Keep Us Strong WikiLeaks logo

Currently released so far... 97115 / 251,287

Articles

Browse latest releases

Browse by creation date

Browse by origin

A B C D F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Y Z

Browse by tag

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
ETRD EAGR ETTC EAID ECON EFIN ECIN EINV ELAB EAIR ENRG EPET EWWT ECPS EIND EMIN ELTN EC ETMIN EUC EZ ET ELECTIONS ENVR EU EUN EG EINT ER ECONOMICS ES EMS ENIV EEB EN ECE ECOSOC EK ENVIRONMENT EFIS EI EWT ENGRD ECPSN EXIM EIAD ERIN ECPC EDEV ENGY ECTRD EPA ESTH ECCT EINVECON ENGR ERTD EUR EAP EWWC ELTD EL EXIMOPIC EXTERNAL ETRDEC ESCAP ECO EGAD ELNT ECONOMIC ENV ETRN EIAR EUMEM ENRGPARMOTRASENVKGHGPGOVECONTSPLEAID EREL ECOM ECONETRDEAGRJA ETCC ETRG ECONOMY EMED ETR ENERG EITC EFINOECD EURM EENG ERA EXPORT ENRD ECONEINVETRDEFINELABETRDKTDBPGOVOPIC EGEN EBRD EVIN ETRAD ECOWAS EFTA ECONETRDBESPAR EGOVSY EPIN EID ECONENRG EDRC ESENV ETT EB ENER ELTNSNAR ECHEVARRIA ETRC EPIT EDUC ESA EFI ENRGY ESCI EE EAIDXMXAXBXFFR EETC ECIP EIAID EIVN EBEXP ESTN EING EGOV ETRA EPETEIND ELAN ETRDGK EAIDRW ETRDEINVECINPGOVCS EPEC ENVI ELN EAG EPCS EPRT EPTED ETRB EUM EAIDS EFIC EFINECONEAIDUNGAGM EAIDAR ESF EIDN ELAM EDU EV EAIDAF ECN EDA EXBS EINTECPS ENRGTRGYETRDBEXPBTIOSZ EPREL EAC EINVEFIN ETA EAGER EINDIR ECA ECLAC ELAP EITI EUCOM ECONEFINETRDPGOVEAGRPTERKTFNKCRMEAID EARG ELDIN EINVKSCA ENNP EFINECONCS EFINTS ECCP ETC EAIRASECCASCID EINN ETRP EAIDNI EFQ ECOQKPKO EGPHUM EBUD ECONEINVEFINPGOVIZ ENERGY ELB EINDETRD EMI ECONEFIN EIB EURN ETRDEINVTINTCS EIN EFIM ETIO ELAINE EMN EATO EWTR EIPR EINVETC ETTD ETDR EIQ ECONCS EPPD ENRGIZ EISL ESPINOSA ELEC EAIG ESLCO EUREM ENTG ERD EINVECONSENVCSJA EEPET EUNCH ECINECONCS ETRO ETRDECONWTOCS ECUN EFND EPECO EAIRECONRP ERGR ETRDPGOV ECPN ENRGMO EPWR EET EAIS EAGRE EDUARDO EAGRRP EAIDPHUMPRELUG EICN ECONQH EVN EGHG ELBR EINF EAIDHO EENV ETEX ERNG ED
KMDR KPAO KPKO KJUS KCRM KGHG KFRD KWMN KDEM KTFN KHIV KGIC KIDE KSCA KNNP KHUM KIPR KSUM KISL KIRF KCOR KRCM KPAL KWBG KN KS KOMC KSEP KFLU KPWR KTIA KSEO KMPI KHLS KICC KSTH KMCA KVPR KPRM KE KU KZ KFLO KSAF KTIP KTEX KBCT KOCI KOLY KOR KAWC KACT KUNR KTDB KSTC KLIG KSKN KNN KCFE KCIP KGHA KHDP KPOW KUNC KDRL KV KPREL KCRS KPOL KRVC KRIM KGIT KWIR KT KIRC KOMO KRFD KUWAIT KG KFIN KSCI KTFIN KFTN KGOV KPRV KSAC KGIV KCRIM KPIR KSOC KBIO KW KGLB KMWN KPO KFSC KSEAO KSTCPL KSI KPRP KREC KFPC KUNH KCSA KMRS KNDP KR KICCPUR KPPAO KCSY KTBT KCIS KNEP KFRDCVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KNNB KGCC KINR KPOP KMFO KENV KNAR KVIR KDRG KDMR KFCE KNAO KDEN KGCN KICA KIMMITT KMCC KLFU KMSG