Promoting Inclusive Markets - The opportunity and importance of CSR in supply chains

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UNDP and the Global Compact
Promoting Inclusive Markets
The opportunity and importance of CSR in supply chains
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Session objectives
Discuss the issue of implementation of CSR and GC principles in supply chains Discuss proposal to organize a policy dialogue on responsible supply chains with participants from GC local networks
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Why responsible supply chains are crucial for development
SMEs and small producers majority of local private sector and key generator of employment and economic growth Trade is recognized as key for development Nature of production processes is changing: Geographically – outsourcing to low cost countries Improving competitiveness now means far more than just the productivity and cost reduction - emphasis on information, quality control, meeting customer needs and CSR standards. Booming demand for “sustainable” products
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Codes and tools for responsible supply chain management
CSR standards relevant for value chains beyond GC principles: Individual company codes and quality requirements Industry based standards (e.g. Eurepgap) NGO-led codes / standards Multi stakeholder codes and certification schemes Many actors take an increasing interest in responsible supply chain approaches and its role in development Development agencies (GTZ, USAID, DFID, EU/EC, WB, UN agencies, Donor Committee etc) Business organizations (ICC, WBCSD, BSR) Third party certification organizations (e.g. ISEAL members)
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UNDP Private Sector Strategy: Five Priority Areas
Priority 1 – Establishing the Policy and Institutional Infrastructure
Inclusive Market Development
Priority 2 - Facilitating Pro-Poor Value Chain Integration
Priority 3 - Facilitating Investments in Pro-Poor Goods and Services
~3 Billions
Finance
Priority 5 - Promoting Corporate Social Responsibility in support of the MDGs and Inclusive Markets
Advocacy & BusinessDialogue Social Investments
Law
Core
Skills 5
Priority 4 - Fostering Inclusive Entrepreneurship
Facilitating Pro-Poor Value Chain (VC) Integration
Rationale
Local small businesses prevented from integrating into value chains, limiting access of poor local producers to markets and hampering poverty reduction.
Global Market National Markets Export Buyers Cross-Cutting Financial Input Supply National Enabling Environment Global Enabling Environment Production Wholesale
Supporting Markets Sector specific
UNDP niche and focus
Demand-side, market-driven, opportunities for industrial sectors at the country level Focus on sectors important for the poor Engage lead firms to “drive” VC integration Facilitate, support multi stakeholder platforms (PS, donors, governments) for VC related work Capacity development mandate
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Facilitating Pro-Poor Value Chain (VC) Integration
Illustrative Example - Value chain for organic agriculture product Typical key constraints:
Low quality of product of farmers, no economies of scale Inconsistent quality of technical support
Supporting interventions
Support organization of farmers for economies of scale Strengthen extension & technical support providers (or exporters, large farms) Strengthen certification bodies, link to int’l certification systems Work with MFIs / banks Strengthen intermediaries, exporters, engage “lead” firms
Weak systems for organic certification Limited access to finance Limited access to market opportunities
Prohibitive government regulations (high Engage government in policy dialogue export taxes, control of some input for more conducive regulation for the products) sector
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Some UNDP value chain experiences
Growing Sustainable Business initiative: - Allanblackia in Tanzania (Unilever - Premium coffee for export markets (Malawi) - Pro-poor sourcing in Zambia (Spar supermarkets) - Artemisinin in Madagascar (Bionexx) Ghana Cadbury – sustainable cocoa Latin America, Rainforest Alliance – sustainable coffee ISEAL partnership – expanding use of certification
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UNDP – ISEAL initiative Voluntary certification systems and supply chains Issues to be addressed 1. Proliferation of standards initiatives creates complications and increased costs for all actors in the value chain. 2. Producers in developing countries lack the information, capacity and access to finance needed to participate in VCS or industry standards. 3. The social and environmental outcomes of compliance with standards need to be clearly measured to assess impact and improve performance.
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UNDP – ISEAL initiative Country level support platforms / centers • Providing of information about VCS, capacity building for producers and other relevant resources. • Improving coordination and synergies between VCS capacity building programs and organizations. • Brokering better access to finance and linking the finance sector to certification. • Brokering and facilitating producer linkages to markets and value chains supportive of certification.
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Proposal: UNDP / Global Compact workshop on integrating GC principles in supply chains through voluntary certification systems
• Timing: Autumn 2008 in Europe, one day workshop • Participants: Interested companies of Western European LNs, select development agencies, select CSR standard organizations (ISEAL members) • Focus: Use of Voluntary Certification Systems (Should any other aspects of responsible be included? • Organizer: UNDP plus willing partners (host organization?)
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