Gender diversity on corporate boards: How Asian and African women contribute on sustainability reporting activity

Antonella Francesca Cicchiello,Amirreza Kazemikhasragh,Anna Maria Fellegara,Stefano Monferrà

doi:10.1108/gm-05-2020-0147

Abstract

Purpose This study aims to investigate the influence of organisations’ board gender diversity on the adoption of the United Nations sustainable development goals (SDGs) and on the use of external assurance. Design/methodology/approach The paper combines data from the Global Reporting Initiative’s Sustainability Disclosure Database and the Orbis database from Bureau van Dijk. The study uses logit models based on a sample of 366 large Asian and African companies which have addressed the SDGs in their sustainability reports published in 2017. Findings The results reveal that board gender diversity is positively associated with sustainability reporting and the involvement of an external assurance provider. Originality/value This study adds to the growing literature on the relationship between women’s participation on corporate boards and SDG reporting. Additionally, it addresses the understudied question of how the gender diversity of board resources affects the adoption of the external assurance of sustainability reporting.

Highlights

Over the past few years, sustainability disclosure has become a promising and growing trend amongst developing countries (Jamali and Karam, 2018).© Antonella Francesca Cicchiello, Anna Maria Fellegara, Amirreza Kazemikhasragh and Stefano Monferrà
Data and methodology 3.1 Data sources and sample This paper explores the relationship between board gender diversity and sustainable development goals (SDGs) reporting in Africa and Asia using hand-collected data from two sources: The Global Reporting Initiative’s (GRI’s) Sustainability Disclosure database and the Bureau van Dijk’s Orbis database
The results indicate the gender of the directors is significantly related to the likelihood that large organisations in the low and middle-income countries in Asia and Africa address SDGs in their sustainability reports

Summary

Introduction

Over the past few years, sustainability disclosure has become a promising and growing trend amongst developing countries (Jamali and Karam, 2018).© Antonella Francesca Cicchiello, Anna Maria Fellegara, Amirreza Kazemikhasragh and Stefano Monferrà. This is partly due to governments’ recognition of the importance of sustainability in supporting the long-term growth and development of these countries where social and environmental problems are unique and significant (Tilt et al, 2020). Both local and foreign investors increasingly set a high value on transparency and allocate capital based on sustainability considerations. The importance of sustainability reporting is growing and the need to ensure the attractiveness of developing countries where investment opportunities are accompanied by higher degrees of uncertainty and even controversy

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Conclusion