Companies have access to a wide range of professional advice and information services to help them put CSR into practice successfully. The following institutions, government points of contact and independent networks (in alphabetical order) offer confidential help, practical tools and strategic support for your compliance processes.
Alliance for Cyber Security (ACS)
The Federal Office for Information Security initiated a cooperation platform run by the Alliance for Cyber Security. It enhances the resilience of the German economy by enabling companies and public authorities to exchange information on current threats confidentially. The participants have free access to practical security guidelines, alerts and training.
Diplomatic missions of the Federal Republic of Germany
The advisory network of the diplomatic missions offers companies already operating in their countries or planning to expand internationally direct support on the ground. The services link diplomatic expertise with the structures in place to promote the business activities of German companies abroad. In close cooperation with the German chambers of commerce abroad, the diplomatic missions help to carry out precise assessments of local human rights and political risks in the country in question.
Advice on the general implementation of the EU Conflict Minerals Regulation by DEKSOR at the Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources
In its capacity as the national inspection body, DEKSOR, which is based at the Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources, provides advice to companies on their due diligence obligations concerning certain minerals and ores from conflict zones and high-risk areas. DEKSOR helps importers trace the origin of tin, tantalum, tungsten and gold all the way back to their source and attain legal certainty regarding compliance with the legal standards laid down by the EU Regulation.
Federal Office for Information Security
The Federal Office for Information Security (BSI) offers companies of all sizes reliable and practical assistance with the protection of their digital infrastructures. The information offered by the Federal Office for Information Security includes concrete recommendations on forward-looking cyber-security standards, risk assessments for the use of artificial intelligence and detailed guidance for the certification of companies’ IT systems.
Business and Human Rights Resource Centre
The Business and Human Rights Resource Centre is a worldwide, independent information platform documenting the human rights practices of more than 10,000 companies. It offers companies a comprehensive register which they can search by region and sector from around the world. The register contains information on human rights allegations, progress reports and best practices. The platform serves as an important early warning system for international purchasing.
CSR Europe – The European business network for sustainability
As a leading European business network, CSR Europe helps multi-national corporations and business associations with the strategic integration of sustainability into their activities. The network offers platforms for cross-sector exchange, develops standardised audit methods for suppliers and provides guidance on the concrete implementation of EU Directives.
CSR Risk Check
The free online tool CSR Risk Check enables companies to carry out their own swift and individual risk assessment of their international business activities. Just enter the destination country and product category, and the tool instantly generates a detailed report on potential ESG risks relating to human rights, the environment, social issues and governance. The tool is financed by the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The German version is provided in cooperation with UPJ and the Helpdesk on Business & Human Rights at the Agency for Business and Economic Development and is financed by the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development and the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs.
Danish Institute for Human Rights
Das Danish Institute for Human Rightsi is an independent institution. Although it is financed by the government, it is non-partisan. It offers on-line tools for companies. Its most well-known tool is the “Human Rights Impact Assessment”. It helps companies identify the concrete impact of their business activities on local communities in an evidence-based manner.
German Sustainability Code
The online platform offered by the German Sustainability Code (DNK) serves as a central, free tool for the new EU sustainability reporting. Companies enter all their data in digital form using new, well-organised modules. They either follow the comprehensive EU requirements for large corporations or the simplified, voluntary standards for SMEs. The platform guides companies through the latest requirements step-by-step, translates the complex legal rules into comprehensible questions and saves the completed reports in a database.
German Institute for Human Rights (DIMR) – Business and Human Rights section
The German Institute for Human Rights is Germany’s independent national human rights institution. It offers free information and background material on corporate human rights due diligence. The institute regularly publishes academic analysis, policy briefs and practical tools for the implementation of human rights due diligence.
Due Diligence Ready! – European Commission
The interactive portal Due Diligence Ready! offered by the European Commission was designed with small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in mind. It helps them with responsible purchasing of minerals and metals. The on-line portal provides comprehensible training materials, step-by-step regulatory guidance and information materials.
econsense – Sustainability network of German business
The sustainability network econsense is a partnership of multinational companies aimed at designing practical sustainability strategies together. In specialised working groups, its members develop practical sets of indicators and concrete solutions for supply chain management. The focus of the network is on the economic feasibility of sustainability.
