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KRC’s Contribution to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
What Are the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)?
The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are a set of global goals to be achieved between 2016 and 2030. They were included in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which was adopted at the United Nations Summit on Sustainable Development in September 2015. The SDGs consist of 17 goals and 169 targets to realize a sustainable world and has a mission statement to “leave no one behind.” From the perspectives of both organizational and business management, KRC is implementing business activities to achieve the SDGs.
Participation in the United Nations Global Compact
To support companies and organizations that are participating in global frameworks for sustainable growth, KRC participates in the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC), which was established in July 2000. UNGC is an initiative active under ten principles in four areas: human rights, labor, environment and anti-corruption.
In December 2003, Global Compact Network Japan (GCNJ) was founded as a local network for UNGC in Japan. GCNJ enables collaboration with companies and organizations with great awareness on the SDGs and as such, KRC is a member.
KRC’s Contribution to the SDGs from an Organizational Management Perspective
KRC has incorporated the SDGs in its medium-term business strategy. Of the eight priority areas covered in the SDGs Implementation Guiding Principles by the Japanese government, KRC focuses on “Empowerment of All People.”
Examples of KRC’s Efforts
| Action 1 |
Thoroughly visualizing information on the active participation of women and promoting its utilization (Becoming an L-boshi-certified company)  |
|---|---|
| Action 2 | Encouraging the promotion of female staff to managerial positions (*10% of male employees versus 7% of female employees are in managerial positions at KRC.) |
| Action 3 | Promoting better work-life balance (Reducing overtime work) |
| Action 4 | Trying out work-style reforms (Reduced work hours for staff with small children and trials to allow staff to work from home） |
| Action 5 | Employing those with disabilities and supporting them after they start their jobs (Instructions are provided by KRC’s experts on inclusiveness education) |
| Action 6 | Educating and training young staff (On-the-job training) |
Message from Our Leader
The SDGs are the guideposts for companies to make social changes and to be chosen by society.
KRC aims to create new social values for companies by leveraging the SDGs. Our wish is to allow each and every employee to have greater awareness on compliance with laws and regulations while never stopping to strive to making contributions to society, thereby achieving both our company’s social missions and self-actualization of themselves at the same time, through innovation and capacity building.
Akihiko Sasaki, Representative Director and President
KRC’s Contribution to the SDGs from a Business Management Perspective
With an aim to achieve the 17 goals, KRC reflects the SDGs in its business activities. Our development consultants are contributing to achieving the SDGs through the assistance they offer to solve social issues in countries where Japanese official development assistance (ODA) programs are taking place. In addition, KRC’s Local Planning Department is promoting the implementation of the SDGs at local governments in Japan that are working on “regional revitalization. ”
Below are a few examples of the priority areas that KRC is making contributions to.
Peace and justice for all
We are implementing a program that spans four sectors— healthcare, employment, water supply and monitoring and evaluation—in Darfur, Sudan to improve public services.
Healthy lives for all
To enable pregnant women to safely give birth at medical facilities in the Cordillera region in Luzon, the Philippines, we developed birthing facilities. Furthermore, we encouraged pregnant women to join the public healthcare scheme so that they can prepare for risks while giving birth. The program won the Good Practice Award from the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) of the Philippines in 2014, and in 2017, it won the JICA President Award from Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).
Providing inclusive and equitable quality education
To improve the quality of literacy education for adults in Afghanistan, we provide assistance to the literacy-education monitoring conducted by the Literacy Department of the Ministry of Education of Afghanistan and capacity building for human resources providing technical assistance. This project won the JICA President Award in 2018.
Innovation
In Rwanda, we are working on system building and human capacity building for the utilization and spread of use of information communication technology (ICT) for socioeconomic development, which would lead to the creation of knowledge-intensive industries and the production of innovative products and services with great added value.
Promoting sustainable industrialization
Through the development of Thilawa Special Economic Zone, which is to the southeast of Yangon, Myanmar, we are assisting economic development in Myanmar. 93 companies from 17 countries have moved in (and of these, 47 are Japanese companies), providing many employment opportunities to the locals.
Community building
Toward the formulation of business plans to support children and child-rearing at the Japanese local municipal level, based on studies to understand the current situation around child-rearing and listing up the existing challenges, we proposed the structure of these plans and drafted plans for their basic philosophy, policy and objectives.
Environmental and Social Considerations
We conducted a study on environmental and social considerations in Cuba to prepare for the formulation of their national transportation masterplan. More specifically, we conducted a study on the following: environmental impact assessments in Cuba; organizations, systems and laws around the relocation of local residents; and matters to be noted in terms of natural conditions around environmental issues and project implementation.
