BIC hosts roundtable on the revised National Action Plan on Responsible Business Conduct

As the State Department updates the National Action Plan (NAP) on Responsible Business Conduct (RBC), BIC encourages the U.S. Government to strengthen policies at DFC and use its leverage at the multilateral development banks to push the institutions to align their practices and policies with the highest global RBC standards.

In 2021, the State Department has launched the process of revising and updating the National Action Plan (NAP) on Responsible Business Conduct (RBC). On May 24, 2022, the Bank Information Center hosted a civil society roundtable with the U.S. government on recommendations to the NAP on RBC. Representatives from the State Department, Treasury Department, Commerce Department, Department of Labor, and Development Finance Corporation (DFC) and a diverse group of civil society participants joined the meeting. 

In addition to hosting the roundtable, BIC welcomed the opportunity to submit recommendations on the NAP revision process. In our comments, we encourage the U.S. government to recognize its global leadership role through DFC and at the multilateral development banks (MDBs). Within the MDBs, we describe how the U.S. can capitalize on its historic role to influence the institutions to improve their policies and practices, aligning with the highest global RBC standards. Specifically, we recommend the updated NAP details how the U.S. should use its leverage at the MDBs to push them to:

  1. Operationalize commitments on reprisals;
  2. Provide access to remedy;
  3. Strengthen environmental and social safeguards; and
  4. Address full supply chains within safeguards

Further, we encourage the State Department to include a point in the updated NAP encouraging DFC to work to improve its transparency and access to information practices to meet the highest industry standards and at least what it requires of the MDBs. This is essential for the U.S. to preserve its credibility with the MDBs, international partners, and project-affected communities. 

BIC applauds the State Department for its efforts to revise the NAP and hopes the updated version will demonstrate a high level of ambition, reflecting the scale of today's global challenges.