UNIDO in cooperation with the Croatian Ministry of Economy, Labour and Entrepreneurship in 2009 initiated a project on the “Establishment of a Regional Network for Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Competence for Central, South and Eastern Europe”. This project was conceptualized in view of the strategic importance of CSR to small business in the region, particularly in the context of its possible contribution to speeding up the process of European integration and strengthening market access.

The establishment of a Regional Network for Corporate Social Responsibility Competence was for the first time recommended at the UNIDO Regional Forum on CSR for Small and Medium Businesses in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE), held on 9-10 March 2006 in Croatia.

The Network aims to make a strong contribution to improve environmental and social conditions in SMEs operating in the Region’s industrial sectors, thereby strengthening their competitiveness and market access. Through the provision of awareness raising, training, and advisory services, the Network strives to achieve a better alignment with emerging consumer concerns and enhance relationships with stakeholders and to increase quality and productivity and to realize operational cost savings at the enterprise level. The Network will furthermore serve as a platform to foster the exchange of information, experiences and best practices in the area of CSR/SMEs and as a catalyst to establish public-private partnerships and to coordinate CSR-related activities for small businesses in the region.

The Croatian Cleaner Production Centre currently acts as the central regional coordinating institution, and is reinforced by national focal point institutions (one per participating country). Apart from Croatia, the governments of six countries (Bulgaria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Macedonia, Serbia, Montenegro and Ukraine) have to date sent official letters to UNIDO requesting to become members in the regional CSR Network.