Non-financial reporting requirements are increasing, as a growing number of countries and financial regulators introduce more stringent rules regarding due diligence and sustainability reporting, with GRI issuing the most widely adopted set of standards globally. For large and mid-sized companies in emerging markets such reporting is thus further gaining importance to be part of global value chains, attract investors, and comply with local regulations.

Improving the sustainability reporting system in three regions through a regionally contextualized and market-driven approach. The quality, demand and availability of sustainability data is increased through the anchoring of non-financial disclosure requirements in public and private policies while simultaneously capacitating local partners to continually support companies with their sustainability reporting.

Outcome 1: Improvement of reporters’ capacity for sustainability reporting -

Supports individuals, associations, businesses and governments with the ability to create a sustainability report.

Outcome 2: Reinforced enabling environment for transparency and disclosure -

Policy and regulation are critical drivers for companies to adopt sustainability reporting. Under outcome 2 the Program will work within the partnerships it established under previous programs in the policy sphere to integrate mandatory reporting requirements for companies into national policies. Also the Program will support influential actors such as regulators and stock exchanges to issue guidance on voluntary sustainability disclosure.

Outcome 3: Increased use of corporate sustainability disclosure data by stakeholders -

Enable data users – for example, the investor community, or the media – with to use the information disclosed in sustainability reports for decision making and hold companies accountable.

Resultados previstos:  

Support the capacity of government bodies and industry associations with sustainability reporting so that they can disseminate this among their own networks.

SMEs supported in the last phase transition to new capacity building models whereby local partners take over, implementing trainings independently of GRI.

Put procurement professionals in a position to develop strong bidding and tendering processes, to integrate sustainability into companies’ operations.

Leverage position with policy actors, market regulators and stock exchanges to promote better policies and regulations on sustainability reporting.

Engage in public-private partnerships to promote and measure private sector contributions to the SDGs.

Enable investors to understand sustainability data and to integrate it into investment decisions.

Build the capacity of journalists and editors through workshops and training materials, improving their ability to hold companies accountable.

Resultados de las fases anteriores:  

Phase I, from 2012-2015, built capacities within companies for sustainability reporting and fostered local networks and dialogue in seven SECO priority countries to raise awareness about its benefits.

Phase II, implemented in Colombia, Peru, Ghana, Indonesia, South Africa, and Vietnam, ending in March 2021, primarily contributed to the integration of SMEs into global value chains through more and sector-specific sustainability reporting. During Phase II, GRI has set up strong communities of reporting companies, including large "anchor" companies to engage their supply chain. Implementation partners in the target countries have been capacitated and equipped to provide support to reporting companies autonomously.

Moreover, in Phase II GRI established networks with relevant policy actors to promote a conducive reporting environment, contributing in an increase of reporting provisions both within the targeted countries and globally.