The Social Observatory seeks to empower unions and other actors in civil society to influence government and the manner in which MNCs operate through building networks/linkages. The Social Observatory project is part of the African Labour Researchers Network (ALRN).

The main objectives of the Social Observatory project are:

• To build the capacity of African-researchers and research institutions linked to the labour movement to monitor and evaluate the conduct and activities of multinational corporations in their respective countries,
• To provide a concrete and strategic basis for social dialogue and trade union action at regional and global levels,
• To facilitate and enhance the contribution of African trade unions to the emerging debate and policy development process regarding frameworks and binding mechanisms for corporate accountability and social responsibility, and
• To strengthen the capacity of members of the African Labour Research Network to assess the application of international labour standards in our respective countries.

The criteria used when researching the respective Multinational Corporations included the following:

• Wages, unionisation, employment intensity, decent jobs relative to industry, skills development, industrial health and employment equity
• Adherence of Corporations and Supply Chain to core labour standards
• Engagement with trade unions and community
• Contribution to local economic development/linkages to local companies
• Support for acceptable forms of corporate social responsibility
• Adherence to good corporate governance
• Promotion of human rights
• Extent of environmental/health and consumer protection impacts
• Adherence to Code of Conduct (including strong enforcement and auditing)

MNC's in Africa: The publication African Social Observatory is part of the pilot phase of a Social Observatory Project that will monitor the conduct and impact of foreign investors in Africa.