In post-communist Central and Eastern Europe, environmental and social concerns have tended to receive less attention than the significant economic challenges associated with the transition to market economy.
 
The project aims at improving the awareness and know-how of the regional authorities, regional trade centres, non-governmental organisations and in particular of small and medium-sized entreprises (SMEs) in the field of corporate social responsibility and sustainable development. In addition, through pilot projects, support will be given to approximately 90-100 small and medium-sized enterprises taking concrete measures such as improving social labour standards, fighting corruption, protecting the environment and making greater use of renewable energy sources. Publications and public events will be used to draw attention to these pilot projects, which will be selected by competition. In the long term the objective is to enhance the competitiveness and innovativeness of the economy as well as to improve the social and ecological involvement of SMEs.
 
The project agreement was signed on 4 August 2011 by Heinz Kaufmann, Head of the Swiss Contribution Office in Poland and Adam Zdziebło, Secretary of State at the Polish Ministry of Regional Development.