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Mission 2030: Can tech companies drive faster attainment of UN SDGs through CSR efforts?
Mission 2030: Can tech companies drive faster attainment of UN SDGs through CSR efforts?

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With the countdown ticking for India to attain its targeted sustainable development goals (SDGs) by 2030, the need to devise strategies for faster attainment is at an all-time high. In particular, two key strategies stand-out for tech companies.

Blending in CSR with SDGs

The first strategy is aligning CSR efforts with UN’s SDGs. Numerous tech companies have been at the forefront of driving this.

SDGs A few among these include:

 Nokia: Two key CSR initiatives by Nokia can be considered as aligned with the UN SDGs of         providing quality education, affordable and clean energy, and clean water and sanitation. The   first among these is its flagship CSR initiative, Smartpur, that provides digital services to rural   communities across India. The project seeks to enhance the skills of young people and promote   employment opportunities in digital technology and telecommunications. Second is the Green   School Transformation Project that aims to transform schools by enabling use of solar   electricity, conserve water through rainwater harvesting, and sustainably manage waste   through targeted sessions on waste management with students.    

 JK Tech: JK Tech runs a CSR initiative called Pukaar, in line with the SDG of zero hunger, that   supports underprivileged families by providing ration support. The larger goal of the project is   to increase the employability of one member in each family so that the family can achieve self-   reliance.

 Godrej Infotech: Driving the SDG of decent work and economic growth, Godrej Infotech   focuses on digital skilling to make underprivileged youth employable in the current tech   market.  It recently ran a 120-hour training program on data analytics and cloud computing for   350 students at a pan-India level.

 Infovision: In line with the SDG of industry, innovation and infrastructure, Infovision launched   a state-of-the-art augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) lab at the Indian Institute of   Technology (IIT) Hyderabad as a part of its CSR efforts. The AR/VR lab aims to drive   innovation and learning for students and researchers.

Leveraging digital tech

UNDP In addition to alignment of CSR efforts with UN SDGs, blending in digital   technologies into CSR projects is another key strategy that can drive faster   attainment of SDGs. This is because tech interventions have the capability to   enhance efficiency and scale of projects. A recent research report highlights how   digital technology including AI can benefit SDGs.

In India, tech companies are already leveraging numerous digital tools and technologies for CSR efforts. Key among these are AI, analytics, blockchain, and IoT. CSR teams are leveraging AI and analytics for data-driven decision-making, providing precise measurements and optimization of CSR efforts. Further, blockchain is being used to ensure transparency and accountability by enabling tracking and verification of CSR activities in real-time. Meanwhile, IoT facilitates real-time monitoring of environmental impact.

These new-age tech solutions can help facilitate education through online platforms, connect remote communities, promote economic growth, civic engagement for marginalized groups, skill development, and help create employment opportunities. This would help expedite critical SDGs like eliminating poverty and inequality, preventing environmental degradation, and enhancing access to healthcare and education. Additionally, technology can help bridge gaps in India’s aspirational districts, enhance digital literacy among women, improve agricultural productivity and foster sustainable development in rural areas.

Taking the lead

With their cutting-edge tech stacks and trained technology teams, tech companies have the potential to lead from the front to expedite India’s leap towards attaining its SDG targets. When coupled with ample support from key stakeholders involved in the CSR value-chain, and a collaborative mindset focused on comprehensive problem-solving, the tech industry can do wonders to drive social innovation efforts aligned with the country’s national agenda.

For a deeper look at how the tech industry is helping drive SDGs and India’s national agenda through CSR, digital tools and technologies being leveraged and powerful impact stories across numerous focus areas, stay tuned for the launch of nasscom’s first-ever report on CSR in India!                            

 

 

 


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Kuhu Singh
Manager, Research

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