En hållbar utveckling består av tre dimensioner: den ekologiska, sociala och ekonomiska. Enligt lag ska en hållbarhetsrapport beskriva företagets arbete med ekologiska och sociala frågor. Ekonomin redovisas i årsrapporten. Om ett företag väljer att publicera sin hållbarhetsrapport som en del av årsredovisningen kallas detta integrerad rapportering, vilket bör innebära att information om de tre hållbarhetsdimensionerna presenteras tillsammans. Den sociala och ekologiska hållbarheten har tydligt satta definitioner. Det har inte den ekonomiska. Två olika definitioner beskrivs. Den första definitionen beskriver ekonomisk hållbarhet som en ekonomisk utveckling som inte medför negativa konsekvenser för den ekologiska eller sociala hållbarheten. Den andra definitionen likställer ekonomisk hållbarhet med ekonomisk tillväxt. Uppsatsens syfte är att undersöka om ekonomisk hållbarhet inkluderas i svenska företags integrerade rapporter, analysera hur den presenteras och tolka vilken definition som presenteras. För att besvara syftet utförs en deduktiv kvalitativ innehållsanalys på 13 svenska företags integrerade rapporter. Innehållsanalysen utgår från de aspekter av ekonomisk hållbarhet som tas fram i Baumgartner och Ebner (2010). För att analysera hur aspekterna presenteras och vilken definition som går att identifiera utvecklas en matris som graderar nivån av hållbarhet inom varje aspekt.  Resultatet visar att ekonomisk hållbarhet inkluderas genom fem aspekter: innovation och teknologi, samarbete, kunskapshantering, processer och inköp. Innehållsanalysen visar att nivån av ekonomisk hållbarhet är högst i aspekten processer och lägst i aspekten kunskapshantering. Det totala resultatet visar att den ekonomiska hållbarhet som presenteras kan tolkas som likställd med en ekonomisk tillväxt. En trend kan dock identifieras där definitionen av ekonomisk hållbarhet går mot en tillväxt som inte medför negativa konsekvenser för den sociala eller ekologiska hållbarheten. / Sustainable development consists of three dimensions: the ecological, social and economic. By law, a sustainability report must describe the company's work with ecological and social issues. The finances are reported in the annual report. If a company chooses to publish its sustainability report as part of the annual report, it is called integrated reporting, which means that information about the three sustainability dimensions is presented together. Social and ecological sustainability have clearly defined definitions. Economic sustainability does not. The purpose of the thesis is to analyze whether economic sustainability is included, how it is presented and interpret which definition is presented in Swedish companies' integrated reports. To answer the purpose, a deductive qualitative content analysis is performed on thirteen Swedish companies' integrated reports. The results show that economic sustainability is included through five aspects: innovation and technology, collaboration, knowledge management, processes and purchase. The content analysis shows that the level of financial sustainability is highest in the aspects of processes and lowest in the aspect of knowledge management. The overall result shows that the economic sustainability presented can be interpreted as equated with economic growth. However, a trend can be identified where the definition of economic sustainability is heading towards a growth that does not have negative consequences for social or ecological sustainability.

