Assessment of Corporate Social Responsibility in Manufacturing Firms: The Case of Sendafa Industrial Zone
| dc.contributor.advisor | Gemechis Terfe | |
| dc.contributor.author | Feker Dinkessa | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2026-11-06T08:24:27Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2026-11-06T08:24:27Z | |
| dc.date.issued | 2026-06-22 | |
| dc.description.abstract | Manufacturing firms drive economic growth in developing countries, yet their relationship with the communities and environments they operate in remains deeply unresolved. This study assessed corporate social responsibility practices among manufacturing firms in the Sendafa Industrial Zone, examining how companies perform across economic, social, and environmental dimensions and whether the people most affected actually experience any meaningful benefit.The study used a descriptive mixed-methods design, combining structured questionnaires with semi-structured interviews. Three stakeholder groups participated: employees, company managers, and surrounding community members. Quantitative data were analyzed using SPSS descriptive statistics, while qualitative responses from kebele administrators and investment office officials were interpreted thematically. Purposive and systematic sampling techniques were applied across the groups. The findings reveal a consistent and troubling gap between how managers perceive their companies and how employees and community members actually experience them. Managers rated their firms positively across all three CSR dimensions, while employees and community members told a different story one of partial awareness, irregular engagement, and limited benefit. A significant portion of community respondents reported no involvement in any CSR activity, and many employees remained unaware of efforts made on their behalf. Activities that do exist environmental cleaning, school support, health contributions, and worker welfare tend to be ad hoc and event-driven rather than structured or sustained. Major implementation challenges include weak firm commitment, inadequate government oversight, and financial constraints. Two context-specific barriers rarely captured in Ethiopian CSR literature were also identified: chronic electricity interruptions that force firms to prioritize basic production survival, and localized peace and security concerns that discourage long-term social investment. The study concludes that CSR in the Sendafa Industrial Zone remains largely philanthropic and reactive rather than strategic and inclusive. Firms are recommended to develop formal CSR policies with dedicated budgets and genuine stakeholder participation, while government must establish enforceable monitoring mechanisms and address infrastructure gaps as foundational preconditions for sustainable corporate responsibility. | |
| dc.identifier.uri | https://etd.aau.edu.et/handle/123456789/9416 | |
| dc.language.iso | en | |
| dc.publisher | Addis Ababa University | |
| dc.subject | Corporate Social Responsibility | |
| dc.title | Assessment of Corporate Social Responsibility in Manufacturing Firms: The Case of Sendafa Industrial Zone | |
| dc.type | Thesis |