Reporting: State of Sustainability Initiatives
'Building Effectiveness in Market-based Approaches to Sustainable Commodity Production and Trade'
What is the SSI?
The 'State of Sustainability Initiatives or 'SSI' is a global initiative that researches and reports on the impacts, effectiveness and scope of market-based, voluntary approaches to sustainable commodity production and trade. The SSI is a knowledge-sharing platform focused on improving information-sharing and transparency in voluntary supply chain initiatives through an independent reporting service and learning network.
What are the Project's Goals and Objectives?
The project aims to enable more informed decision-making by supply chain decision makers (such procurement professionals, CEOs, policy makers, standard setters etc.) by enabling a high level overview of different sustainability initiatives operating in international markets
The SSI's Core Deliverables:
1. Review: The State of Sustainability Initiatives Review provides a regular overview of the voluntary initiatives sector, including; key statistics, market trends, performance metrics and forward looking strategies and trends. Each issue will focus on the relationship between voluntary sustainability initiatives and a key sustainable development theme. The first Review is available for download here.
2. Regular Initiative Reporting: Journalistic updates on the latest developments in sustainable commodity markets and voluntary initiatives around the world.
3. Thematic Reports: Printed briefings and a monthly online publication offering in-depth analysis on the relationship between commodity markets, voluntary sustainability initiatives and key themes such as poverty reduction, climate change, desertification and biodiversity preservation. The reports are targeted to policymakers and the private sector, among others.
4. Knowledge Sharing: This network provides a unique forum that will foster best practice by facilitating dialogue and collaboration among voluntary initiatives.
5. Research: SSI conducts cross-cutting research and analysis on the performance of voluntary sustainability initiatives and the policy responses needed to support the continued growth and development of sustainable commodity markets, production and trade.
SSI - Why Now?
Over the past two decades a growing number of voluntary sustainability initiatives and other multi-stakeholder alliances have emerged to improve the livelihoods of the millions of commodity-dependent producers and manufacturers around the world. The growth of such initiatives represents an important opportunity for all stakeholders to participate in the greening of global supply chains and improvement of producer livelihoods.
The multiplication of these initiatives makes it increasingly challenging for all stakeholders to stay abreast of the latest developments and best practices across the voluntary sector. Moreover, it is exceedingly difficult to assess their utility and performance, let alone the steps required to mainstream best practice. Through its reporting activities, the SSI enables stakeholders to interact with each other, helping them benchmark their performance and become more effective.
Who are the SSI Partners?
The SSI is coordinated, under the auspices of the Sustainable Commodity Initiative, by four organizations with a deep and long-standing history in the promotion of sustainable commodity production and trade:
- AIDenvironment
- International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED)
- International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD)
- United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD)
- ENTWINDED research consortium
The SSI is guided by a high level multi-stakeholder Advisory Panel that guides the development of the project, providing a regular forum for inter-initiative and stakeholder information exchange.
For more information on the SSI, please contact:
Download the SSI Project Profile below
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| SSI Profile.pdf | 169.76 KB |
