National Baseline Assessment on the Implementation of the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights

The UK Government has consistently supported the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs), which are widely regarded as the authoritative international framework to steer practical action by Governments and businesses worldwide on this important agenda. Implementation of the UNGPs supports access to justice and effective remedies for victims of business-related human rights abuses, wherever these occur, and encourage businesses to voluntarily adopt due diligence approaches to respecting human rights. In response to the UNGPs, the UK was the first State to produce a National Action Plan (NAP) on business and human rights and we continue to develop our approach, including through implementation of the Modern Slavery Act 2015 and Procurement Act 2023.

An NBA would have the primary objective of assessing the current level of implementation of the UNGPs and other relevant business and human rights frameworks by the UK Government and UK businesses. An NBA would cover the three pillars of the UNGPs:

1. State Duty to Protect
2. Business Responsibility to Respect
3. Access to Remedy

An NBA would clearly identify measures taken by the UK Government that support business compliance with international and regional human rights standards and identify possible gaps in current measures. It would also assess to what extent UK businesses have committed to respecting human rights, including by carrying out voluntary HRDD, and participating in remediation processes. An NBA would help build the evidence base for legal, policy, and institutional options on business and human rights, and might identify further research and data collection needs.

An NBA would be informed by both quantitative and qualitive research using desk-based and participatory research methods including engagement with relevant stakeholders, including but not limited to businesses, government officials, civil society organisations, academics, international organisations and people with lived experience of business-related human rights abuses. The methodology for the delivery of the NBA would be developed in line with guidance and tools developed by the UN Office of the High Commissioner, the UN Working Group on Business and Human Rights, and the Danish Institute for Human Rights.

This is not a call for competition or tender at this time. At the EME, suppliers will be given the opportunity to comment on a draft Terms of Reference to inform FCDO’s approach to engaging suppliers and test our design assumptions. Additional information: This EME is scheduled to take place virtually on Wednesday 24th July @ 11:00 – 12:30 BST. Please register for attendance for the EME via the guidance below.

If you are interested in attending this Early Market Engagement event, then please register via the form at: forms.office.com/e/1Sh6gu8rZn ↗