Network Foundation Guide

6. What are the requirements and types of support provided to networks by CBi?

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<<MEMBER REQUIREMENTS>>

 

Member networks of the Connecting Business Initiative are those which:

• Have agreed to work plans, and are implementing them with the support of CBi

• Have previously received support from CBi

 

Member networks will be:

• Invited to the annual Connecting Business Partners meeting

• Profiled on the Connecting Business Global Portal and will be responsible for maintaining current information on the portal

 

A representative member network will be appointed to the Connecting Business Initiative's Executive Committee for a yearly rotating term.

 

<<PROSPECTIVE CBi MEMBERS>>

 

Potential member networks are required to communicate their intention to:

• Implement an agreed to work plan

• Work towards the overarching aims of the Connecting Business Initiative

 

The Connecting Business initiative will conduct a due diligence on the host of the network and, if required, on its current chair / governing bodies prior to confirming the network's status as a member network.

 

The due diligence process for a CBi Member Network host organization follows UNDP’s Policy on Due Diligence and Partnerships with the Private Sector (https://popp.undp.org/SitePages/POPPSubject.aspx?SBJID=288). According to the policy, the host organization must not

• Engage in the manufacture, sale, or distribution of controversial weapons or their components, including cluster bombs, anti-personnel mines, biological or chemical weapons, or nuclear weapons

• Engage as a significant part of the business in the manufacture, sale or distribution of armaments and/or weapons or their components, including military supplies and equipment (>5% of revenue) or replica weapons to children (can be <10% of revenue)

• Engage as a significant part of the business in the manufacture, sale or distribution of tobacco or tobacco products (distributors can have <5% of revenue)

• Violate UN sanctions and relevant conventions, treaties, and resolutions, or be included in UN ineligibility lists

• Engage in the manufacture, sale and distribution of pornography

• Engage in the manufacture, sale or distribution of substances subject to international bans or phase-outs, or wildlife or products regulated under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora

• Engage as a significant part of the business in gambling including casinos, betting etc. (excluding lotteries with charitable objectives) (can be <20% of revenue)

• Violate human rights or be complicit in human rights violations

• Use or tolerate forced or compulsory labor

• Use or tolerate child labor

 

While the policy does not strictly apply to companies participating in the member networks, networks are required to have procedures in place governing the admission of members to the network, to ensure that members' operations and principles are consistent with CBi's and with the humanitarian principles more broadly.

 

<<LEVELS OF SUPPORT PROVIDED BY CBi>>

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<<YOUR LEVEL OF SUPPORT FROM CBi>>

 

The Connecting Business initiative has a system for determining the level of support provided. The initiative prioritizes support to demand-driven private sector led networks.

The criteria is applied to ensure that targeted countries and areas have in place the baseline requirements needed to successfully build and operate private sector-led networks. To determine a network's level of support:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Baseline requirements

• The expressed interest of the private sector and private sector representative organizations to engage in disaster risk reduction, emergency preparedness, response and recovery, as demonstrated by prior participation in activities, contributions to emergencies and the results of initial consultations

• The existence and capacity of a likely host organization for the private sector network

• The existence of identified leaders from the private sector to drive the creation and operation of the network

• The activities already undertaken by representatives of the private sector and private sector organizations to mobilize support for Connecting Business or similar program at the national and / or regional level

• The capacity and strength of relevant Government, UN and NGO programs and existing coordination mechanisms

 

Risk vulnerability criteria

• The assessed risk level in that location of natural and man-made disasters and health pandemics. This assessment is based on the INFORM database, internal assessments undertaken by OCHA, UNDP, UNISDR and other partners of Connecting Business, and assessments conducted by inter-agency, inter-governmental and independent programs

• The existing level of private sector engagement in disaster risk reduction, emergency preparedness, response and recovery and the level of participation of private sector in existing coordination mechanisms at the national and regional levels

 

<<ADDITIONAL EXTERNAL RESOURCES>>

 

• For additional information on the Connecting Business Initiative, please visit our website: https://www.connectingbusinessinitiative.org/

• To access the INFORM index discussed: http://www.inform-index.org/

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