“We are passionate about delivering the highest standard of service”

OUR SERVICES

Management consulting on human rights

focusright works with companies to identify and manage human rights risks and impacts in their operations and extended value chains. We advise companies on their human rights and environmental due diligence (HREDD) process and corporate responsibility strategy by offering the following tailor-made services:

HREDD Strategy & Management System

We help our clients define HREDD strategies and build corresponding management systems for effective implementation.

↑ Overview

Our support includes:

  • Conducting HREDD maturity assessments to set strategic directions

  • Establishing HREDD governance structures and management systems in line with international standards (UNGPs, OECD Guidelines) and legal requirements (e.g. CSDDD, CSRD, Swiss Counter-Proposal to the Responsible Business Initative)

  • Developing human rights policies 

  • Setting up effective monitoring systems to track the adequate implementation of the HREDD strategy and risk-based measures

  • Providing practical guidance on integrating human rights and environmental considerations into existing business processes

  • Offering ad hoc advisory and serving as an ongoing sparring partner

  • Delivering executive advisory and management workshops

  • Identifying opportunities and innovation potential

Proof of work:

  • Assessing various companies’ maturity regarding HRDD and providing recommendations for establishing an HRDD management system and governance. 

    Clients include: SBB, Swiss Post, DKSH, Sonova, Schindler, Bucher, VARO Energy, Oettinger Davidoff, Accelleron, ABB, Breitling, Migros

References:

  • DKSH
    Developing a global HRDD governance structure including function-specific mandates and ad hoc advice on effective implementation of the HRDD management system.

  • The Nature Conservancy (TNC)
    Conducting HRDD maturity assessment for the global nature conservancy based in the USA. Engaging internal stakeholders and providing guidance on integrating human rights consideration into existing processes.

  • SBB
    Conducting HRDD maturity assessment and engaging a variety of internal stakeholders for establishing a company-specific management system.

  • Swiss Post
    Assessing the company’s maturity regarding HRDD and providing recommendations for setting strategic directions going forward.

Risk & Impact Assessment

We help companies identify, assess, and prioritise human rights-related risks and impacts across their operations and value chains.

↑ Overview

Our support includes:

  • Conducting high-level human rights risk assessments and identifying salient human rights issues

  • Analysing product-, country-, sector- or raw material-specific risks through in-depth value chain assessments

  • Carrying out on-site human rights impact assessments to understand actual and potential impacts on rightsholders

  • Identifying salient human rights issues and providing a basis for assessing impact materiality and creating transparency in line with reporting requirements (e.g. CSRD)

  • Establishing a system to ensure ongoing risk assessments

Proof of work:

  • Conducting high-level human rights risk assessments for various clients and providing inputs for social impact materiality in the context of ESRS/CSRD-aligned double materiality assessments.

    Clients include: VARO Energy, SBB, Breitling, Zehnder Group

  • Carrying out in-depth risk assessments including identification of potentially affected rightsholders and conducting meaningful stakeholder consultations on-site applying different methodologies.

    Clients include: DKSH, Sonova

  • Developing tailored risk analysis tools for organisations to ensure ongoing risk assessments.

    Clients include: Ricola, Chocosuisse, UEFA, Roundtable Human Rights in Tourism

References:

  • Breitling
    Conducting a high-level human rights risk assessment (HRRA) to identify the company’s salient issues along the entire value chain.

  • Zehnder Group
    Developing a HRRA framework and identifying the salient issues, involving various internal and external experts and the executive management team.

  • Varo Energy
    Conducting a HRRA and providing inputs for social impact materiality in the context of  ESRS/CSRD-Aligned double materiality assessment.

  • Chocosuisse
    Analysing raw-material specific risks along value chains and develop a practical tool for member companies to assess human rights-related risks.

Risk-Based Measures

We support our clients in taking impact-oriented measures and integrating human rights in their operations and processes.

↑ Overview

Our support includes:

  • Advising on preventive and corrective measures to address salient issues and follow-up on human rights risk and impact assessments

  • Developing action plans to address risks and impacts

  • Integrating human rights and environmental considerations into existing business processes to address salient issues

  • Developing impact-oriented Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) to track the effectiveness of measures

  • Providing guidance on relevant and credible sector initiatives and certification schemes

References:

  • Ricola
    Developing a detailed roadmap based on a risk assessment for certain raw materials to address risks in the value chain. This included in-depth risk assessments and suggestions for certifications schemes.

  • Schindler
    Developing a third-party assessment for sub-contracted (migrant) workers and conducting on-site training for key staff from high-risk countries to recognize red flags regarding human rights risks.

  • Bucher
    Developing practical recommendations for a human rights action plan to proactively address identified risks – based on a saliency assessment.

Responsible Supply Chain Strategy

We guide our clients in developing risk-based responsible supply chain strategies.

