Stakeholder Exposure and Sustainability of Corporate Social Responsibility Community Projects in Telecommunication in Rwanda

This research aimed to analyze how stakeholder engagement affects the sustainability of CSR projects in Rwanda's telecommunications sector, focusing on Airtel Rwanda. Specific objectives included assessing the impact of government policy, corporate benefits, community involvement, and accountability on CSR sustainability. Using a descriptive research strategy, the study surveyed 262 employees from Airtel Rwanda's CSR department, selecting 159 participants through stratified sampling. Both qualitative and quantitative methods were employed, with primary data collected via questionnaires. Data analysis utilized SPSS version 22, presenting results in frequency tables, figures, and graphs. Findings indicated a strong positive correlation (R = 0.901) between the independent variables and CSR sustainability, with the model explaining 81.2% of the variance (R² = 0.812). Each factor demonstrated significant contributions: government policy (β = 0.252, t = 5.952, p < 0.05) predicted a 0.252 unit increase in sustainability per unit increase; corporate benefits (β = 0.259, t = 6.299, p < 0.05) indicated a 0.259 unit increase; community involvement (β = 0.417, t = 9.567, p < 0.05) showed a 0.417 unit increase; and accountability (β = 0.106, t = 2.547, p < 0.05) suggested a 0.106 unit increase. The study recommends that Airtel Rwanda strengthen government relations through dialogue, raise public awareness of CSR benefits, involve local communities in CSR initiatives, and implement robust policies for effective management of CSR projects.