It is a strategic focus for DCA to promote responsible business conduct (RBC) through human rights and environmental due diligence in market system and value chain projects and partnerships as well as through local and global advocacy efforts.
DCA believes that multistakeholder collaboration, including working with businesses, research institutions, think tanks, state actors and civil society and convening dialogues and collaboration across are essential for testing new solutions and conducting effective evidence-based advocacy. DCA is part of different multistakeholder initiatives, including Ethical Trade Denmark and UN Global Compact.
Enhancing the Resilience of Food Systems through Responsible Business Conduct
Enhancing responsible business conduct (RBC) across food systems presents a significant opportunity not only for people and the planet but also for businesses themselves. Creating a positive impact for rights-holders – workers, consumers, and local communities in areas of operation – and avoiding negative impacts such as environmental pollution also strengthens the resilience of food value chains while making a strong business case.
DCA supports the transition to sustainable, climate resilient food production through agroecology-based approaches – integrating yield and nutrition gains, social equity, local value chain and market development, climate adaptation and mitigation action as well as biodiversity benefits. Working from farm to landscape level, DCA supports locally led restoration and sustainable management of natural resources as the basis for food production and climate adaptation, which links to our support for environmental human right defenders.
DCA advocates for increasing private sector investments in climate adaptation for smallholder farmers as well as changing consumer and market preferences towards locally produced environmentally friendly and nutritious foods. Through the case compilation launched in 2024 “The Business Case for Food Systems Change: Enhancing the Resilience of Food Systems in Sub-Saharan Africa through Responsible Business Conduct and Multistakeholder Approaches” we highlight the advantage of systematic investment screenings and prioritisation of agroecological enterprises that should include and benefit those most-at-need to ensure both short- and long-term food security and advise to steer national policy towards these aspirations as well as environmental and human rights due diligence EU regulation.
Policy Progress and ‘Best Practice’ in East Africa
The business and human rights agenda has gained particular traction in the East African region, where Kenya and Uganda as the first countries on the African continent have adopted a national action plan on business and human rights (NAP), and other countries have committed to embark on similar journeys. Whereas NAPs constitute a unique opportunity to guide activities to enhance the implementation of existing national human rights law, states and businesses must also prepare for the increase in binding regulation of global supply chains. The adoption of the CS3D will soon increase the demand from private corporations to account for human rights and climate impact throughout their value chains.
The East African region is one of the world’s richest natural resource regions and attracts significant attention in the extractive and energy sectors. Many countries in the region possess vast areas of fertile land, which are essential for sustenance of communities and agricultural industries. Land Based Investments (LBIs) are implemented with a view to contribute to GDP growth and agri-food value chains, which are essential to tackle food security challenges persisting in the region. While LBIs contribute to economic development and provide for multiple employment opportunities and infrastructure development in the region, they have also been associated with risks to workers-, land-, and environmental rights. In 2023, DCA – in partnership with a number of organisations – organised a wider dialogue to address these challenges and further progress policy.
In November 2023 DCA released the “Bringing Principles into Practice: Promoting Responsible Business Conduct through Business and Human Rights Principles and Multistakeholder Engagement in East Africa” case compilation, which compiled several inputs from actors who has experience promoting and advancing responsible business conduct through business and human rights principles within East Africa. The publication also draws from the outcomes of the conference.
Read more about DCAs work with private sector partners: Private Sector Partnerships – DanChurchAid