KSEC KUM KCUL KMNP KSMT KCOM KOMCSG KSPR KPMI KRAD KIND KCRP KAUST KWAWC KTER KCHG KRDP KPAS KITA KTSC KPAOPREL KWGB KIRP KJUST KMIG KLAB KTFR KSEI KSTT KAPO KSTS KLSO KWNN KPOA KHSA KNPP KPAONZ KBTS KWWW KY KJRE KPAOKMDRKE KCRCM KSCS KWMNCI KESO KWUN KPLS KIIP KEDEM KPAOY KRIF KGICKS KREF KTRD KFRDSOCIRO KTAO KJU KWMNPHUMPRELKPAOZW KEN KO KNEI KEMR KKIV KEAI KWAC KRCIM KWCI KFIU KWIC KCORR KOMS KNNO KPAI KBWG KTTB KTBD KTIALG KILS KFEM KTDM KESS KNUC KPA KOMCCO KCEM KRCS KWBGSY KNPPIS KNNPMNUC KWN KERG KLTN KALM KCCP KSUMPHUM KREL KGH KLIP KTLA KAWK KWMM KVRP KVRC KAID KSLG KDEMK KX KIF KNPR KCFC KFTFN KTFM KPDD KCERS KMOC KDEMAF KMEPI KEMS KDRM KEPREL KBTR KEDU KNP KIRL KNNR KMPT KISLPINR KTPN KA KJUSTH KPIN KDEV KTDD KAKA KFRP KWNM KTSD KINL KJUSKUNR KWWMN KECF KWBC KPRO KVBL KOM KFRDKIRFCVISCMGTKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KEDM KFLD KLPM KRGY KNNF KICR KIFR KM KWMNCS KAWS KLAP KPAK KDDG KCGC KID KNSD KMPF KPFO KDP KCMR KRMS KNPT KNNNP KTIAPARM KDTB KNUP KPGOV KNAP KNNC KUK KSRE KREISLER KIVP KQ KTIAEUN KPALAOIS KRM KISLAO KWM KFLOA
PHUM PINR PTER PGOV PREL PREF PL PM PHSA PE PARM PINS PK PUNE PO PALESTINIAN PU PBTS PROP PTBS POL POLI PA PGOVZI POLMIL POLITICAL PARTIES POLM PD POLITICS POLICY PAS PMIL PINT PNAT PV PKO PPOL PERSONS PING PBIO PH PETR PARMS PRES PCON PETERS PRELBR PT PLAB PP PAK PDEM PKPA PSOCI PF PLO PTERM PJUS PSOE PELOSI PROPERTY PGOVPREL PARP PRL PNIR PHUMKPAL PG PREZ PGIC PBOV PAO PKK PROV PHSAK PHUMPREL PROTECTION PGOVBL PSI PRELPK PGOVENRG PUM PRELKPKO PATTY PSOC PRIVATIZATION PRELSP PGOVEAIDUKNOSWGMHUCANLLHFRSPITNZ PMIG PREC PAIGH PROG PSHA PARK PETER POG PHUS PPREL PS PTERPREL PRELPGOV POV PKPO PGOVECON POUS PGOVPRELPHUMPREFSMIGELABEAIDKCRMKWMN PWBG PMAR PREM PAR PNR PRELPGOVEAIDECONEINVBEXPSCULOIIPBTIO PARMIR PGOVGM PHUH PARTM PN PRE PTE PY POLUN PPEL PDOV PGOVSOCI PIRF PGOVPM PBST PRELEVU PGOR PBTSRU PRM PRELKPAOIZ PGVO PERL PGOC PAGR PMIN PHUMR PVIP PPD PGV PRAM PINL PKPAL PTERE PGOF PINO PHAS PODC PRHUM PHUMA PREO PPA PEPFAR PGO PRGOV PAC PRESL PORG PKFK PEPR PRELP PREFA PNG PGOVPHUMKPAO PRELECON PINOCHET PFOR PGOVLO PHUMBA PRELC PREK PHUME PHJM POLINT PGOVPZ PGOVKCRM PGOVE PHALANAGE PARTY PECON PEACE PROCESS PLN PRELSW PAHO PEDRO PRELA PASS PPAO PGPV PNUM PCUL PGGV PSA PGOVSMIGKCRMKWMNPHUMCVISKFRDCA PGIV PRFE POGOV PEL PBT PAMQ PINF PSEPC POSTS PHUMPGOV PVOV PHSAPREL PROLIFERATION PENA PRELTBIOBA PIN PRELL PGOVPTER PHAM PHYTRP PTEL PTERPGOV PHARM PROTESTS PRELAF PKBL PRELKPAO PKNP PARMP PHUML PFOV PERM PUOS PRELGOV PHUMPTER PARAGRAPH PERURENA PBTSEWWT PCI PETROL PINSO PINSCE PQL PEREZ PBS

