HOW TO ADDRESS THE CORPORATE-COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT GAP: The Case for a Pooled Fund for Legal and Technical Support

This report explores the critical challenges of corporate-community engagement in land-based investments and proposes a solution to address these challenges through a pooled fund. As businesses face increasing pressure to manage human rights and environmental risks, this fund aims to provide independent legal and technical support to affected communities, ensuring fair and effective participation in decision-making processes.

The report outlines the current gaps in engagement efforts, where both companies and communities struggle to understand each other’s perspectives, leading to conflicts and operational disruptions. It highlights the importance of independent legal and technical support to bridge this gap, promoting better corporate-community relations, reducing risks, and strengthening the social license to operate.

By pooling contributions from the private sector, this fund would empower grassroots organizations to offer credible and unbiased assistance to communities, fostering meaningful dialogue and equitable agreements. The report provides detailed principles and design elements for the fund and showcases case studies from around the world, illustrating how legal empowerment can resolve disputes and improve outcomes for all stakeholders.

Read the full report to learn how this innovative funding mechanism can change the landscape of land-based investments and corporate responsibility.

Year Published: 2024
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Uploaded on: Oct 18, 2024
Languages: English Regions: > Global