The Secretary-General of the Organisation of Educational Cooperation (OEC), H.E. Sheikh Manssour Bin Mussallam, has called for Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programs based on solidarity instead of charity if they are to have a meaningful and lasting positive impact on society.

This call was made on Wednesday, 17th January 2023, during the signing ceremony of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the OEC and Awash Bank, setting the foundations for a fruitful relationship within the framework of the vision outlined by the Universal Declaration of Balance and Inclusive Education, between the Organisation and the first private commercial bank of Ethiopia.

The Secretary-General welcomed the understanding of the agreement reached between the OEC and Awash Bank as a further contribution to the just, prosperous, and equitable social transformation of societies through pursuing balanced and inclusive development.

“No organization, initiative, or sector can effectively address the challenges facing the world today and give a proper answer to youth aspirations,” he emphasized. “For the future we want is one that can only be achieved through a collective, sustained, and sustainable effort.”

Regarding Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), the Secretary-General said:

“While well-intentioned, the charity seeks, in a vertical manner, to ensure that the ‘poor’ merely survive, but it doesn’t address in the least the underlying causes of poverty and marginalization. The OEC’s view is that Corporate Social Responsibility undertakings should be based on solidarity, designed through genuine consultation and dialogue, on equal footing with communities. We look forward to supporting Awash Bank in ensuring that its CSR programs are not atomized but inscribed within a collective framework of lasting change,” he said.