Responsible Business
CDA helps companies to improve their social impacts, support development in communities they affect, and operate in ways that strengthen their relationships with those communities. CDA works on a bi-lateral partnership basis with individual companies, and also works in multi-stakeholder initiatives to advance public understanding of corporate social impacts and their mitigation. CDA is a thought leader on business and conflict issues and has authored or contributed to influential guidance, such as the UN Global Compact’s Guidance on Responsible Business in Conflict-Affected and High-Risk Areas and IPIECA’s Creating Successful, Sustainable Social Investment, and the Preventing Conflict in Exploration tool. Current collaborative learning efforts explore the role of companies in peacebuilding efforts and in the Sustainable Development Goals.
CDA’s work on Responsible Business began in 2000 with the launch of the Corporate Engagement Project (CEP). CEP performed 16 asset-level field assessments around the world between 2000-2009, primarily with extractive industries companies. These included over 2000 individual and group consultations with company managers and staff, local community members and leaders, opposition groups, NGOs, government officials, religious groups and other stakeholders, culminating in the publication of the book Getting It Right: Making Corporate-Community Relations Work. CDA was involved in the mandate of the UN Special Representative on Business and Human Rights and participates in the development of guidance through various multi-stakeholder initiatives. CDA also works with industry associations such as the Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada and IPIECA to develop stakeholder engagement and risk mitigation guidance.
CDA is currently engaged in a learning project about the impacts of private sector companies and business associations on peace, in partnership with the Africa Centre for Dispute Settlement at the University of Stellenbosch and the Peace Research Institute Oslo.
CDA Submissions to the UN Working Group on Business and Human Rights
In 2018, the United Nations Working Group on Business and Human Rights’ (UNWG) launched a consultative project on business in conflict and post-conflict contexts. The project seeks to identify practical measures that businesses and states can take to prevent and address human rights abuses associated with business in those contexts. As part of the project, the UNWG issued an open call for input. CDA’s input to the UWNG included the Letter to the United Nations Working Group on Business and Human Rights and the Memorandum on Stakeholder Engagement in Contexts of Conflict that are presented here.
The UNWG will present its findings to the UN General Assembly in October 2020.
A Selection of Publications
Recent Field Site Assessments
Continue Exploring
Business and Armed Non-State Actors Project
Business and Peace Project
CDA’s Corporate Work in Myanmar
Ask the Experts
CDA provides services to companies, industry associations, and international organizations. Ask us how we can customize our resources and expertise to help you improve your responsible business practice. Contact [email protected].
