The ICRC Corporate Support Group

The objectives - The members - The conditions - The benefits - Contact

1) What are the objectives of the ICRC Corporate Support Group?

To diversify the ICRC’s sources of funding.
To promote exchanges between the ICRC and its corporate partners in areas of mutual interest.

(see "Seeing the Bigger Picture," June/July 2008)

2) Who are the members of the ICRC Corporate Support Group?

3) What are the conditions for membership of the ICRC Corporate Support Group?

Membership is restricted to an exclusive circle of companies with strong ethics whose policies and activities are compatible with the ICRC's principles and values.

Each Corporate Partner has pledged to make a substantial donation to either the operational activities of the ICRC or to the Foundation for the ICRC, which seeks to develop a substantial endowment fund. The fund's yearly revenues are being used to strengthen the expertise of ICRC staff.

Ethical principles guiding the ICRC's partnerships with the private sector

The aim of these guidelines is to establish a transparent framework for relationships between companies and the ICRC. As a matter of principle, a partnership must strengthen — but in no way undermine — the capacity of the organization to carry out its activities worldwide in accordance with its specific mandate and the principles of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. Read the guidelines for partnerships

4) What are the benefits for ICRC corporate partners?

Members of the ICRC Corporate Support Group enjoy exclusive benefits in terms of dialogue and information exchange with the ICRC.

The ICRC holds an annual, high-level meeting with its corporate partners, focusing on strategic issues of mutual interest.

Ad hoc meetings at senior executive level bring together the ICRC and corporate partners interested in addressing a specific issue (geopolitical trends, communication and HR management during crises, risk assessment, etc.)

The ICRC treats the members of the Corporate Support Group as 'preferred partners' for specific events and campaigns.

ICRC Corporate Support Group, annual high level meetings

The ICRC organizes an annual high-level meeting for its corporate partners, focusing on issues of mutual interest.

©ICRC/Thierry Gassmann

Group picture of the 2008 plenary meeting, 27 November 2008

On 27 November 2008, the plenary meeting of the ICRC Corporate Support Group was hosted in Geneva by Thierry Lombard, partner at LODH and President of the Foundation for the ICRC.

The meeting started with a slide show presentation on the humanitarian consequences of conflicts and the response provided by an organization, such as the ICRC, to needs of the people affected. The ICRC President then discussed the challenges that the organization had faced in 2008. He stressed how hard the cumulative impact of armed conflict, high commodity prices, the economic and financial crises, and environmental factors, such as drought, would hit the poorest and most vulnerable people. This started a lively discussion among the guests.

[From left to right: Jakob Kellenberger (ICRC), Thierry Lombard (LODH), Jacques Aigrain (Swiss Re), Herbert Scheidt (Vontobel), Georges Gagnebin (Foundation for the ICRC), Walter Kielholz (Credit Suisse Group), Peter Buomberger (ZFS), Fides P. Baldesberger (Foundation for the ICRC), André von Moos (Foundation for the ICRC), Karin Jestin (LODH), Amb. Anton Thalmann (Foundation for the ICRC), Ron Popper (ABB), Doris Pfister (ICRC), Ursula Eugster Verhoeff (ICRC), Urs Hammer (Foundation for the ICRC)]

©Zurich Financial Services/E. Real

Group picture of the 2007 plenary meeting, 17 October 2007

On 17 October 2007, the plenary meeting of the ICRC Corporate Support Group was hosted by James Schiro, the Chief Executive Officer of Zurich Financial Services, at the corporation's headquarters in Zurich.

The event was attended by board members and executives of the ICRC corporate partners, members of the ICRC Assembly and of the Board for the Foundation for the ICRC.

Jakob Kellenberger launched the event with an overview of the ICRC's activities over the course of the year, following which the participants conferred on issues of mutual interest. During the evening, guests watched a film made during a workshop for the corporations's executives conducted a month earlier at the ICRC training centre.

[From left to right, back row: Peter Buomberger (ZFS), Gary Steel (ABB), Thierry Lombard (LODH), Herbert Scheidt (Vontobel), Jacques Aigrain (Swiss Re), Doris Pfister (ICRC), James Schiro (ZFS), Susy Brüschweiler (SV Group), Moritz Suter (Foundation for the ICRC), Prof. Peter Forstmoser (Swiss Re), Rolf Schläpfer (Roche), Ron Popper (ABB), Geoff Riddell (ZFS), Jakob Kellenberger (ICRC)

From left to right, front row: Ursula Eugster Verhoeff (ICRC), Jacques Rossier (LODH), Jacques Forster (ICRC), Fides P. Baldesberger (Foundation for the ICRC), Anton Thalmann (Foundation for the ICRC).]

©Swiss Re/Judith Affolter

The corporate partners are led through an exhibition about the ICRC, 22 November 2006

On 22 November 2006, the first plenary meeting of the ICRC Corporate Support Group was hosted by Peter Forstmoser, the Chairman of the Board of Directors of Swiss Re, at the corporation's Centre for Global Dialogue in Rüschlikon.

In his address, ICRC president Jakob Kellenberger gave an overview of the ICRC's humanitarian activities in "hot spots" during 2006.

