Nepal, Oct. 8 -- Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is often at the centre of discussions about private-sector engagement in development. Yet it is one of the most misrepresented and misunderstood concepts. CSR has recently made its presence felt in most businesses, often as a small department or unit, which is highly commendable. Fewer than 10 countries, including Nepal and India, have made CSR mandatory. In recent times, CSR has evolved, formalising its structure within the private sector.

It is common to hear that the Nepali private sector does not fully fulfil its social responsibility or that it uses CSR only for marketing. While there may be some truth to this argument, we often overlook the fact that the CSR fund from the Nepal...