ABSTRACT
This chapter provides Latin America profiles, including key information about the relevant corporate sustainability and responsibility (CSR) history, country-specific issues, trends, research, education and leading organizations. Philanthropy in Latin America typically revolves around asistencialismo, charitable giving for poverty alleviation, with the beneficiaries being the poor, children and disadvantaged youth. The private sector in Latin America contributes to the priorities by showing some social responsibility, but not as a systemic effort. CSR as an integral concept is relatively new to Latin America and in its broadest expression is confined to relatively large firms with global exposure. Legislation and codes in Latin America cover CSR practices in a relatively indirect way. All countries in Latin America have one or several major institutions promoting CSR practices. CEMEX produces, distributes and sells cement, aggregates and related construction materials. Cemex has developed several CSR projects in Latin America.
