All Articles About Stakeholder Relations

BSR Insight Article: Free, Prior, and Informed Consent: New IFC Standards Raise the Bar on Stakeholder Engagement

Jasmine Campbell, EMEA Manager, BSR Advisory Services

Following a 2008 UN declaration regarding free, prior, and informed consent (FPIC) of indigenous peoples before states or companies operate in their areas, the International Finance Corporation (IFC) introduced new consultation standards and an accompanying guidance note in 2012 that increase requirements for community consultation for private-sector, IFC-funded projects. The mere recognition of FPIC by the IFC raises the bar on stakeholder engagement. The IFC’s requirements make project assessment and consultation processes, including mitigation and compensation measures, more stringent and inclusive of indigenous peoples. As a result, the extractives industry has had to adopt a more rigorous approach to consulting and engaging with local communities, particularly where there are national laws requiring full community consent before granting permits for new projects, such as in the Philippines. BSR will host a full-day workshop on FPIC, led by our energy and extractives experts and other private sector and NGO stakeholders, at the British Museum in London on June 19, 2012. For more information, please visit the event page. Read more →

Posted: June 5, 2012 | Topics: Community Engagement & Development, Economic, Social & Cultural Rights, Land Use & Biodiversity, Stakeholder Relations

BSR Insight Article: Survey: Help Shape China’s Nonprofit Sector

Cammie Erickson, Manager, Global Partnership Development

How would you revamp the nonprofit sector in the United States if you could build it from the ground up? What would you do differently? What would you keep the same? BSR's CiYuan initiative would like your input for a survey that will help us shape China's nonprofit sector. At the end of May, BSR's CiYuan will convene several nonprofit leaders in New York to debate what works--and what doesn't--in the U.S. nonprofit sector. We will use ideas from that discussion and this survey to inform CiYuan's work to strengthen civil society and cross-sector partnerships in China. Share your ideas through our survey. For additional context, read Taproot Foundation President and Founder Aaron Hurst's HuffingtonPost.com blog. Read more →

Posted: April 24, 2012 | Topics: Community Engagement & Development, Stakeholder Relations, Strategy & Integration

BSR Insight Article: Europe’s CSR Public Policies on the Rise

CSR policies in Europe are growing, according to the second working paper to come out of the Impact Project, a multistakeholder initiative that aims to measure the impacts of CSR in Europe. The “Analysis of the National and EU Policies Supporting Corporate Social Responsibility and Impact” paper suggests a burgeoning relationship between CSR and government policies. The paper cites an increase in the number of policies designed to engage business in addressing international issues including human rights, climate change and sustainable development. Other examples of the spike in CSR: * Endorsement through rhetoric * Subsidies and tax incentives * Collaboration with business and civil society organizations * New accounting and reporting standards The authors did not find much evidence of interest in assessment and indicators of CSR performance; they noted it was unclear whether this reflects a general view that government should not micromanage CSR, or a view that governments have a greater interest in the symbolic power of policy. Read more →

Posted: March 27, 2012 | Topics: Human Rights, Stakeholder Relations

BSR Insight Article: Shareholder Activism, SRI Identified as Useful Tools for Change

Laura Gitman, Managing Director, Advisory Services

Shareholder activism and socially responsible investing (SRI) are viewed as important tools of social and corporate change, according to a recent SustainAbility and GlobeScan study (available with free registration).The study, which surveyed more than 640 sustainability experts from 77 countries, revealed that shareholder activism is more effective at driving changes in corporate strategy and behavior than other tactics, including public criticism through social and traditional media, dialogue with companies, and civil disobedience. Findings suggested that only product boycotts and preferential purchasing are more effective than shareholder activism. At BSR, we have found that shareholder activism has been most powerful in driving governance changes, increasing corporate reporting and transparency on sustainability issues, and raising attention to critical issues such as conflict minerals. Companies should look to engage their investors proactively and communicate about their material environmental, social, and governance issues, which can help them avoid shareholder resolutions and ensure their progress aligns with investor expectations. Read more →

Posted: March 13, 2012 | Topics: Investor Perspective, Reporting & Communications, Stakeholder Relations

BSR Insight Article: Sustainability Leadership in Manufacturing

Raj Sapru, Former Director, Advisory Services

Despite persistent volatility in the markets, the manufacturing sector is cautiously optimistic about growth. Sustaining this growth will require that sector become a lot more adept at anticipating the future. Read more →

Posted: February 28, 2012 | Topics: Climate Change, Energy, Stakeholder Relations, Strategy & Integration, Transportation