↑ Overview

Our support includes:

  • Integrating human rights and environmental considerations into existing procurement processes and supplier relationships

  • Strengthening responsible supply chain management and increasing traceability

  • Conducting meaningful supplier dialogues and identifying opportunities for collaboration

  • Establishing responsible purchasing practices

  • Providing guidance on certifications, social audits and labels in implementing HREDD in the supply chain

  • Developing responsible raw material and product strategies

References:

  • Ricola
    Establishing a risk-based approach to address supply chain risks, increasing traceability as well as understanding and proactively managing impacts.

  • Dormakaba
    Developing a strategic approach to risk-based supplier management, conducting supplier dialogue with high-risk suppliers to enhance collaboration on human rights topics.

  • Partnership for Sustainable Textiles (PST)
    Guiding the PST Secretariat on the topic of living wages and responsible purchasing practices, including the facilitation of its strategy group on the topic and drafting PST’s Guideline on Transparency in supply chain.

Training & Capacity Building

We support our clients in creating cultural change by developing know-how, management capacity and hands-on knowledge on human rights among employees and suppliers.

↑ Overview

Our support includes:

  • Developing targeted human rights training concepts and delivering capacity building modules (e.g. general or function-specific trainings) – both on-site and online (live sessions, e-learnings, etc.)

  • Establishing and implementing HREDD curricula on specific human rights-related topics such as living wages, forced labour, and working conditions

  • Facilitating workshops and webinars on implementing HREDD

  • Raising awareness and driving organisational change management

  • Providing in-depth trainings and coaching of senior management

References:

  • ABB
    Developing internal human rights risk analysis tools and guidance, e-learning curricula for targeted functions such as sales, procurement, and operations, as well as on specific salient issues.

  • State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO)
    Facilitating workshops, targeted trainings and webinars with the aim of promoting business and human rights amongst Swiss companies.

  • UN Global Compact Network Switzerland and Liechtenstein (GCNSL)
    Continuously partnering with the GCNSL for the development and delivery of various training programmes, workshops, events and webinars.

  • gategroup
    Developing and conducting practical online trainings for over 250 procurement and food safety staff globally on how to consider human rights in their daily operations.

  • Dormakaba
    Delivering hands-on online training for internal auditors on their role in integrating a human rights lens in their work.

Sector Collaboration

We connect key actors to foster sector collaboration, increasing leverage to address human rights and environmental risks in value chains.

↑ Overview

Our support includes:

  • Bringing stakeholders together and fostering meaningful collaboration

  • Providing guidance on multi-stakeholder initiatives

  • Establishing collaborative impact projects to increase leverage and prevent or mitigate risks in producing countries

  • Facilitating multi-stakeholder dialogues

  • Advising on the relevance and credibility of sector initiatives and certification schemes

References:

  • Swiss Sustainable Coffee Platform (SSCP)
    Facilitating the establishment of the multi-stakeholder initiative SSCP, including various stakeholder engagement workshops up to the launch of the initiative with a member of the Swiss Federal Council.

  • Partnership for Sustainable Textiles (PST)
    Acting as ongoing sparring partner for the sectoral multi-stakeholder initiative PST, providing strategic guidance to the secretariat and contributing to meaningful collaboration and mutual understanding among different stakeholder groups.

  • OK:GO
    Facilitating the dialogue between private and public sector as well as NGOs to establish the OK:GO initiative to improve accessibility in the tourism sector. Operational management and strategy development of the initiative.

Meaningful Stakeholder Engagement

We help companies to conduct meaningful stakeholder engagement throughout the due diligence process.

↑ Overview

Our support includes:

  • Developing stakeholder engagement strategies in line with international standards and legal requirements

  • Identifying potentially affected rights holders and their legitimate representatives

  • Facilitating stakeholder dialogues

  • Conducting individual on-site consultations with rightsholders and focus group discussions

References:

Grievance & Remedy

We guide organisations in developing effective grievance mechanisms and ensuring access to remedy.

↑ Overview

Our support includes:

  • Assessing the effectiveness of existing grievance mechanisms in line with international standards and legal requirements

  • Advising on existing sector grievance mechanisms

  • Developing effective grievance mechanisms based on best practices

  • Providing guidance on case handling and remediation

  • Developing remediation plans and procedures

Proof of work:

  • Dormakaba
    Assessing dormakaba’s whistleblowing hotline against the effectiveness criteria of the UNGPs, with tailored recommendations for improvement.

  • Partnership for Sustainable Textiles (PST)
    Conducting webinars and trainings on establishing effective grievance mechanism (local, sectoral company-specific) and developing guidance document on effective remedy.

  • DKSH
    Developing an approach for providing effective remedy to internal and external rightsholders in collaboration with internal key functions.