Spreading the spirit of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) throughout the Arab world, the UAE- based Arabia CSR Network recently conducted the first Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) training in Muscat, Oman.

"The Arabia CSR Network, with its vast experience of working with various organizations to improve their CSR) reporting, is very keen to build the capacity of organizations and businesses in the entire region," said Habiba Al Marashi, President and CEO of Arabia CSR Network and Board Member of UN Global Compact.

The GRI training, hosted by Tawasul - a civil society organization based in Oman - was attended by top-level executives from government, NGOs, and private organisations such as Oman Chamber of Commerce, Oman Oil Company, Bank Muscat, Bank Sohar, Sohar University, Information Technology Authority, Salalah Methanol, Environmental Society of Oman and The Research Council, Oman.

"The training will also serve as a valuable platform for organisations to be equipped with valuable tools for the 5th Cycle of the Arabia CSR Awards which we will roll out on April this year," added Mrs. Al Marashi.

Mrs. Al Marashi said organizations related to the Environmental Health and Safety sector, Oil and Gas, Chemicals and Petrochemicals, Environmental Compliance, Transportation, Accounting, Human Resources, Supply Chain, Banking, Hospitality; Service sector organizations; relevant Government departments; Non-Government organizations; and many more can benefit greatly from GRI training.

"However, the GRI is not limited to generating a report. It focuses on facilitating the process in which companies actively measure and manage their sustainability practices so that they are strongly ingrained in each activity and department of the organization," she added.

The GRI has emerged as the leading reporting framework designed specifically for companies that wish to report on their sustainability strategies and initiatives. It complements the traditional business practice of developing financial reports. The GRI also address the non-financial aspects of economic, environmental, and social performance of organizations.

Khalid Al Haribi, co-founder of Tawasul said: "the GRI is very useful in improving sustainability practices and enables our organization have a more positive impact to society."

The Arabia CSR Network is the first certified training partner for the GRI headquarters in Netherlands to provide trainings to organizations in the Arabic speaking countries that wish to use the GRI framework for their sustainability reporting requirements. Previous trainings were held in Dubai on September and December last year and February this year.