How stakeholder engagement improves community development projects and programmes

Engagement refers to the many ways in which companies connect with and involve stakeholders and the community in the development and implementation of community initiatives. Engagement covers a range of participation options, ranging from information sharing and consultation to active involvement in decision-making processes. Engagement is not about public relations or marketing a particular view or decision, but involves key …

Sustainability practices, the environment and social relationships

Political agendas and shifts in international politics are impacting stakeholder engagement and management trends. Managing political, social and environmental risks and the impact thereof in relation to stakeholder management are becoming increasingly important topics for companies. Sustainability practices and reporting on social relationships are global recommendations, and they are necessities. Only when companies know how they impact or are impacted …

Stakeholder engagement in Africa: Culture, risk and individual engagement

takeholder engagement in Africa can be a rewarding experience when the engagement process is customised based on individual stakeholder needs. Diverse stakeholders can have a positive impact on company activities, as feedback and inclusion can provide a different perspective on the competitive landscape of a business. This is a valuable opportunity that companies should take advantage of to improve projects …

How to conduct stakeholder engagement

Companies globally are exposed to risk simply by engaging with other businesses, communities and governments. Companies are responsible for the products and services they sell. These responsibilities include respecting and protecting people from the negative impact caused by business operations or their products and services. This is not a simple task, especially for larger companies that operate worldwide and that …

Impact, dynamics, and differences in multifaceted stakeholder relationships

Companies sometimes collaborate with several stakeholders in diverse fields because of the nature of their business, the sector in which they operate and the geography of their operations. Interacting with different stakeholders requires specific competencies, skills, knowledge, patience and research on how to engage strategically. To establish valuable relationships, companies should think about how they will impact and affect stakeholders …

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Global trends in human rights management – business, globalisation and new regulations

Human rights are necessary in our modern world, as globalisation and injustice are factors that can impact business. What we all have in common is human rights, purely because we are all people and live on the same planet. Human rights are created for everyone, everywhere and should not be infringed upon by companies. International proclaimed guidelines such as the …

How human rights management reduces risk in the supply chain

Companies operating globally in sectors associated with higher stakeholder risk can benefit from a human rights management strategy. Case studies from various industries show that human rights due diligence practices not only limit violations and infringements of human rights; they also reduce the risk of stakeholder activism. When things go wrong and human rights are impacted, companies need to restore …

The importance of human rights management for business

Business has previously regarded the protection of human rights as a moral imperative. Today, human rights management and due diligence policies are required for good governance and an obligation for operating in the global market. The concept of the protection of human rights emerged as the obligation of government to protect citizens. However, now all companies have the obligation to …

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Human rights and community development – an opportunity for integration and alignment

Human rights standards have become increasingly well-defined in recent years. Codified in international, regional and national legal systems, they constitute a set of performance standards against which organisations and governments can be held to account. In the context of community development and social investment, human rights management plays an important part. “Human development and human rights are close enough in …

Integrating human rights management into business practice

Human rights impact every individual and every stakeholder involved in business. To limit risk, it is necessary to identify and analyse stakeholders along a company’s value chain. To understand human rights, what they include and how rights will impact an organisation is important for both management and business practice. To be effective in human rights management, capacity development and training …