Remediation & Capacity Building

The GSCP's main goal through convergence is to support the remediation of root causes of non-compliances, and the development and management with and by suppliers of their own solutions. Having built convergence and a common understanding in monitoring processes and tools, retailers and brand manufacturers are now better placed to work collaboratively on the improvement of working and environmental conditions through capacity building at supplier site. This will start with the common application by buying companies of the requirements set out in the GSCP (monitoring) Reference tools and therefore the delivery of a common message to suppliers on requirements for social and environmental practices.

Reference tools and models in remediation and capacity building

To build on the above, the GSCP has now started applying its methodology to topics and issues closer to the ground and to suppliers' operations. The GSCP and its members will therefore develop high level, best practice references on remediation and capacity building topics requiring cross-industry guidelines, to reduce divergence and duplication in capacity building efforts. Any Reference tools or guidelines in remediation / capacity building will be made available open source for all to use. The development work will be conducted by Centralised Expert Workling Groups including experts from GSCP member companies along with all different stakeholders with the expertise and interest to work collaboratively on the given topic (key organisations already working on the subject, civil society representatives and suppliers).

Current working groups & projects:

Social & Labour Management Systems for Suppliers

Reference Models for the Implementation of the Environmental Module

GSCP-UNIDO REAP+ Capacity Building project

Workshops on Capacity Building

Regional Networks

The Regional Networks are collaborative groups based in GSCP members' major sourcing regions / countries composed of member companies’ local compliance teams representatives and local buyers, and, in time, other stakeholders from local civil society, government, suppliers, as relevant.

The objective is to develop a more local / regional focus and perspective for the Programme in these countries, and increase the effectiveness of efforts in addressing remediation and capacity building. The Regional Networks will support companies in the development of relevant and shared solutions at local and/or sectoral level with more sustainable implementation. Their roles are intended as the following:

1. local knowledge platforms	2. local implementation platforms	3. local awareness & engagement mechanisms
> to gather information on what’s going on in remediation & capacity building on the ground (for understanding of endemic issues and scaling-up of existing efforts) and to capitalise on the expertise of the Network members (piloting and feedback on GSCP work at central level)	> to work collaboratively on remediation & capacity building (work led by members, on issues of common concern) and where appropriate, to develop local Reference tools on specific issues (common approaches to shared remediation / capacity building issues using the GSCP process and methodology)	> to communicate the GSCP message, objectives and Reference tools / models to foster a greater understanding and uptake of GSCP tools with relevant local audiences

The first GSCP Regional Network was launched mid-2012 in China. The development of its structure and tasks will serve as a basis to create other Regional Networks around the world.

Forum on Remediation

Through its General Meetings, the GSCP offers a forum on remediation where companies and other stakeholders can:

openly discuss issues of common interest
exchange experiences and learn from each other’s practice in the field
strengthen collaborative approaches