Helpdesk on Business and Human Rights of the German Government
The German Government offers a special support service for companies wishing to assume responsibility for social and environmental sustainability in their entire supply and value chains: the Helpdesk on Business & Human Rights.
The helpdesk’s services are free, confidential and individual. Along with advice, the helpdesk’s services include event, training, workshops and on-line tools for companies.
An example of a free on-line tool is the CSR Risk Check. It helps companies gain a better understanding of their potential ESG risks. Another tool is the SME Compass designed for step-by-step implementation of due diligence processes and for the comparison of sustainability standards. The Praxislotse Business and Human Rights provides information on concrete environmental and human rights issues and practical case studies. Moreover, the helpdesk offers an on-line course designed as an introduction to the field of business and human rights.
The Helpdesk on Business and Human Rights is funded by the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development and it is operated by DEG Impulse.
Contact details
Helpdesk Wirtschaft & Menschenrechte der Bundesregierung
Potsdamer Platz 10
10785 Berlin, Germany
ILO-Helpdesk for Business on International Labour Standards
The global ILO-Helpdesk for Business offered by the International Labour Organization assists companies and workers’ organisations with the correct application of international labour and social standards. Experts of the helpdesk answer your questions on critical issues such as freedom of association, collective bargaining, discrimination, as well as respect for fair wages and working hours at global factories.
Training programme for business leaders by the Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK)
The training programme “Nachhaltig. Erfolgreich. Führen” is coordinated by the DIHK-Bildungs-gGmbH and prepares business leaders for the requirements of sustainable business practices. It is co-funded by the Federal Ministry of Education. This hands-on, holistic training programme teaches business leaders how new business strategies, carbon-neutral production and transparent supply chains can successfully become part of their business.
Chambers of industry and commerce and their offices abroad (IHK /AHK / DIHK)
The extensive global network of German chambers of industry and commerce offers companies a complete range of counselling services for the implementation of their supply-chain due-diligence obligations. In Germany, regional chambers of industry and commerce provide hands-on initial advice, while the chambers abroad support global purchasing directly at their 140 sites in other countries..
Centre of excellence for sustainable purchasing at the Federal Ministry of the Interior
A specialised advice centre (KNB) at the procurement office of the Federal Ministry of the Interior assists public procurers with the integration of sustainability criteria in public purchasing with a focus on legal certainty. The services include focused product category factsheets, guidelines and best practices in order to take into account ecological and social aspects in procurement successfully.
Ministry of the Economy, Labour and Tourism of Baden-Württemberg
The regional ministerial initiative global verantwortlich Baden-Württemberg – gvBW offers a platform for small-and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) based in Baden-Württemberg. The initiative helps SMEs to systematically establish sustainable value creation management by offering hands-on workshops, peer-learning with a facilitator and on-line guidelines.
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development and World Food Programme
The OECD’s portal for businesses advocates for social and environmental standards in the global economy. In cooperation with the World Food Programme (WFP), the OECD provides standards and sector guidelines recognised around the world in order to minimise sustainability risks in the complex agricultural value chains in a systematic way.
UN Global Compact
The UN GlobalCompact Network Germany serves as a central learning and networking portal for sustainability officers. The initiative offers companies hands-on on-line toolkits (e.g. on living wages and on purchasing practices), interactive e-learning courses and on-line workshops to help them embed due-diligence processes in their day-to-day operations.
World Benchmarking Alliance (WBA) – free sustainability benchmarks
The non-profit foundation World Benchmarking Alliance (WBA) develops and releases free, public rankings of companies based on their sustainability performance. The WBA’s key instrument is the Corporate Human Rights Benchmark (CHRB), which transparently ranks the human rights performance of roughly 2,000 of the world’s largest companies.