Syfte: Tidigare hållbarhetsredovisning anses ha problem med frånkoppling av finansiella och icke-finansiella strategier, vilket IR avser att lösa. Studier som gjorts visar att IR implementerats oproportionerligt, samt att rapporter som benämns som integrerade, påvisat låg IR-nivå. En möjlig förklaring är dålig förståelse av detta förhållandevis nya begrepp. Stora skillnader i IR-nivå gör det svårt att få en tydlig bild av den faktiska implementeringen av IR. Syftet för denna studie är att kartlägga IR-nivån bland stora svenska företag som benämnt sina årsredovisningar som integrerade, samt att ge praktiska exempel utifrån IR-ramverket. Slutligen används legitimitetsteorin och greenwashing för att förklara resultatet. Metod: Studiens process har varit abduktiv, och en kvalititativ strategi har anammats. Designen för studien är tvärsnitt. Empirin har samlats in genom kvalitativ innehållsanalys av 14 svenska företags årsredovisningar, valda genom ett målstyrt urval. Därefter har data insamlats och analyserats med hjälp av ett kodningsschema som i sin tur har utgått från den normativa referensramen. Datan har sedan presenterats i tabell, samt narrativt. Resultat och slutsats: Studien har visat att de undersökta företagen påvisar en ojämn IR-nivå, där företagen lyckats bäst inom strategiskt fokus och framtidsorientering, medan en lägre nivå uppnås inom väsentlighet och kopplingar mellan information. Detta kan bero på otillräcklig spridning av IR-ramverket och/eller greenwashing. Kartläggningen visar därmed att de flesta rapporter snarare är blandade än integrerade. Förslag till fortsatt forskning: För att fånga upp huruvida omvandlingsfunktionen är en del av företagens IR, föreslås en kvalitativ fallstudie av enstaka företag. Vidare hade det varit intressant att göra en longitudinell studie för att se hur företagens IR-nivå förändras över tid. Uppsatsens bidrag: Studiens viktigaste bidrag är att genom kartläggningen ge praktiska exempel för företag att beakta, samt att fylla kunskapsgapet som finns kring implementering av IR i svenska företag. / Aim: Sustainability reporting is considered to have problems with a disconnection of financial and non-financial strategies, which IR intends to solve. Previous studies show that IR has been implemented disproportionately, and that the reports referred to as integrated, demonstrated a low IR-level. A possible explanation is a poor understanding of the relatively new concept. Large differences in the IR-level makes it difficult to get a clear picture of the actual implementation of IR. The purpose of this study is to identify the IR-level of large Swedish companies who self-declared their reports as integrated, and to provide practical examples on the basis of the IR framework. Finally, legitimacy theory and greenwashing is used to explain the results. Method: The process of the study has been abductive, and a qualitative strategy has been adopted. The design of the study is cross-sectional. The empirical data were collected through qualitative content analysis of 14 Swedish companies’ annual reports, selected through a purposive sample. Subsequently, data was acquired and analyzed using a coding frame, based on the normative framework. The data have been presented in tables and in narratives. Result & Conclusions: The study has shown that the companies indicate an uneven IR level, where companies have been most successful in strategic focus and future orientation, while a lower level is achieved within materiality and connectivity of information. This may be due to inadequate diffusion of the IR framework and/or due to greenwashing. The mapping thus shows that most reports are mixed rather than integrated. Suggestions for future research: To capture whether the transformation function is part of the companies’ IR, a qualitative case study of individual companies is proposed. Furthermore, a longitudinal study to see how the companies IR-level changes over time would be interesting. Contribution of the thesis: The most important contribution of the study is that the mapping provides practical examples for companies to consider, as well as filling the knowledge gap existing regarding the implementation of IR in Swedish companies.

The need for donor funding has increased significantly over the last decade. Without donor funding millions of people wouldn’t be alive today. Thanks either to research finding a cure, successful treatment, funds donated for food, aid toward building infrastructure, or giving people the opportunity to further their education. Donor funding thus facilitates a better future. A literature review was conducted to give background on the health sector and how these funds were distributed, ethical clearance, different types of reporting, the role project managers pays in a project and the sustainability of projects. Expenses in different countries were evaluated by gathering data from the internet, while two international funded projects are also used to state how funders divide their line items into different categories. The empirical study used a qualitative research approach by collecting and analysing data obtained from the MDG 2010 report and other freely available data on the web. The main findings from this thesis are: *The Millennium Development Goals (MDG’s) influence donor funding as it gives donors a guide towards funding needs. Donors are also influenced by their own preferences or what poses a burden to them individually. *The different types of reporting required for funding received, delay a project and the bureaucratic structures thereof are a hindrance. *Ethical clearance plays a