Inaugural Meeting of Inclusive Platform on Due Diligence Policy Cooperation

The OECD Inclusive Platform on Due Diligence Policy Cooperation brings together policy makers from around the world to discuss effective design,  implementation and uptake of responsible business conduct (RBC) due diligence policy and accompanying measures. This is the first meeting of the Inclusive Platform.

The platform was created in response to the OECD 2023 Ministerial Declaration on Promoting and Enabling Responsible Business Conduct in the Global Economy [OECD/LEGAL/0489], which called on the OECD to assist with strengthening cooperation and coordination on due diligence policies.

• facilitate knowledge-sharing and cross-learning on policies on due diligence and accompanying measures; 
• assist with strengthening cooperation on due diligence policy to, where possible, minimise policy and market-based divergences in design, monitoring, implementation, and/or enforcement; and 
• support evidence-based policy making through sharing research and data on the uptake and impact of due diligence policy and relevant examples from other policy areas.

The platform is for government officials directly engaged in the design, negotiation, implementation and/or enforcement of due diligence policy and regulation, as well government officials engaged in responding to or providing support to actors who may be impacted by such regulations and policies, including in trade partner countries. The Platform will benefit from expert input in dedicated segments.

For further information, please contact Benjamin MICHEL (benjamin.michel@oecd.org) and Celia VALEANI (celia.valeani@oecd.org).

Download the agenda

8:45 – 9:45 – Welcoming breakfast and registration

9:45 – 10:15 Inaugural session and welcoming remarks

• Welcome address by Ms. Christine Kaufmann, Chair of the OECD Working Party on Responsible Business Conduct
• Introduction of the Platform by Mr. Allan Jørgensen, Head of the Centre for Responsible Business Conduct, OECD Directorate for Financial and Enterprise Affairs

10:15 – 12:00 Session 1: Measures to support companies in trade partner countries in meeting social and environmental due diligence standards

This discussion will explore concrete needs of trade partners and their companies in responding to emerging due diligence expectations.

Expert presentations and Q&A (45 min)

• Mr. Gunther Beger, Managing Director of the Directorate for SDG Innovation and Economic Transformation, UNIDO
• Mr. Armel Nganzi, Technical Advisor on responsible mining, IMPACT
• Mr. Miran Ali, Member of the committee Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA)
• Mr. Reynaldo Goto, Chief Compliance Office, BRF

Policy makers’ discussion (60 min) moderated by Ms. Barbara Bijelic, Head of Regulation and Standards, OECD Centre for Responsible Business Conduct

12:00 - 13:30 Networking lunch break

13:30 – 15:15 Session 2: Considerations for approaches to due diligence policy cooperation 

This discussion will explore opportunities and challenges for coordination of due diligence policy including through interoperability or mutual recognition. The objective of this discussion is to identify how various models of cooperation can reduce complexity and improve outcomes and to assess the merits and challenges of different approaches.

Expert presentations and Q&A (45 min)

• Mr. Rodrigo Buenaventura, Secretary-General, IOSCO
• Mr. Peter Nestor, Global Head of Human Rights, Novartis
• Ms. Michaela Streibelt, Senior Legal Advisor, Responsible Contracting Project
• Mr. Tom Smith, Director, Global Government Affairs and Business Diplomacy, Walmart

Policy makers’ discussion (60 min) moderated by Ms. Emily Norton, Policy Lead, Regulatory Engagement, OECD Centre for Responsible Business Conduct

15:15 - 15:45 Coffee break

15:45 – 17:30 Session 3: Sustainability initiatives in due diligence regulation and policy

Sustainability initiatives and mechanisms such as certification, verification and assurance can support the enforcement and implementation of due diligence policy and regulation. This discussion will explore how these tools can be leveraged to support effectiveness and efficiency in compliance with and enforcement of due diligence expectations as well as their limitations and challenges.

Expert presentations and Q&A (45 min)

• Ms. Genevieve LeBaron, Professor and Director of the School of Public Policy at Simon Fraser University and PI of ReStructure Lab
• Ms. Jennifer Peyser, Executive Director, Responsible Minerals Initiative
• Mr. Tobias Fischer, Development Sustainability Manager, H&M

Policy makers’ discussion (60 min) moderated by Ms. Hannah Koep-Andrieu, Head of Due Diligence, OECD Centre for Responsible Business Conduct

17:30- 17:45 Closing session

• Ms. Christine Kaufmann, Chair of the OECD Working Party on Responsible Business Conduct
• Mr. Carmine Di Noia, Director for Financial and Enterprise Affairs at the OECD

17:45 – 19:30 Networking cocktail