Officer-Governance, Responsible Business

As the United Nations lead agency on international development, UNDP works in 170 countries and territories to eradicate poverty and reduce inequality. We help countries to develop policies, leadership skills, partnering abilities, institutional capabilities, and to build resilience to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. Our work is concentrated in three focus areas; sustainable development, democratic governance and peace building, and climate and disaster resilience. UNDP’s mandate is to end poverty, build democratic governance, rule of law, and inclusive institutions. We advocate for change, and connect countries to knowledge, experience and resources to help people build a better life.

Rapid & continued economic dynamism has translated into growth & reduced poverty levels in several countries in Asia & the Pacific. Greater foreign direct investments & capital movements, accentuated by higher regional mobility, are reasons for further optimism for future regional growth. This progress has often come at the expense of the human rights of minorities, marginalized and dis-advantaged and at-risk groups in the interest of investments & financial gains.

India is a strong economic partner of Japan, with cumulative FDI inflows of USD 41.91 billion from Apr 2000 to Mar 2024, making Japan the fifth largest investor in the India economy. There are 1400 Japanese companies operating in India. There is also a great appetite to strengthen economic ties with country at company level. According to a survey by JETRO, 75.6% (n=295) of Japanese companies in India said they intended to expand their businesses in the country within the next two years.

The value of trade & other financial factors contributing to enabling environments for investment had been a primary focus in the economic partnership between Japan & India. However, in last decade, demand from investors, consumers and the government has shifted, creating a global discourse on the importance of Responsible Business practices. This requires business enterprises to consider non-financial factors–their environmental and social impact, beyond their traditional focus of generating returns for owners and investors. As part of this social responsibility, business enterprises need to be able to ensure that their own actions, as well as actions of their partners along the value chain, do not adversely impact any person.

Business and human rights is part of this agenda. According to the UN Guiding Principles on Business & Human Rights (UNGPs), all business enterprises regardless of their size, sector, location, ownership, and structure, are now obliged to undertake HRDD to identify, prevent and mitigate adverse impacts on people and the environment, thereby helping them manage potential and actual risks. This obligation has been adopted by major economies, including Germany, France, Australia, and Norway, and most recently by the EU through its Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive. Undoubtedly, this obligation will also have significant implications on companies from India, Japan & many more, that are part of or engage with the global supply chain.

To respond to this trend, the Japanese government made a firm commitment on the UNGPs through the adoption of the Japanese National Action Plan on Business and Human Rights in Oct 2020. In Sept 2022, the Govt of Japan also adopted its Guidelines on Respecting Human Rights in Responsible Supply Chains. The Guidelines follow the UNGPs closely stating that “in order to meet the corporate responsibility to respect human rights, business enterprises are required to formulate their human rights policy, conduct human rights due diligence, and provide remedy when business enterprises cause or contribute to adverse human rights impacts”. The introduction of Responsible Business practices in the companies’ value chains using a tangible tool like HRDD therefore will certainly be a game changer to help the companies to stay in synch with trade trends, to remain competitive in the international market & to avoid reputational & liability risks that may result from abuses present by own business operations or within their supply chain.

Under the direct supervision of the Business and Human Rights Specialist, Sustainable and Inclusive Growth Unit, UNDP India, the UN Volunteer will undertake the following tasks:

1. Research Analysis and Programme Support
• Contributes to development of a research blueprint for responsible business priorities in India, vis-à-vis uptake and promotion of responsible business practices and sus-tainability in line with India’s national and international obligations;
• Supports secondary research on specific topics in the area of sustainability, green economy, just transition and related topics of relevance to the BHR agenda;
• Supports in writing of project related documents (concept notes, proposals) and syn-thesize documents and other relevant knowledge products;
• Supports in data analysis relevant to corporate transparency and disclosures;
• Contributes to identification of key areas of intervention for engagement with Private Sector (with particular focus on MSMEs) on decent work, sustainable economic growth, human rights and environmental sustainability and reducing inequalities; and
• Coordinates work closely with UN agencies working in India to implement and further responsible business framework;

2. Communications and Knowledge Management
• Contributes to development of policy briefs, talking points, briefing notes, communi-cations materials and other advocacy documents for strengthening communication with stakeholders on the responsible business;
• Supports proof reading and editing of reports or any other type of knowledge prod-ucts;
• Contributes to the development and implementation of social media strategy for the programme;
• Assists in submitting best practices, case stories on responsible business for wide dissemination via different media;
• Prepares PowerPoint presentations, infographics as required;
• Assists in the organization of webinars/conferences/events/forums; and
• Supports the team with other relevant tasks.

3. Engagement with Private Sector, with focus on MSME
• Support network building for UNDP and support work with Industry Associations, na-tional and regional on outreach, training, monitoring, reporting and evaluation as well as any other relevant processes;
• Coordinate and support capacity building efforts (including conceptualization) on re-sponsible and sustainable business practices for private sector including; and
• Work closely with other UN system-wide coordination groups, industry associations and civil society actors on the agenda.