fundamental role in the outcome of a project, as without ethical clearance a project cannot commence. *The objectives of a project play a critical role when applying for funding. This can change the focus of a project. *Expenses differ from country to country and funders need to take this into account when giving funding to recipient countries. *Project Managers and community involvement plays a critical role in ensuring sustainability of projects. THE SUSTAINABILITY OF DONOR FUNDED PROJECTS IN THE HEALTH SECTOR *The MDG’s are not on track and aid are focus on singular goals instead of multiple goals, to ensure an overall improved result. There is a major gap between needed funds and given funds. A single injection of funds will not be the solution to our health problem; different sectors need to collaborate together as we are facing a multi-dimensional problem. Trade and reform must also form part of this aid, ensuring a sustainable progression in the life’s of people. Donor funded projects may have a sustainable future, when taking in account the abovementioned findings. With the world trend in reporting changing rapidly, cost and management accountants as well as financial accountants and project managers have to equip them to adhere to the new way of reporting, namely integrated and sustainability reporting. South Africa is way behind and needs to catch up fast if they want to stay competitive in the “global donor funding market”. The limitations in this study were that not all expenses were evaluated and only 15 countries were looked at. An indebt look was taken into Africa with the empirical review, while Asia is also combating poor health issues. Some African countries like Sierra Leone and Zimbabwe did not have sufficient data to compare with other countries. From the research conducted, the following topics were identified that require further research: *Why are most projects in Third World countries not sustainable? *What plans are put into action to ensure that the MDG goals are reached? *Investigate what works for First World countries health systems and consider how that can be applied to Third World countries to ensure that they also get the best health care available. *Do donors take into account the different costs of countries when allocating funding to that specific country? *Establishing models to evaluate the sustainability of pilot projects and normal projects. *Establishing a model on how to distribute donor funds across different needs and not only one specific need. / MCom (Management Accountancy), North-West University, Vaal Triangle Campus, 2013

A crise econômica tornou a transparência um valor para as corporações e influenciou o surgimento de um mercado verde de relatórios de Sustentabilidade. Este fenômeno motivou esta pesquisa, que enfoca o caso do Relato Integrado (Integrated Reporting ) promovido pelo International Integrated Reporting Council (IIRC), rede sem fins lucrativos formada por múltiplos atores. O prevê a integração de dados financeiros e não-financeiros - sociais e ambientais - a fim de demonstrar como a organização cria valor ao longo do tempo para seus diversos públicos. Como base teórica, foi explorada a perspectiva da Teoria Institucional e da Nova Sociologia Econômica, que explica o desenvolvimento dos mercados a partir construções sociais. O objetivo foi investigar a razão de as empresas adotarem esta prática voluntária e compreender como as 12 companhias brasileiras do Programa Piloto do Relato Integrado aderiram às diretrizes de governança propostas pelo IIRC. Este requisito é diferenciador por influenciar diretamente a tomada de decisão. Para isso, o campo organizacional e a rede foram abordados de forma exploratória a fim de comprovar como esta prática influi, ou não, na agenda da Sustentabilidade. O método qualitativo de estudo de caso e a técnica de análise do discurso para interpretar as entrevistas semiestruturadas realizadas com a amostra embasaram a análise dos dados. Os resultados indicam que o campo organizacional das grandes empresas e associações do mercado guiam pressões isomórficas que influenciam essa prática. Por outro lado, há evidências de que a mudança na governança das práticas socioambientais corporativas influencia resultados práticos em prol de uma agenda mais sustentável. Conclui-se, ao considerar o campo dos relatórios como resultado de uma estrutura social, que essa rede vai além das exigências legais e regulatórias e passa a ser vista como exemplo a ser seguido ao tornar a Sustentabilidade um valor intrínseco à prática empresarial / The economic crisis has made transparency a value for corporations and influenced the emergence of a \"green market\" of Sustainability reports. This phenomenon motivated this research which focuses on the case of the Integrated Reporting () sponsored by the International Integrated Reporting Council (IIRC), a nonprofit network of multiple actors. The proposes the integration of financial and non-financial indicators - social and environmental - in order to demonstrate how the organization creates value over time to its stakeholders. As theoretical basis, it was explored the perspective of Institutional Theory and New Economic Sociology, which explains the development of markets from social constructs. The objective aimed to investigate the reason for companies to adopt this voluntary practice and understand how the 12 Brazilian companies of the Integrated Reporting Pilot Program adhered to the governance guidelines proposed by the IIRC. This requirement is a differentiator because it directly influences the decision-making. For this, the organizational