Green human resource management and Sustainable Development Goals in non-profit organisations

Abstract

Orientation: Conserving ecosystems including a culture that respects life in water and on land, aligned to the sustainable development goals (SDGs), could prevent future pandemics and natural hazards, but this cannot be achieved without establishments such as environmental non-profit organisations (NPOs) that operate across business and government sectors servicing the environment and vulnerable communities. Environmental NPOs could promote green Human Resource Management practices boosting scalable actions to achieve the SDGs.

Research purpose: The objective of this article is to explore the contemporary role and practices of Human Resources Management (HRM) within the NPO realm and the possible alignment and underwriting of the SDGs.

Motivation for the study: Non-profit organisations can be found to work across most, if not all, of the 17 United Nations’ SDGs. The HRM function plays a significant role in contributing towards society’s progress in achieving the SDGs with its focus on people management.

Research approach/design and method: This qualitative study applied an interpretivist philosophy with an inductive research approach, a case study strategy and multiple data collection techniques. Eleven cases were studied and limited to environmental South African NPOs selected purposively.

Main findings: Developing sustainable practices within the realm of HRM could augment non-profit organisational resilience by accentuating their work within the SDGs framework.

Practical/managerial implications: With a long-term view to sustainable HRM, including a view to greening HRM practices, practitioners can support their organisations with the achievement of the SDG targets.

Contribution/value-add: This study contributed to the academic literature on organisational resilience and could assist policymakers in the understudied South African NPO sector with HRM practices and alignment to the SDGs.