10.03.2021

To our stakeholders,

I am pleased to confirm that Business for Development (B4D) reaffirms its support of the Ten Principles of the United Nations Global Compact in the areas of Human Rights, Labour, Environment and Anti-Corruption. B4D is a signatory to the Australian Council for International Development (ACFID) Code of Conduct. The Code aims to improve international development and humanitarian action outcomes and increase stakeholder trust by enhancing the transparency, accountability and effectiveness of ACFID's members. In conjunction with other aspects of ACFID’s work, the effective delivery of the Code contributes to the realisation of human rights and the delivery of the Sustainable Development Goals.

B4D’s Board and Audit and Risk Committees sign off all policies. All staff trained in our policies and must comply, and clients and suppliers must also comply with our policies.

In this annual Communication on Progress, we describe our actions to continually improve the integration of the Global Compact and its principles into our business strategy, culture and daily operations. We also commit to sharing this information with our stakeholders using our primary channels of communication.

Sincerely yours,
Karen James
CEO

• In 2020 B4D published its Human Rights Policy. The policy outlines B4Ds commitment to maintaining the highest ethical standards and to engaging in practices that enhance the welfare, safety, and well-being of our staff members, business partners, and wider communities in which we operate.
• B4D respects and supports human rights principles as defined by the principles of the International Bill of Human Rights and the International Labour Organization’s (ILO) Declaration on Fundamental.
• B4D will not tolerate human rights violations of any kind, and we are committed to implementing effective systems and controls to prevent violations from taking place anywhere in our business or supply chains.
• B4D applies a Theory of Change approach to its program design. This includes achieving and respecting human rights such as diversity and inclusion.
• In 2020 B4D updated its Child Protection Policy (CPP). This policy provides a practical guide to prevent child abuse in B4D’s operations. The CPP provides a range of risk management strategies to mitigate the risk of children being harmed and provide guidance on how to respond to concerns and allegations of child abuse.
• Our Safeguarding Policy was also undated in 2020. This policy outlines how B4D does not tolerate the abuse of adults or children in any of its forms and is committed to operating in a way that safeguards vulnerable individuals from harm. B4D expects its staff, board members, partners and visitors to share this commitment.

Business for Development’s Whistleblowing Policy provides a safe and secure avenue to raise genuine concerns of wrongdoing. The Whistleblowing Policy procedures are available to any person or organisation dealing with Business for Development, including all persons working for B4D or on our behalf in any capacity including staff members, board members, third-party representatives, project partners, clients, suppliers and visitors.

B4D monitors any concerns raised. To date no concerns have been raised.

• B4D's Human Rights Policy outlines specifically that "B4D does not tolerate any form of Modern Slavery, child labour, prison labour, or any form of servitude in any part of our business or supply chain. In accordance with it, B4D acts ethically and with integrity in all our business relationships and ensures that its procurement practices are transparent, fair and responsible."

• B4D complies with minimum wage standards - and benchmarks salaries against comparable roles in the relevant country and to pay at or above the benchmark.
• Ensure that employment-related decisions are based on relevant and objective criteria.

All salaries and working conditions are benchmarked against local standards. There are periodic reviews of both salaries and working conditions.

• B4D uses Theory of Change models in our programs to achieve desired outcomes. Incorporated in the program design is to achieve climate smart agricultural practices in all its programs.

• With staff on the ground, there is periodic training of employees on environmental protection
• The field staff minimise the use and ensure safe handling and storage of chemical and other dangerous substances.

B4D applies a Theory of Change approach to program design and incorporates achieving climate smart agriculture practices. This is monitored in the program so that desired environmental progress is achieved e.g., improving soil quality.

• B4D has an Anti-Fraud and Anti-Corruption Policy which ensures that B4D develops and maintains a culture of honesty and integrity within the organisation and puts in place processes that ensure the effective prevention, detection and management of fraud, corruption, terrorism financing and money laundering. To that end, B4D has adopted a zero-tolerance approach to financial wrongdoing in all its activities.
• B4D conducts assessments on the risk of corruption when doing business.

Business for Development’s Whistleblowing Policy provides a safe and secure avenue to raise genuine concerns of wrongdoing. The Whistleblowing Policy procedures are available to any person or organisation dealing with Business for Development, including all persons working for B4D or on our behalf in any capacity including staff members, board members, third-party representatives, project partners, clients, suppliers and visitors.

B4D completes a risk assessment for any new country it seeks to work in. Our processes have been reviewed and updates implemented to increase the controls against financial wrongdoing in all our areas of operation