field and the network were studied in an exploratory way in order to prove how this practice influence, or not, the agenda of sustainability. The qualitative method of case study and the discourse analysis technique to interpret the semi-structured interviews were used to analyze the data. The results indicate that the organizational field of big business and market associations guide isomorphic pressures that influence the practice. On the other hand, there is evidence that the change in the governance of corporate social and environmental practices influence practical results in favor of a more sustainable agenda. The conclusion, when considering the field of reports as result of a social structure, the network goes beyond the legal and regulatory requirements and is seen as an example to be followed in making sustainability an intrinsic value to the business practice

A crise econômica tornou a transparência um valor para as corporações e influenciou o surgimento de um mercado verde de relatórios de Sustentabilidade. Este fenômeno motivou esta pesquisa, que enfoca o caso do Relato Integrado (Integrated Reporting ) promovido pelo International Integrated Reporting Council (IIRC), rede sem fins lucrativos formada por múltiplos atores. O prevê a integração de dados financeiros e não-financeiros - sociais e ambientais - a fim de demonstrar como a organização cria valor ao longo do tempo para seus diversos públicos. Como base teórica, foi explorada a perspectiva da Teoria Institucional e da Nova Sociologia Econômica, que explica o desenvolvimento dos mercados a partir construções sociais. O objetivo foi investigar a razão de as empresas adotarem esta prática voluntária e compreender como as 12 companhias brasileiras do Programa Piloto do Relato Integrado aderiram às diretrizes de governança propostas pelo IIRC. Este requisito é diferenciador por influenciar diretamente a tomada de decisão. Para isso, o campo organizacional e a rede foram abordados de forma exploratória a fim de comprovar como esta prática influi, ou não, na agenda da Sustentabilidade. O método qualitativo de estudo de caso e a técnica de análise do discurso para interpretar as entrevistas semiestruturadas realizadas com a amostra embasaram a análise dos dados. Os resultados indicam que o campo organizacional das grandes empresas e associações do mercado guiam pressões isomórficas que influenciam essa prática. Por outro lado, há evidências de que a mudança na governança das práticas socioambientais corporativas influencia resultados práticos em prol de uma agenda mais sustentável. Conclui-se, ao considerar o campo dos relatórios como resultado de uma estrutura social, que essa rede vai além das exigências legais e regulatórias e passa a ser vista como exemplo a ser seguido ao tornar a Sustentabilidade um valor intrínseco à prática empresarial / The economic crisis has made transparency a value for corporations and influenced the emergence of a \"green market\" of Sustainability reports. This phenomenon motivated this research which focuses on the case of the Integrated Reporting () sponsored by the International Integrated Reporting Council (IIRC), a nonprofit network of multiple actors. The proposes the integration of financial and non-financial indicators - social and environmental - in order to demonstrate how the organization creates value over time to its stakeholders. As theoretical basis, it was explored the perspective of Institutional Theory and New Economic Sociology, which explains the development of markets from social constructs. The objective aimed to investigate the reason for companies to adopt this voluntary practice and understand how the 12 Brazilian companies of the Integrated Reporting Pilot Program adhered to the governance guidelines proposed by the IIRC. This requirement is a differentiator because it directly influences the decision-making. For this, the organizational field and the network were studied in an exploratory way in order to prove how this practice influence, or not, the agenda of sustainability. The qualitative method of case study and the discourse analysis technique to interpret the semi-structured interviews were used to analyze the data. The results indicate that the organizational field of big business and market associations guide isomorphic pressures that influence the practice. On the other hand, there is evidence that the change in the governance of corporate social and environmental practices influence practical results in favor of a more sustainable agenda. The conclusion, when considering the field of reports as result of a social structure, the network goes beyond the legal and regulatory requirements and is seen as an example to be followed in making sustainability an intrinsic value to the business practice

