Rhetoric And Realities: Analysing Corporate Social Responsibility in Europe (RARE)
The RARE project aims to make a substantial contribution to the development of a European approach to CSR. It seeks to improve the understanding of the effectiveness of CSR as a policy instrument and how CSR can in practice benefit sustainable development in the EU.
The RARE project is being carried out by a multi-disciplinary team of 16 researchers, scientists and consultants from seven leading research institutions from across the EU.
The project programme includes:
- Understanding and researching CSR
- Developing a CSR Impact Assessment tool
- Analysing and researching CSR in four sustainable development areas: environmental protection (climate and chemicals policies), resource management, gender equality and countering bribery
- Surveying CSR in three business sectors: the oil industry, the banking sector and the fisheries and fish processing industries
- Researching and developing in-depth case studies on CSR impact
- Carrying out an SME study
- Assessing the political and public policy dimensions of CSR
Funding for the project is provided within the EU’s Sixth Framework Programme (Contract No. CIT2-CT-2004-506043)
The project started in June 2004 and will end in May 2007.