This was followed by an assessment by the corporate partners of their partnership with the ICRC.

After the meeting and before dinner, Mr Kellenberger led the assembled group through an exhibition set up especially for the plenary meeting. The six-part exhibition illustrated the history and development of the ICRC.

[Photo from left to right: Markus Hongler (ZFS), Thierry Lombard (LODH), Jacques Rossier (LODH), Prof. Peter Forstmoser (Swiss Re), Doris Pfister (ICRC), Rahel Gerber (Swiss Re), Jakob Kellenberger (ICRC), Ursula Eugster Verhoeff (ICRC)]

©ICRC/Thierry Gassmann

Launch of the ICRC Corporate Support Group, 7 October 2005

The ICRC Corporate Support Group was launched on 7 October 2005 in Geneva at a meeting between the ICRC President, Jakob Kellenberger, and leading members of Switzerland's business community.

[Photo from left to right: Thierry Lombard (LODH), Prof. Peter Forstmoser (Swiss Re), Gary Steel (ABB), Jakob Kellenberger (ICRC), Jacques Rossier (LODH), Mme Jacques Rossier, Ron Popper (ABB), James Schiro (ZFS), Mme James Schiro, Pierre Jaccoud (Roche).]

ICRC Corporate Support Group, Ad hoc meetings at senior executive level

Ad hoc meetings at senior executive level bring together the ICRC and corporate partners interested in addressing a specific issue (e.g. geopolitical trends, communication and HR management during crises, risk assessment, etc.)

Zurich, 19 September 2008: Corporate executives familiarize themselves with the case study.

On 19 September 2008, 17 executives from the ICRC's corporate partners attended a workshop on "Business and International Humanitarian Law" in Zurich. A week later, the same workshop took place in Geneva, attended by 6 executives. Both events were hosted by Lombard Odier Darier Hentsch & Cie.

The objectives were twofold: to provide an introduction to international humanitarian law, including a basic knowledge of the constraints related to operating – directly or indirectly – in conflict environments, and to explore situations where business operations may either benefit from the protection of international humanitarian law or be constrained by its rules.

Geneva, 26 September 2008: Discussion commences

The workshops were facilitated by ICRC specialists and consisted of an introduction to the topic followed by a case study to be dealt with in small groups.

The positive feedback from the participants confirmed that this workshop provided a valuable opportunity to share knowledge, experiences and best practices.

©Ikon productions/Pascal Baumgartner

16 and 17 September 2007 - Corporate staff assess the needs of a war-affected population during a workshop

In September 2007, 14 experts from the ICRC's corporate partners tackled the scenario of a conflict-related emergency during a two-day workshop at Ecogia, the ICRC's training centre near Geneva.

Coached by ICRC facilitators, the participants were asked to assess the needs of a war-affected population to allow their organization to define a strategy and a plan of action.

16/17 September 2007 - The workshop for executives focuses on skills such as negotiation and stress management.

The exercise, which was inspired by the ICRC's training programme for its own staff, focused on the skills of negotiation, stress management, intercultural relations and communication in a crisis situation.

22 November 2006 - Workshop for senior executives on operating in a challenging environment.

On 22 November 2006, 27 experts from the corporate partners met at the Swiss Re Centre for Global Dialogue to share knowledge based on an ICRC case study entitled "Operating in a challenging environment".

Coached by ICRC executives the experts participated in multidisciplinary workshops. They tackled the scenario of a conflict-related emergency triggered by massive population displacement, considering operational management, security, human resources, information and logistics.

The participants highly valued this expert meeting, which provided an opportunity to exchange experiences, learn more about specific areas of interest and present solutions.

"Preferred partners" for specific events and campaigns

Swiss Re and the ICRC present their partnership at Humagora 2007.

On 20 November 2007, the Philias Foundation organized a fair in Geneva by the name of Humagora, aimed at presenting best practices for cross-sectoral partnerships. The ICRC participated in the fair, together with its corporate partner Swiss Re. Asked about the partnership with the ICRC, Swiss Re Head of Corporate Citizenship, Anne Keller Dubach stated: "We live in a time where people are called to assume responsibility for their health and the protection of their environment. They want their employers to do the same." The partnership with the ICRC is a source of pride for the staff of Swiss Re and therefore a source of motivation.

©Enzo Capaccio

Banner presenting the partnership between Credit Suisse Group and the ICRC

On 4 November 2008, the ICRC and Credit Suisse Group participated in the third edition of Humagora, a fair organized in Geneva by the Philias Foundation, whose mission it is to promote corporate social responsibility (CSR). This fair acts as a platform for exchange and dialogue, aiming to foster links between the private and non-profit sectors. A "marketplace" visited by 144 organizations, 100 corporate representatives, 15 companies and 15 organizations (amongst them the ICRC and Credit Suisse Group) presented existing partnerships and future projects. A round table looked at how to reconcile the interests of companies and those of organizations, followed by a debate on the boundaries between patronage and sponsoring.

* * *

Contact

Ursula Eugster Verhoeff, Head, Corporate Partnerships

Address:
International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)
19 Avenue de la Paix
1202 Geneva, Switzerland

Phone:
+ 41 22 730 2676