It is a national network whose mission is to articulate, integrate and implement different strategies for the development of Socially Responsible Territories.
It is a national network led by the Ministry of Employment and Social Security.
RETOS was formally constituted on April 15, 2008, with the aim of becoming a reference in territorial social responsibility and since then has constantly developed its activity being already a national and international reference in the promotion of social responsibility principles and values.
Integrated by local territories (28 local and provincial entities and 4 collaborating entities), its mission is to integrate and implement strategies for the development of Socially Responsible Territories (SRT) that:
- Contribute to improve and protect environment
- Contribute to territorial cohesion and the development of a model of territorial organization
- Improve the performance of the social capital of a territory
- Generate social cohesion and manage diversity
- Strengthen democracy and legitimacy of their institutions and organizations
- Improve the quality of life and the wellness of the community
RETOS network is a collaborative environment where members contribute with good practices in CSR, creating a dynamic library of actions that are then deployed in the territory of each of the members of the Network. In this deployment, participate stakeholders such as enterprises that, either through hiring or as users of services, are sensitized in aspects related to sustainability, good governance, local commerce, transparency, disability, social impact and inclusive employment among others.
Resources needed
RETOS does not have any financing. It works thanks to the efforts of all the partners that work for it continues operating and searching for good practices worth to be applied to their territories
Evidence of success
RETOS network has been able to collect, currently 177 good practices belonging to the territories participant in the network, which can be transferred to all kind of territories.
Difficulties encountered
The main difficulty encountered is the fact that this network has not any funds to operate, so it supposes an over-effort assumed by the staff of the participant members.
Potential for learning or transfer
It is a network made up by many municipalities of Spain, whose main challenge is to adopt CSR values and principles by the exchange of experience among them.
RETOS network has an ethical code to which all the participant entities are adhered, an annual report of the activities developed and a guide for the evaluation of socially responsible activities in the territories besides a manual for developing reports of territorial social responsibility.
In its website, we can find a great number of good practices in CSR activities identified by the participant territories.
It is a good example of how public organizations can exchange knowledge on CSR activities and how with no funding a network can last in time with the effort of their participants.
Tags: Engagement, Social, Business