IFCCI CSR Conclave & Awards 2025 | 7th Edition

The Indo-French Chamber of Commerce and Industry, under the aegis of its CSR Committee, successfully organized the 7th edition of the IFCCI CSR Conclave & Awards 2025 on 2nd December at ITC Maurya, New Delhi. Bringing together more than 120 CEOs, policymakers, sustainability champions, CSR foundations, and NGOs, the event served as a vibrant platform for sharing best practices and celebrating inspiring CSR achievements across the Indo-French ecosystem.

Mr. Yohann Samuel, Regional Director – South, IFCCI, kick-started the conclave with an engaging overview of IFCCI’s CSR journey, reflecting on its milestones and ongoing efforts that continue to make a meaningful difference in people’s lives.

A special address was delivered by Mr. Damien Syed, Deputy Head of Mission at the Embassy of France in India, who highlighted the deepening Indo-French partnership in CSR and the exciting prospects ahead as we move toward the Indo-French Year of Innovation 2026.

During the Conclave, three thought-provoking discussions unfolded, each offering fresh perspectives and prompting the audience to think critically and explore new pathways for collaboration.

1. Fireside Conversation: ‘Domestic Roots, Global Goals: Aligning India’s CSR with the SDGs’
This conversation examined the close connection between India’s CSR ecosystem and the Universal Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Panelists:

• Ms. Cynthia McCaffrey, UNICEF Representative to India
• Ms. Anna Roy, Programme Director, NITI Aayog
• Dr. Nidhi Pundhir, SVP Global CSR, HCLTech & Director, HCL Foundation

Moderator:

• Ms. Lise Breuil, Country Director, French Development Agency (India)

2. Fireside Conversation: ‘Strength in Synergy: Why the Future of CSR Lies in Collaboration, Not Competition’
The discussion focused on the power of collective action, highlighting how corporate foundations can achieve greater impact when they work together rather than operate independently.

Panelists:

• Mr. Anurag Pratap, CSR Leader, Capgemini India & Chairperson, IFCCI CSR Committee
• Ms. Manisha Dubey, Head, IDEMIA India Foundation & VP Marketing Communications & Brand, IDEMIA

Moderator:

• Dr. Ketan Deshpande, Founder & Chairman, FUEL

3. Panel Discussion: ‘Reimagining CSR: Inclusive Growth and Global Responsibility’
The panel explored what inclusive growth truly means and the responsibility to design CSR initiatives that are scalable while remaining sensitive to the unique identities of diverse communities. 

Panelists:

• Dr. Kavita Chaudhari, Deputy Director – CSR & ESG, Sanofi & Vice Chairperson, IFCCI CSR Committee
• Ms. Anuradha Suvarna, Chief Sustainability Officer, L’Oréal India
• Mr. Huzefa Salim, Executive Director, Dassault Systèmes Foundation
• Ms. Chhavi Bajpai, Director, STMicroelectronics Foundation India

Moderator:

• Ms. Priyam Dhamankar, Vice Chairperson, IFCCI CSR Committee & Legal & Compliance Director, Servier India

The event also included a thematic presentation titled ‘The Way Forward, Together: India’s Leadership in the Purpose Economy’, delivered by Ms. Manasi Diwan, Vice President – Impact Practice, and Mr. Adarsh Trivedi, Assistant Vice President, Government & Technology at CSRBOX.

The event followed up with the much-awaited IFCCI CSR Awards, celebrating and recognizing organizations that are setting new benchmarks in purpose-driven impact. Out of the 56 nominations received across five award categories, the winning projects stood out for their measurable impact and scalability.

Winners as per the following categories:

1. Education and Skilling

• EDF power solutions India Pvt. Ltd. – Shaping Young Minds with Brighter Lives
• Capgemini Technology Services India Ltd. – Youth Employability through Digital Academies

2. Environment and Climate

• Khushiyaan Foundation – Trash to Treasure

3. Healthcare & Wellbeing

• Crédit Agricole CIB – Home Away From Home
• Pernod Ricard India Foundation – UDAAN

4. Inclusive Growth and Empowerment 

• Sonepar India Pvt. Ltd. – GBV Prevention for Women with Intellectual Disabilities through Sports
• Agarwal Packers and Movers Ltd. – APML Nidra Daan Kendra – Restoring Sleep, Saving Lives

5. CSR Project of the Year

• STMicroelectronics Foundation India – Digital Unify

6. Jury Special

• Alliance Française de Delhi – Alliance Grand Ball – French as a Life Changer

Other Highlights of the event were –

1. Showcase by NGOs and CSR Foundations on their key projects

2. Interactive Climate Fresk Quiz by Mr. Julien Banaszuk, Co-Founder & Director of High Environmental & Social Impact India, an effort towards empowering participants to engage in meaningful conversations about climate action and solutions.

3. A live artisan showcase by Avartan and Svatanya presented sustainable fashion and upcycled handcrafted products made by underprivileged women respectively, giving participants the opportunity to witness the impact of skill-building initiatives firsthand.

4.  The IFCCI Pledge Wall where participants reaffirmed their commitment to prioritizing impact and keeping it at the heart of their actions

The event concluded with an engaging high-tea networking session, where attendees exchanged ideas, shared perspectives, and reflected on collective pathways for impact.

Special thanks to our event partners:

• Platinum Partner – HCLFoundation
• Gold Partners – CSRBOX | IDEMIA India Foundation
• Silver Partners – Air Liquide | Norex Flavours Private Limited | Servier India
• Event Knowledge Partner – Deloitte
• IFCCI CSR Committee Knowledge Partner FY 2025-26 – FUEL Business School (FBS)
• Event Partner – Avartan
• NGO Partners – AADHAAR-An Association For Development, harmony & Action Research | Civilian Welfare Foundation | Khushiyaan Foundation | Kuddle Life Foundation | Life Project 4 Youth (LP4Y) | The Ma Foi Foundation | Fupro Innovation Pvt. Ltd. | Salaam Baalak Trust Delhi
• Gifting Partners – Gaurisatva Wellness | SVATANYA