National Action Plans on Business and Human Rights

Purpose

National action plans on business and human rights (NAPs) articulate a state’s priorities and actions to implement the UNGPs. Since 2011 numerous actors including the UN Human Rights Council have encouraged states to develop NAPs.

Through this project we provide guidance and assistance to states, and support to business and civil society, to encourage a multi-stakeholder approach to develop NAPs tailored to the specific context and challenges at the local level.

The difference we make

In 2017 we updated our guidance document – National Action Plans on Business and Human Rights Toolkit. This toolkit highlights good practice examples and provides guidance on how to:

• Undertake a national baseline assessment
• Plan inclusive and participatory NAP process
• Undertake a fact-based analysis for determining the priorities and actions for a NAP
• Establish effective follow-up measures for monitoring, reporting, and evaluating NAP implementation
• Enhance monitoring and reporting on NAPs
• Measure progress in implementing the UNGPs

We have supported the development of supplements to the Toolkit, highlighting how to include the following within NAPs:

• Children’s rights
• Human rights defenders
• The extractives sector
• The private security sector
• The tech sector

In 2017 we launched www.globalnaps.org (opens in a new tab) as an online “one stop shop” for information regarding the development of NAPs.

In 2018 we produced an analysis of all NAPs published between 2013-2018, highlighting key findings on:

• Stakeholder participation in the development process
• National baseline assessments
• NAP content
• Progress reports
• Accountability

We have advised and supported governments to develop NAPs in Chile, Denmark, Georgia, Kenya, Ukraine, and Zambia.

In 2020 we will launch a digital data collection tool on business and human rights to collect national-level information relating to business, human rights and sustainable development. This can be used to produce a baseline analysis to inform a NAP.