“The platform covers the key actions companies need to take to achieve ethical supply chains, from setting goals, to implementation, to reporting on progress.
“It focuses on three key areas relevant to agricultural and forestry supply chains: deforestation, conversion of natural ecosystems, and human rights. It is the primary source of learning more about the Accountability Framework. The guidance is distilled into a self-led and approachable learning experience,” Adrienne Brown, senior operations manager at the AFi, told FeedNavigator.
The tool was designed for companies that produce or source agricultural and forestry commodities: cocoa, coffee, palm oil, soy and others.
“It can also be used as a resource for consultancies and civil society groups to learn how to support companies in their journeys towards ethical supply chains,” continued Brown.
"While the platform is not a tool to demonstrate legal compliance, companies can use it to understand global best practice around deforestation, conversion, and human rights, allowing them to take the steps necessary towards meeting these requirements."
Educational modules
The platform is distinct in both its scope and its comprehensiveness, she maintains.
Currently available are five modules that introduce the AFi and its initial four action areas: setting and fortifying supply chain objectives, establishing corporate systems, overseeing commodity production, and managing supply chains. Further modules are being developed and will be rolled out over the course of the year.
The Accountability Framework initiative (AFi) unites 25 prominent global organizations focused on environmental and human rights causes, including CDP, Ceres, Conservation International, Efeca, Forest Peoples Programme, Forest Trends, Global Canopy, High Carbon Stock Approach, HCV Network, Imaflora, LTKL (Indonesia), Mighty Earth, National Wildlife Federation (USA), Preferred by Nature, Proforest, Rainforest Alliance, Rainforest Foundation Norway, Resourcetrust Network, Rights and Resources Initiative, Social Accountability International (SAI), The Nature Conservancy, Verité, World Resources Institute, and WWF.
“Many companies have expressed a need for a more detailed orientation on how the AFi’s guidance can be applied and implemented practically, going beyond just the theory. To meet this need, the platform features advice, and resources that companies can use to increase the knowledge and skills of their internal staff. Secondly, the platform helps learners understand good practice that can meet both voluntary and regulatory demand. In the voluntary space, we see many companies setting science-based targets, such as the Science-Based Targets initiative (SBTi) Forest, Land and Agriculture (FLAG) guidance. This guidance requires a no-deforestation commitment that is aligned with the Accountability Framework.
"In the regulatory space, there are many global efforts to reduce deforestation through legislation, such as the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR). While the platform is not a tool to demonstrate legal compliance, companies can use it to understand global best practice around deforestation, conversion, and human rights, allowing them to take the steps necessary towards meeting these requirements,” reported Brown.
Deep dive
What are some anticipated benefits for companies that engage with the AFi e-learning platform?
“Companies that use the platform will take away a deep understanding of the key issues around deforestation, ecosystem conversion, and human rights in agricultural and forestry supply chains. We also hope learners come away from the experience understanding how to use and apply the Accountability Framework in their own policies and operations to address these issues. That includes being able to set and strengthen their supply chain goals, establish internal policies and systems to facilitate those goals, manage and engage with their suppliers, and manage commodity production in a responsible way," said the AFi representative.
Learners also receive a certificate of completion that reflects their commitment to understanding and applying the Framework’s guidance, she added.
