A Critical Review of CSR Projects and Their Impacts on Infrastructural and Social Development

This paper reviews the impact of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) projects on infrastructural and social development, drawing from diverse case studies in sectors like healthcare and education. It analyzes how CSR initiatives contribute to societal advancement through resource mobilization, innovation, and addressing community needs, with examples from organizations such as Coca Cola, Walmart, and the Widus Foundation in Angeles City. The review highlights CSR’s positive effects on hospital and educational infrastructure, including technological upgrades and improved accessibility. However, it also identifies challenges such as governance issues, lack of transparency, regulatory barriers, and the perception of CSR as opportunistic. The paper calls for stronger policy frameworks, better governance, and transparent practices to enhance CSR’s sustainability and impact. Recommendations include community engagement, alignment with ethical standards, integration into business strategies, and collaboration with reliable partners to ensure more effective and sustainable CSR initiatives.