Extracting Value From the Canadian Extractive Sector

Abstract

This paper seeks to provide an initial evaluation of CIDA's CSR development project partnership policy, which is related to the Canadian government's CSR strategy for the Canadian international extractive sector - titled Building the Canadian Advantage: A Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Strategy for the Canadian International Extractive Sector. This evaluation is important because CIDA's funding of CSR development project partnerships may represent a long-term fundamental realignment of Canada's foreign aid policy. The conclusion of this evaluation is that CIDA' s support for CSR development project partnerships can be an effective use of limited resources because CSR development projects can result in positive development outcomes being achieved, as long as best practices are followed in the design and implementation of the projects. In fact CSR development projects present a unique opportunity to leverage the fiscal resources and potential expertise of corporations operating in a community to achieve positive development outcomes.