Integrated Reporting is an initiative that encourages companies to analyze their business model in a holistic way. This process includes active consideration of financial and non-financial perspectives in order to understand all the capital generated, maintained and destroyed by the company over time. It allows companies to understand their activities, considering all factors used or affected, as well as the organization\'s entire context, causing the concept of Integrated Thinking to be ingrained in the company culture. Based on the Systems Theory, the integrated analysis of financial and non-financial aspects - as proposed by - can lead to different conclusions than with separate analyses because of the connections and interrelations between those two aspects. Application of the Integrated Thinking concept may result in two main advantages for the company: 1) an improvement in its management processes, especially with respect to non-financial capitals; and 2) a decrease in information asymmetry. Therefore, based on the Voluntary Disclosure Theory, these two factors may result in economic benefits for the organization. Thus, this research investigates how the cost of equity and cost of debt relate to the Integrated Reporting disclosure, and what is the impact of institutional factors on that relationship. A global sample of 25,311 firm-year observations, from 2010 to 2017, was analyzed employing a method that considered two dimensions: 1) Treatment: voluntary adopters of Integrated Reporting compared to a control group selected by a PSM (Propensity Score Matching) procedure; and 2) Time: both groups were compared in the periods before and after the adoption. Results indicated that the Integrated Reporting disclosure is negatively related to the cost of equity. The results are robust after controlling for several firm-level and country-level factors, and by industry. Further analyses showed that this negative effect is more prevalent for companies with high enforcement environments and revealed that companies in a Shareholder Oriented environment achieved a greater reduction in the cost of equity, when compared to companies in a Stakeholder Oriented environment. Evidence also showed that debtholders and equity holders respond differently to the Integrated Reporting disclosure. Despite the difference in cost of equity for companies adopting Integrated Reporting, limited evidence of a relationship between cost of debt and disclosure was found, even when subsamples were analyzed in view of institutional factors. Further investigations on the effect of assurance in the relationship between cost of debt and disclosure were conducted, uncovering that companies in a High Enforcement environment that assure their CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) information showed a lower cost of debt. This study contributes to the literature of Integrated Reporting by showing how it relates to cost of equity and cost of debt, considering a global sample of voluntary adopters. The study also analyzed the impact of institutional factors in this relationship, employing a robust method of analysis that differentiates it from other studies. / Relato Integrado é uma iniciativa que encoraja as empresas a analisarem seu modelo de negócio de uma forma holística. Esse processo inclui a consideração ativa das perspectivas financeiras e não financeiras para entender todo o capital gerado, mantido e destruído pela companhia ao longo do tempo. Isso permite que as empresas entendam suas atividades, considerando todos os fatores usados ou afetados, e também todo o contexto da organização, levando ao enraizamento do conceito de Pensamento Integrado na cultura empresarial. De acordo com a Teoria de Sistemas, a análise integrada de aspectos financeiros e não financeiros, como proposto pelo , pode levar a conclusões diferentes das análises separadas, devido às conexões e interações entre eles. Aplicar o conceito de Pensamento Integrado pode resultar em duas vantagens para a empresa: 1) melhoria nos processos de gestão, especialmente ao que diz respeito aos capitais não financeiros; e 2) redução da assimetria de informação. Assim sendo, baseando-se na Teoria de Disclosure Voluntário, esses dois fatores podem resultar em benefícios econômicos para a organização. Logo, esta pesquisa investiga como os custos de capital próprio e de terceiros se relacionam com a divulgação do relato integrado e quais os impactos de fatores institucionais nessa relação. Analisou-se uma amostra global de 25.311 observações, de 2010 a 2017, empregando um método que considera duas dimensões: 1) Tratamento: adotantes voluntários de Relato Integrado comparados a um grupo de tratamento selecionado pelo procedimento de PSM (Propensity Score Matching); e 2) Tempo: ambos os grupos foram comparados nos períodos anterior e posterior a adoção. Os resultados indicaram que a divulgação de relato integrado é negativamente relacionada com o custo de capital próprio. Os resultados são robustos após controlar por diversos fatores em nível de firma e país, e ainda por setor. Análises adicionais mostram que esse efeito negativo se concentra em empresas num ambiente de alto enforcement e revelou que companhias em ambientes orientados aos investidores (Shareholder Oriented) verificaram uma redução maior do custo de capital, quando comparadas a companhias em um ambiente orientado aos Stakeholders. Entre os achados também destacou-se que os credores respondem à divulgação de relato integrado de diversas maneiras. Apesar da diferença encontrada no custo de capital próprio relacionado à divulgação de relato integrado, foram encontradas evidencias limitadas da relação entre o custo da dívida e a divulgação de relato integrado, até mesmo quando subamostras foram analisadas frente a fatores institucionais. Conduziu-se investigações mais aprofundadas sobre o efeito de asseguração na relação entre custo de dívida e divulgação do , e identificou-se que as companhias num ambiente de alto enforcement que asseguram suas informações de RSC (Responsabilidade Social Corporativa) apresentam um custo de dívida menor. Este estudo contribui para a literatura de relato integrado mostrando como os custos de capital próprio e de terceiros se relacionam à essa iniciativa, considerando-se uma amostra global de adotantes voluntários. Analisou-se o impacto de fatores institucionais nessa relação e empregou-se um método robusto, diferenciando este de outros estudos.

