Evaluation of sustainability reporting in developing countries

2008 | Area of work: Sustainable value chains

As part of a team led by Warner Strategy and Fundraising, Mark van Dorp was one of the main researchers that carried out the Mid Term Review of a project by GRI (Global Reporting Initiative) entitled "Bridging the Sustainability Gap". The project aims at promoting sustainability reporting in developing countries, including standards development, participation and capacity building for Small and Medium Enterprises and the supply chain. We evaluated results, efficiency and effectivity. In addition the Mid Term Review devoted substantial attention to the learning component for GRI and the involvement of the GRI team.

GRI, the Global Reporting Initiative, is an international organization which promotes sustainability reporting by companies and other organizations. "Sustainability reporting should become as routine as financial reporting". The sustainability report is an important instrument to help companies to improve their sustainability performance, to provide transparency and to stimulate partners in their supply chain to do the same. GRI - as a global learning and action network organization - has an extensive constituency consisting of thousands of experts, that help to develop guidelines for reporting, and hundreds of organizational stakeholders world wide.