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 annual reporting service and learning network.
What are the Project's Goals and Objectives?
Through regular reporting on developments, trends and performance among voluntary standard systems for sustainable commodities, the SSI provides a rich source of information for business, consumers, producers, policymakers, and initiatives themselves. This resource helps stakeholders to navigate the field of voluntary approaches to sustainable markets more strategically and effectively. In this way, the SSI project aims to foster more informed decision making, greater transparency and improved governance within global commodity markets. Ultimately, the SSI supports stakeholders in their efforts to develop socially, environmentally and economically sustainable supply chains.
The SSI's Core Deliverables:
1. Annual Review: The State of Sustainability Initiatives Annual Review provides a regular overview of the voluntary initiatives sector, including; key statistics, market trends, performance metrics and forward looking strategies and trends. Each annual issue will focus on the relationship between voluntary sustainability initiatives and a key sustainable development theme. The first Annual Review will be published in early spring 2010.
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 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)
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 SSI Contact:
Download the SSI Project Profile below.
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| SSI Profile.pdf | 169.76 KB |