In this day and age sustainability is gaining increasing importance seeing as this is of utmost importance to stakeholders. Yet, very few people are aware of the true meaning of sustainability. Stakeholders, also being the users of the annual report, need to be aware of the impact a company has on the environment and the society as well as their financial performance in order, among others, to make informed decisions regarding investments. For all financial years ending on or after 1 March 2010, all companies listed on the JSE have to report on sustainability (this is a JSE listing requirement). Yet, no statutory requirement for adherence to reporting standards relating to sustainability exists. This creates the risk that sustainability reports will omit negative impacts or be otherwise misleading, yet the company is still seen as adhering to listing and thus statutory requirements. The Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) developed their Sustainability Reporting Framework in order to serve as a benchmark for measuring sustainability. This Framework includes the Sustainability Reporting Guidelines (including basic principles and standard disclosures that need to be included in the report), Sector Supplements (including sector specific issues) as well as the Technical Protocol (which guides the entity in defining the content of the report). This is currently the only formal guideline available and is widely used around the world. Given the importance of the mining industry in South Africa, this article considers the quality of integrated reporting of the South African mining industry. This is done by undertaking a quantitative, applied, descriptive methodology in order to answer the research questions. Thus compliance with the globally accepted GRI Sustainability Framework has been evaluated and analysed. Using a sample of 13 of the mining companies included in the JSE Top 40 companies, the results show that these companies use the GRI G3.1 Guidelines in producing their sustainability report and that adherence improves annually. Some companies, however, do not apply the Sector Supplements which was designed to include industry-specific impacts. / Thesis (MCom (Management Accountancy))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2013

Milton Friedman’s theory of free market corporate responsibility, which states that the maximizing of profits is the only social responsibility a law-abiding business has, is clearly a concept of the past. A concept that is very relevant today, is the concept of sustainable development, which may be defined as development that meets the needs of the present world without forfeiting the ability of future generations to meet their personal needs. This concept recognises that stakeholders and shareholders require forward-looking information to attend to the economic, environmental and social aspects of a business’s activities. Previous research has indicted that the financial performance of a business alone isn’t the sole reason for its success. This demonstrates the change from a single-bottom-line management and reporting approach to a triple-bottom-line management and reporting approach. The Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) developed a Sustainability Reporting Framework that is generally considered the most widely used framework in terms of social responsibility reporting. In this research project, the unique set of business principles and values of co-operatives were analyzed and evaluated, and congruence were found between sustainable development and co-operative governance. Co-operatives in their diverse forms support the fullest participation in the economic and social development of people since they put people at the centre of their business and not capital. The primary objective of this study was to determine the extent to which the GRI guidelines, as a reporting framework, are feasible or applicable to cooperatives as a business model. In this research project, the abovementioned GRI guidelines are applied on a selected cooperative’s activities. The empirical case study, based on the agricultural co-operative Agri- Com, illustrated that the Level C Reporting Framework as per the GRI, can be used very successfully in the co-operative business model. In the case of Agri-Com, it was found that even though it is a co-operative, its primary management and reporting focus remained primarily on the financial aspects. It can therefore be recommended that in this instance, the guidelines per the Level C Reporting Framework, be considered as a method to better embrace the principles of the co-operative business model. / Thesis (MCom (Management Accountancy))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2013

