The Global Network Initiative (GNI) is seeking to expand its pool of accredited assessors to participate in its next cycle of independent assessments. GNI is accepting applications from organizations interested in becoming accredited assessors in support of the GNI independent assessment process from November 5, 2020 to November 30, 2020.
When members join GNI, they commit to implement the organization’s Principles on Freedom of Expression and Privacy (“GNI Principles”). Company members play a particular role through their commitment to implementing the GNI Principles within their organization. GNI members have also developed a multistakeholder governance structure to ensure accountability for the implementation of the Principles and their continued relevance, effectiveness and impact, including through independent assessments.
GNI completed the third cycle of the independent assessments of 11 member companies and released the public assessment report last April. The assessment process relies on a methodology contained in the GNI Assessment Toolkit, which allows GNI’s civil society, academic, and investor board members insight into member company efforts to implement the GNI Principles.
The independent company assessments are conducted by assessors who must be accredited by the GNI Board before being chosen to perform an independent assessment. Assessors must meet GNI’s independence and competency criteria and participate in mandatory assessor training. They receive access to information, including sensitive documents in secure settings in order to prepare a detailed evaluation of a particular company following the Assessment Toolkit. The confidential report prepared by the assessor is then presented in a review meeting to GNI’s multistakeholder Board of Directors. The reports and review meeting discussions allow the GNI Board to determine if a company member is making good-faith efforts to implement the GNI Principles with improvement over time.
If you are interested in becoming an accredited assessor, please send a letter detailing your organization’s interest and credentials, as well as the CVs of the individuals within your organization that would be involved in the assessment process, should you become accredited.
Applications should be sent to [email protected] and addressed to GNI Executive Director, Judith Lichtenberg no later than November 30, 2020.
ABOUT GNI
GNI was launched in 2008. Our mission is to protect and advance freedom of expression and privacy rights in the ICT sector by setting a global standard for responsible decision making and serving as a multistakeholder voice in the face of government restrictions and demands. GNI members include ICT companies, civil society organizations (including human rights and press freedom groups), independent academic experts, academic institutions, and investors from around the world. See the GNI website for more information about our work.
ABOUT THE GNI PRINCIPLES
When members join GNI, they commit to implement the GNI Principles and Implementation Guidelines, which provide a framework to guide the ICT industry and its stakeholders on respecting the freedom of expression and privacy of users around the world. The GNI Principles are based on international human rights laws and standards and are informed by the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights.
ABOUT THE GNI INDEPENDENT COMPANY ASSESSMENTS
When companies join GNI, they agree to have their progress in implementing the GNI Principles assessed independently by participating in GNI’s assessment process. The assessment is made up of a review of relevant internal systems, policies and procedures for implementing the GNI Principles and an examination of specific case studies or examples that show how the company is implementing them in practice. Learn more about the 2018/2019 company assessments and see the executive summary of the 2018/2019 public assessment report.