Browse by classification

Community resources

courage is contagious

Viewing cable 04BOGOTA12953, CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY IN COLOMBIA

If you are new to these pages, please read an introduction on the structure of a cable as well as how to discuss them with others. See also the FAQs

Understanding cables
Every cable message consists of three parts:
  • The top box shows each cables unique reference number, when and by whom it originally was sent, and what its initial classification was.
  • The middle box contains the header information that is associated with the cable. It includes information about the receiver(s) as well as a general subject.
  • The bottom box presents the body of the cable. The opening can contain a more specific subject, references to other cables (browse by origin to find them) or additional comment. This is followed by the main contents of the cable: a summary, a collection of specific topics and a comment section.
To understand the justification used for the classification of each cable, please use this WikiSource article as reference.

Discussing cables
If you find meaningful or important information in a cable, please link directly to its unique reference number. Linking to a specific paragraph in the body of a cable is also possible by copying the appropriate link (to be found at theparagraph symbol). Please mark messages for social networking services like Twitter with the hash tags #cablegate and a hash containing the reference ID e.g. #04BOGOTA12953.
Reference ID Created Released Classification Origin
04BOGOTA12953 2004-11-02 18:31 2011-08-25 00:00 UNCLASSIFIED Embassy Bogota
This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BOGOTA 012953 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR EB/TPP 
STATE PLEASE PASS TO USTR 
USAID FOR LAC/SAM DJOHNSON 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: EAID ELAB PGOV CO
SUBJECT: CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY IN COLOMBIA 
 
-------- 
Summary 
-------- 
 
1. Leading companies are implementing strategically-focused 
corporate social responsibility programs in Colombia.  Each year, 
private companies donate millions of dollars to fund education, 
health, and recreational initiatives throughout the country.  The 
private sector is also providing management consultancy services 
to civil-society organizations and is leading efforts to raise 
and channel international donations to support Colombian 
development organizations.  Many Colombian companies also provide 
a variety of employee benefits and social services -- including 
housing subsidies -- through innovative cost-sharing programs. 
Although the long-term impact of such programs in Colombia has 
not been rigorously analyzed, top Colombian companies are 
demonstrating significant potential to promote and support the 
country's most critical development needs.  End summary. 
 
2. The Catholic Church has greatly influenced the development of 
philanthropy in Colombia. Corporate foundations support social, 
economic, and humanitarian assistance efforts nationwide. 
Prominent young Colombian professionals and entrepreneurs are 
spearheading creative and high-impact initiatives.  This new 
generation of business and social leaders is developing a culture 
of corporate social responsibility within Colombia's private 
sector and involving their own companies. 
 
-------------------------------- 
Profile of Corporate Foundations 
-------------------------------- 
 
3. Over the past three years, the Colombian private sector has 
increasingly realized its stake in improving socio-economic 
conditions. In 2002, Colombian companies donated at least 140 
billion Colombian pesos (CPS) (approximately USD 52 million) to 
various social development initiatives. The most recent records 
indicate that in 1997 there were 94 corporate foundations 
formally operating in Colombia, with assets approximating one 
billion dollars, equivalent to 1 percent of Colombia's GDP and 5 
percent of total public sector expenditures.  Since then, several 
new corporate foundations have been created and we expect this 
trend to continue. 
 
4. Some foundations leverage third party resources, mostly using 
donations and matching grants from international foundations 
(primarily from the U.S.).  Several prominent corporate 
foundations, such as Corona and Carvajal, are actively involved 
in supporting institutional development and strengthening through 
management consulting and other services.  This type of 
assistance is provided directly through specialized NGOs such as 
"Corporacin Calidad,"  "Corpoeducacion," "Gestion Hospitalaria," 
and "Compartamos Con Colombia," among others. 
 