The need for donor funding has increased significantly over the last decade. Without donor funding millions of people wouldn’t be alive today. Thanks either to research finding a cure, successful treatment, funds donated for food, aid toward building infrastructure, or giving people the opportunity to further their education. Donor funding thus facilitates a better future. A literature review was conducted to give background on the health sector and how these funds were distributed, ethical clearance, different types of reporting, the role project managers pays in a project and the sustainability of projects. Expenses in different countries were evaluated by gathering data from the internet, while two international funded projects are also used to state how funders divide their line items into different categories. The empirical study used a qualitative research approach by collecting and analysing data obtained from the MDG 2010 report and other freely available data on the web. The main findings from this thesis are: *The Millennium Development Goals (MDG’s) influence donor funding as it gives donors a guide towards funding needs. Donors are also influenced by their own preferences or what poses a burden to them individually. *The different types of reporting required for funding received, delay a project and the bureaucratic structures thereof are a hindrance. *Ethical clearance plays a fundamental role in the outcome of a project, as without ethical clearance a project cannot commence. *The objectives of a project play a critical role when applying for funding. This can change the focus of a project. *Expenses differ from country to country and funders need to take this into account when giving funding to recipient countries. *Project Managers and community involvement plays a critical role in ensuring sustainability of projects. THE SUSTAINABILITY OF DONOR FUNDED PROJECTS IN THE HEALTH SECTOR *The MDG’s are not on track and aid are focus on singular goals instead of multiple goals, to ensure an overall improved result. There is a major gap between needed funds and given funds. A single injection of funds will not be the solution to our health problem; different sectors need to collaborate together as we are facing a multi-dimensional problem. Trade and reform must also form part of this aid, ensuring a sustainable progression in the life’s of people. Donor funded projects may have a sustainable future, when taking in account the abovementioned findings. With the world trend in reporting changing rapidly, cost and management accountants as well as financial accountants and project managers have to equip them to adhere to the new way of reporting, namely integrated and sustainability reporting. South Africa is way behind and needs to catch up fast if they want to stay competitive in the “global donor funding market”. The limitations in this study were that not all expenses were evaluated and only 15 countries were looked at. An indebt look was taken into Africa with the empirical review, while Asia is also combating poor health issues. Some African countries like Sierra Leone and Zimbabwe did not have sufficient data to compare with other countries. From the research conducted, the following topics were identified that require further research: *Why are most projects in Third World countries not sustainable? *What plans are put into action to ensure that the MDG goals are reached? *Investigate what works for First World countries health systems and consider how that can be applied to Third World countries to ensure that they also get the best health care available. *Do donors take into account the different costs of countries when allocating funding to that specific country? *Establishing models to evaluate the sustainability of pilot projects and normal projects. *Establishing a model on how to distribute donor funds across different needs and not only one specific need. / MCom (Management Accountancy), North-West University, Vaal Triangle Campus, 2013

In this day and age sustainability is gaining increasing importance seeing as this is of utmost importance to stakeholders. Yet, very few people are aware of the true meaning of sustainability. Stakeholders, also being the users of the annual report, need to be aware of the impact a company has on the environment and the society as well as their financial performance in order, among others, to make informed decisions regarding investments. For all financial years ending on or after 1 March 2010, all companies listed on the JSE have to report on sustainability (this is a JSE listing requirement). Yet, no statutory requirement for adherence to reporting standards relating to sustainability exists. This creates the risk that sustainability reports will omit negative impacts or be otherwise misleading, yet the company is still seen as adhering to listing and thus statutory requirements. The Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) developed their Sustainability Reporting Framework in order to serve as a benchmark for measuring sustainability. This Framework includes the Sustainability Reporting Guidelines (including basic principles and standard disclosures that need to be included in the report), Sector Supplements (including sector specific issues) as well as the Technical Protocol (which guides the entity in defining the content of the report). This is currently the only formal guideline available and is widely used around the world. Given the importance of the mining industry in South Africa, this article considers the quality of integrated reporting of the South African mining industry. This is done by undertaking a quantitative, applied, descriptive methodology in order to answer the research questions. Thus compliance with the globally accepted GRI Sustainability Framework has been evaluated and analysed. Using a sample of 13 of the mining companies included in the JSE Top 40 companies, the results show that these companies use the GRI G3.1 Guidelines in producing their sustainability report and that adherence improves annually. Some companies, however, do not apply the Sector Supplements which was designed to include industry-specific impacts. / Thesis (MCom (Management Accountancy))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2013