The NGO C’Durable et Vert gathered business leaders in Abidjan on July 3, 2025, for a powerful awareness event built around the concept of the “CSR Fresco.”
The participatory workshop, part of the Green Ideas Afterwork series, brought together 25 representatives from various Ivorian companies to explore how Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) can be more deeply integrated into corporate strategy.
This marks the second such initiative by the NGO, following the success of its Climate Fresco.
Led by Ines Semeun, founder of C’Durable et Vert, the session provided an interactive platform for participants to co-construct a visual mapping of CSR priorities, anchored in their companies’ visions.
“The exercise consisted of participants giving the vision of a company on the board to build a mapping,” explained Semeun, who also facilitated the session.
CSR and sustainable development consultant Grâce Diby was among the participants.
“It was about coming to discover this tool and seeing how to include it in consulting sessions,” she said, describing the CSR Fresco as a visual and collaborative method to decode the complexities of sustainable development and governance.
Diby, who also represents Ivory Coast for both the Climate Fresco and the Desertification Fresco, emphasized the importance of such tools in helping organizations understand and respond to environmental challenges at both local and global levels.
Sustainable finance expert Majid Touré underlined the workshop’s core message: encouraging companies to critically examine their environmental footprint.
“Companies are engaged in a CSR approach, a strategy which consists of carrying out virtuous actions with communities and within the company,” he noted.
Yet, he added, only 28% of Ivorian companies with declared CSR policies actually have structured programs in place.
Government interest in CSR is also rising. Aka Kouamé, Deputy Director of CSR Policy at the Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development, confirmed the finalization of a CSR decree.
“We are committed to our CSR decree,” he said.
“This decree will require reports, for example, from companies (…) at the end of the year to certify that companies and organizations are applying environmental standards.”
While no penalties are foreseen, Kouamé stressed that top-performing companies will be rewarded.
“We no longer only target businesses, but also other entities,” he added, citing the inclusion of regional councils, municipalities, and districts in the CSR framework.
This latest fresco event represents a major milestone for C’Durable et Vert in its mission to embed sustainability into Ivorian society.
The NGO continues to expand its reach through collaborative educational tools and workshops focused on ecological transition, climate awareness, and responsible corporate behavior.
More CSR fresco sessions are planned in the coming months, with the aim of galvanizing more companies and institutions to embrace sustainability as a core value and operational standard.
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