------------------------------------- 
CSR Investment Mechanisms and Targets 
------------------------------------- 
 
5. According to a recent study of the top fifty companies in 
Colombia carried out by Compartamos Con Colombia (CCC), 52 
percent of the companies it surveyed make direct donations, 28 
percent contribute to corporate foundations, and a small number 
have grant programs.  The CCC study demonstrates a focus on 
education, employment generation, and health, followed by sports, 
cultural activities, and other forms of recreation.  Smaller 
contributions are earmarked to promote civic values. 
Additionally, the private sector is supporting micro-businesses 
and small enterprises in Colombia through micro-credit and direct 
investments.  Twenty-six companies in CCC's sample include micro- 
enterprise development as part of their CSR strategies, and most 
support small business ventures in marginal and underserved 
areas.   Companies that operate production facilities, however, 
generally concentrate their activities in nearby communities. 
 
-------------------------------- 
"Cajas de Compensacion Familiar" 
-------------------------------- 
 
6. Many Colombian companies make sizeable contributions to social 
programs through family subsidy and benefit compensation 
entities, or "Cajas de Compensacion Familiar" (CCFs).  Unique to 
Colombia, the 54 Cajas are key players in the implementation of 
wide-ranging social programs that directly benefit almost 10 
million Colombians, or 23 percent of Colombia's total population. 
Obligatory employee payroll contributions channeled through 
affiliated private sector companies fund the Cajas.  This 
"forced" contribution by employees through CCFs constitutes a 
critical delivery channel for a broad range of social programs. 
 
7. The number of affiliated companies has grown 18 percent since 
1994, helping to increase the resources available to undertake 
critical social programs.  As a result, there is a sizeable 
increase in the number of affiliated workers and family members 
eligible for the social services that CCFs provide.  The total 
number of affiliated persons increased from 8,641,384 in 1994 to 
9,846,031 in 2003. 
 
8. Taken as a whole, 83,676 private sector companies are 
currently affiliated with the 54 Cajas, which are financed by 
means of a 4 percent payroll tax and paid by these companies. As 
a result, the CCFs enjoy a sizeable budget which they invest in a 
variety of social programs.  In 2003, CCF expenditures reached 
CPS 1.4 trillion (approximately USD 519 million), and for 2004 
the proposed budget is CPS 1.5 trillion (approximately USD 555 
million).  CCF programs cover education, health, housing, 
tourism, and recreation, as well as unemployment and housing 
loans.  The subsidies provided through the CCFs are divided into 
two main categories: 
-- Monetary subsidies, in which the CCFs typically spend CPS 
511.4 billion (approximately USD 189 million) benefiting an 
estimated three million members; and 
 
-- Housing subsidies, in which the CCFs typically spend CPS 158.2 
billion pesos (approximately USD 59 million), benefiting some 
25,000 member families annually. 
 
In 2004, housing subsidies are expected to increase to CPS 170 
billion (approximately USD 62 million), and will benefit 34,200 
members. 
 
9. The CCFs operate 31 percent of Colombia's health system. In 
2003, these entities operated 224 health centers, including basic 
health clinics, hospitals, dental centers, and comprehensive 
medical service units. 
 
------------------ 
Leading Companies 
------------------ 
 
10. According to CCC, the 20 leading private sector Colombian 
companies with advanced social responsibility practices are: 
Bellsouth (now owned by Telefnica of Spain), El Tiempo, Bavaria, 
Corona, Carvajal, Hocol (a petroleum producer), Promigas, 
Almacenes Exito, Sociedad Portuaria De Buenaventura, Ingenio 
Riopaila, Emgesa, Grupo Mac, Smurfit Carton De Colombia, Noel, 
Empresa De Energia De Bogota, Carbones Del Cerrejon, Isa, 
Coomeva, Colsubsidio, and Indupalma. 
 
11. Leading Colombian companies increasingly create local 
development organizations in which a large number of national and 
international companies unite to support a specific social cause 
or goal, in contrast with more traditional models in which 
companies work independently and in an oftentimes paternalistic 
manner.  For example, the recently created "Empresarios por la 
Educacion" (Entrepreneurs for Education) foundation resulted from 
the combined efforts of more than 60 companies working in 
alliance to improve educational standards in Colombia. 
Regionally focused activities include marketing, internet-based 
fundraising and business consulting services focused on NGOs and 
foundations. 
 
------------------- 
General Conclusions 
------------------- 
 
12. Colombia has a long tradition of corporate giving and is a 
leader in this area in the Andean region.  While they are not yet 
a common business practice and not widely integrated into 
corporate strategies and values, more companies are beginning to 
develop community-oriented policies and programs.  Additionally, 
very few companies currently measure the results and impact of 
their strategic and targeted social and economic investments as 
well as charitable contributions, making evaluation difficult and 
inadequate information systems often limit the efficacy of the 
evaluations that are undertaken. 
 
WOOD