The Global Network Initiative (GNI) is the leading multistakeholder forum for accountability, shared learning, and collective advocacy on government and company policies and practices related to technology and human rights. GNI is a membership organization comprising over 100 academics, civil society organizations, investors, and technology companies. We have members on every populated continent, with nearly one-third based in the majority world.
Drawing on our extensive international network, GNI is available to facilitate on a fee-for-service basis, conversations and consultations that bring organizations and their key stakeholders together in order to address important human rights issues.
These engagements can enable companies and other organizations to:
- improve product and policy design,
- facilitate compliance with regulations, and
- meet human rights commitments.
The importance of engagement
Stakeholder engagement brings many benefits, including fostering useful collaboration, improving risk identification, developing effective harm mitigation strategies, building brand/product trust, and supporting regulatory compliance. However, as stakeholder engagement efforts expand, persistent concerns have emerged about their effectiveness. For instance, civil society organizations express concerns about engagement fatigue, challenges navigating uneven power dynamics, and a lack of effective feedback. Meanwhile, companies often need stakeholders to better understand company dynamics and products to enable more concrete input. GNI can help companies avoid these pitfalls and benefit from the insights of a wide range of stakeholders.
Why Work With GNI
GNI is well-positioned to help companies and other organizations undertake and improve their engagement with civil society. We have a nonprofit mission to protect freedom of expression and privacy, a unique global network of members and partners around the world, a staff with wide-ranging expertise, a multistakeholder governance structure, and credibility built from 17+ years of experience engaging and convening key actors across sectors on tech and human rights topics.
GNI’s approach to stakeholder engagement is grounded in international human rights principles, particularly the UN Guiding Principles on Business & Human Rights, the OECD Guidelines on Multinational Enterprises, and the GNI Principles on Freedom of Expression & Privacy, which provide guidance to the technology industry on how to respect rights to freedom of expression and privacy when faced with overly broad government demands or restrictions. These frameworks articulate the importance of meaningful engagement with stakeholders as part of broader human rights due diligence.
GNI’s support
GNI works with organizations to design for their needs while empowering and supporting stakeholders. We serve as a trusted, independent intermediary, enabling the sharing of honest, direct perspectives to more effectively protect human rights. Typically, our engagements are designed around one of three formats: workshops, events, and tailored consultations, with the flexibility to scope other models based on the purpose and needs of the engagement.
Across all engagements, our support includes:
- Scoping the focus, framing, and format of the engagements,
- Identifying, inviting, and communicating with stakeholders to co-design and/or set expectations,
- Hosting and facilitating the conversation, and supporting follow-up,
- Publishing publicly available notices, reports, or related resources for stakeholders, GNI’s members, the field, and the public, where appropriate.
We propose funding levels based on the specific needs and scope of each engagement.
Get in touch
Please reach out if you’re ready to explore how more effective stakeholder engagement can improve your operations. Write to [email protected] for more information or to schedule a call. Learn more about GNI on our website.