Commitment 5.3 - Reporting

Some examples of good practice are listed below. You can contribute specific examples by clicking the ‘Share my case study’ button.

> Providing capacity to develop effective, accountable and transparent institutions

> Aligning reporting practices with institutions that help define corporate governance rules

> Internally, establishing effective, accountable and transparent governance structures. Demonstrating the process through which governance bodies are elected/recruited, their roles and responsibilities and any relevant relationships, such as potential or actual conflicts of interest and how these are handled. This can include information on: cross-board membership, cross-shareholding with suppliers and other stakeholders, existence of a controlling shareholder and related party disclosures, and also information on if the chair of the highest governance body is also an executive officer and if so, his or her function within the organization’s management and the reasons for this arrangement. Establishing audit committees and making the signed and dated external and internal audit reports available for shareholders and stakeholders where relevant

> Understanding outcomes driven by financial inclusion such as access to capital for women, job creation, increased sustainable livelihoods in urban areas, and improved transparency

> Within business activities, upholding the human right to freedom of expression and information, also by having a robust complaint system or grievance mechanism to record, log and resolve issues. Recording expressions of dissent by type, issue, scale and response, and referring to methods based on dialogue and engagement with a view to seek agreed solutions

> Communicating this information externally (without compromising the privacy of complainers nor commercial confidentiality), to transfer knowledge of best practices, remediation of complaints and lessons learned. Understanding the number of substantiated complaints regarding breaches of customer privacy and losses of customer data

> Encouraging freedom of expression throughout the supply chain by encouraging similar practices in suppliers and raising awareness of human rights and the protection of the rights of employees and stakeholders

> Not misrepresenting nor omitting information about deceptive, misleading, fraudulent or unfair practices and providing sufficient information for consumers to make informed decisions. Preventing violation of consumer privacy, including security breaches, for business involved in collecting personal data from consumers

A non-exhaustive list of initiatives is set out below, aiming to provide a direction for companies eager to go further on this topic:

GRI Standards (2018),

CEO Water Mandate’s Corporate Water Disclosure Guidelines,

UN Global Compact-Oxfam Poverty Footprint,

CDP Climate Change (2019) Questionnaire and Reporting guidance,

CDP Water Security (2019) Questionnaire and Reporting guidance,

UNCTAD, Guidance on core indicators for entity reporting on contribution towards implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (UNCTAD proposed core SDGs reporting indicators),

Quick guide to the Aichi Biodiversity Targets,

Reporting Guidance on the 10th Principle against corruption, the UN Global Compact,

ILO Decent Work Indicators, International Labour Organisation.