The strategic implementation of corporate social responsibility by multinational corporations in resource-rich African states is a critical but under-researched area. It intersects with debates on governance, corporate legitimacy, and sustainable development, particularly in contexts with complex institutional environments. This study aimed to survey and analyse the CSR practices of multinational corporations operating in Angola. Its objectives were to map the dominant strategic approaches, assess the perceived drivers of legitimacy, and evaluate the alignment between stated governance policies and on-the-ground implementation. A cross-sectional survey was administered to senior managers and CSR officers of 87 multinational corporations across the extractive, energy, and infrastructure sectors. The instrument combined Likert-scale items on strategic motivations and open-ended questions on implementation challenges. Quantitative data were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics; qualitative data underwent thematic analysis. A key finding was that 68% of respondents cited 'licence to operate' as the primary strategic driver, outweighing ethical or global policy alignment. Thematic analysis revealed a pronounced gap between centrally designed governance frameworks and local implementation, often attributed to insufficient community engagement in programme design. The findings indicate that CSR strategy in this context remains predominantly instrumental, focused on securing operational legitimacy rather than embedded ethical commitment. This challenges assumptions of a linear adoption of global governance standards. Corporations should integrate participatory community diagnostics into the CSR planning cycle. Policymakers are advised to develop co-regulatory frameworks that incentivise genuine partnership models over public relations-focused initiatives. Corporate Social Responsibility, Strategic Implementation, Legitimacy, Governance, Multinational Corporations, Angola, Survey This paper provides the first comprehensive, multi-sector survey dataset mapping the strategic drivers and implementation realities of contemporary CSR practice in Angola, offering a nuanced evidence base for both academic and practitioner audiences.