AIESEC interns can play a key role in activating or developing Corporate Responsibility practices inside an organisation, or adding value to an existing Corporate Responsibility department.

Here are just a few examples of roles an AIESEC intern could play:

An intern with professional training could use expert tools to conduct an analysis of the CR or Sustainability practices of your organisation engaging across departments to build up a complete picture of corporate responsibility in your organisation. This could be based on frameworks such as those developed by the Ethos institute or the Global Reporting Iniciative and could provide an input for your Annual Report or an Annual Sustainability Report. The intern could also identify specific areas for action.

If you already have Corporate Responsibility practices well developed then an intern could engage with your employees across departments to create a comprehensive database of Good Case Practices. This would be a vital resource in sustaining the practices you have in place, identifying new opportunities and creating internal and external awareness of what your organisation is doing.

An intern could be successfully applied for conducting the research among major stakeholders of the company: its employees, investors, customers, supply chain/buyers, partners, community, local government, activists groups, etc. around what are their expectations towards the company and how could company bring an additional value to these relationships.

An intern could be working on developing sustained, collaborative partnerships on Sustainability Issues with NGOs, other corporations and government, utilising AIESEC's existing network of partners. The intern could assist the company in developing partnership principles and identifying the ground/base for partnership, making a study about a perspective partner, finding touch points and helping to define the objectives for building more elaborate partnerships.

In case of the company that is aware of stakeholder expectations and has done the evaluation of opportunities/needs of its external/internal environment a trainee could be applied at policy writing – creating a simple policy/ code of conduct for an organization based on UN Global Compact, OECD Guidelines or using examples of other companies codes. In doing that the trainee could also network around different areas of CoC with local NGOs, Civil Society Groups who could be cooperated with on different aspects of CoC.

Job roles can include environmental risk analysis and management, reduction of environmental footprint, development of energy brochures and marketing campaigns etc., liaison with environmental groups, development and implementation of internal waste management/ energy reduction programs, business development with companies providing renewable energies, developing and implementing conservation programs such as employee volunteering (tree planting, beach cleaning), or in NGOs promoting environmental protections and managing campaigns.

The challenge of the CC Department in relation to CR is to control the Messages and communication channels between the company and its external audiences as well as to its employees, and to build effective relationships with the relevant stakeholders. Job roles can include the development and implementation for systems to understand brand perception of different stakeholders, develop and publish Environmental and Social Performance reports, support HR department by informing employees of about policies, practices and decisions (transparency), drive and manage two way communication with cross sector partnerships, Media Relations and Branding of CR activities.

Example: An Ecuadorian company called Lobudo supplies the US chain Home Depot with lumber from a tree found specifically in Ecuadorian forests. Home Depot has chosen the ISO 14000 norms as the environmental standard for all its suppliers and set the end of 2008 as the deadline by which all suppliers must comply. The trainee’s job is to form part of the team responsible for reforming operations to comply with ISO 14000, working with particular respect to the company’s selection of trees to be cut throughout Ecuador.

Example: Líder, a large supermarket chain in Chile, prides itself on its initiative to employ disabled Chileans. So far, one branch has hired 4 disabled employees, empowering them to contribute to the national economy, support their families, and become financially independent as a result of their employment. Líder´s trainee is responsible for expanding the initiative within the Human Resources department and evaluating the feasibility of replicating it in other branches in the city.

Example: Alpina, a Colombian milk manufacturer, takes a trainee with a graphic design background to help launch a 20-week social marketing campaign aimed at pregnant mothers to make them aware of the importance of a balanced diet and milk in the health of their babies and young children. The trainee is responsible for designing the posters and newspaper advertisements that will be distributed around the city.