[Article en anglais]
Agribusinesses, in particular when they work with smallholder farmers and impact local communities, can play a critical role in achieving food security and improved nutrition (SDG 2), providing equal economic opportunities (SDG 1), offering inclusive and decent work (SDG 8), and promoting climate-smart, biodiversity-sensitive agricultural practices (SDG 13 and 15).
To achieve such outcomes, agribusinesses need to make sure that they align their policies, procedures, and operations with best practices of responsible business conduct.
In 2021, the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) and Cerise+SPTF decided to work on developing the Responsible Agricultural Investment Tool for Agribusiness (RAI Tool), a management tool to help agribusinesses and agricultural value-chain actors align with international standards such as the CFS-RAI Principles and IFC Performance Standards. Building on the experience of Social and Environmental Performance Management in the inclusive finance industry, the RAI Tool has been structured along 7 Dimensions, specifying concrete practices to be implemented by agribusinesses in responsible strategy, inclusive and transparent structure, food safety and food security, environmental sustainability, responsible treatment of stakeholders, responsible Human Resources development, and financial responsibility.
The tool has been field tested and refined throughout 2022 to 2024, in particular as part of the SSNUP program (case studies will be shared soon! Stay tuned!).
IISD and Cerise+SPTF are convinced that the RAI tool holds the potential to become a reference tool for the entire agriculture and food sector, helping investors and agribusinesses ensure that they conduct their business in a socially and environmentally responsible way.
Establishing the RAI Tool as a reference for the sector requires wide testing, collection of feedback from the field, and continuous alignment with lessons learned. This is why IISD and Cerise+SPTF now invite other stakeholders to join the initiative!
Different stakeholders can contribute to testing and developing the RAI Tool:
- Investors can apply the tool for due diligence of investments in agricultural value chain actors.
- Agricultural value chain actors can use the tool as a self-assessment to evaluate their strengths and gaps in responsible business conduct.
Contact us if you are interested in testing/developing the tool with us!
Launch Webinar on July 10th, 2024
This event will introduce the new RAI Tool for Agribusiness to potential users and explore opportunities to promote its uptake.
Date: July 10, 2024 3:00 pm - 4:30 pm CEST (Paris time)
Registration on Zoom Webinar
Rejoignez les milliers d’utilisateurs de SPI Online
Choisissez des outils d'évaluation performants pour transformer vos intentions en impact.