions: CSR at times of crisis, developing education, the social responsibility of state organizations, and promoting Ukraine abroad.
The Kyiv Post spoke with Saprykina to learn more about her organization and CSR’s future in Ukraine.
Kyiv Post: How long have you worked on corporate social responsibility, and how did you get your start?
Maryna Saprykina: I have worked on CSR for 12 years, and started when I was working at a non-profit organization and then in the company (currently known as) Vodafone. Twelve years ago the company was looking for a CSR manager, and I was curious: what is this new thing? A when I looked at the skills they demanded, I thought I had them. That’s how I became a CSR manager and this subject grabbed hold of me.
KP: How many years has your center existed? How is it financed?
MS: This year, it has been 10 years. It’s partially financed by the companies that support our projects and pay charitable membership dues. And, secondly, there are international donors and embassies that support developing social responsibility.
KP: Do you think CSR will develop and become more important in the coming years?
MS: I don’t just expect this. I know it. Because, in certain countries, social responsibility is moving away from the category of things that a company can choose to do. Now, there is even legislation that requires companies to do CSR… (for example) in the European Union, when large companies must do their financial reporting. It’s also connected, for example, to (companies’) supply chains. Today, every year, English companies must publish a statement that their suppliers do not use slavery. In France, there is a law under which companies must carry out ecological audits of their suppliers.
KP: In terms of CSR, with which country can we compare Ukraine? According to a KPMG report, CSR is less developed in Eastern Europe than in Western Europe. Where’s Ukraine?
MS: You can compare based upon several parameters. If you compare based upon legislation — what the government does — then, of course, Western Europe is developing quickly. But if compared based upon interesting practices, we have practices that would probably be interesting to many other companies… There truly are companies in Ukraine that do really cool projects. International experts tell us that.
Out of 400 enterprises questioned, most said that they implement corporate social responsibility out of moral considerations as well as for improving their reputation. The questionnaire was done in cooperation with the Embassy of The Netherlands in Kyiv and in partnership with DTEK, Syngenta and M.S.L. companies.
Out of 400 enterprises questioned, most said that they implement corporate social responsibility for improving staff conditions and for charity work. The questionnaire was done in cooperation with the Embassy of The Netherlands in Kyiv and in partnership with DTEK, Syngenta and M.S.L. companies.
