OPINION: Peter McAllister, Executive Director of the Ethical Trading Initiative (ETI), shares with us his thoughts on our recent study on labour rights in Vietnam with Unilever. It’s always important to have an evidence base when addressing ethical trade issues. It’s also important to acknowledge progress as well as to address any supply chain challenges. That’s why Oxfam’s five-year collaboration …
Unilever perspective: The importance of innovative partnerships in driving social sustainability
Learning: Last week we published the results of an unique study conducted with Unilever on labour rights in Vietnam. Here Marcela Manubens, Global VP for Social Impact at Unilever, shares with us why Unilever took part and their thoughts on the report. A month after I first joined Unilever, in February 2013, Oxfam published a report on Unilever in Vietnam – …
Our latest research guidelines for development practitioners
LEARNING: High quality research is an integral part of evidence-informed advocacy and development programming. Here Martin Walsh, Global Research Adviser, introduces our latest research guidelines, two of them on new topics and one an update to an existing guideline. Oxfam launched its series of online research guidelines for development practitioners in November 2012. Since then, they’ve become among the most …
Words and actions: lessons from Unilever’s supply chain
OPINION: Five years ago, Oxfam and Unilever agreed to an unusual collaboration. Oxfam conducted a study on labour rights in Unilever’s Vietnam supply chain and operations. Liesbeth Unger founder of Human Rights@Work, and adviser and co-writer of Oxfam’s previous Unilever report asks, why did Unilever do it? How did they perform? And what can other companies seeking to improve their …
Using ICTs for citizen feedback on legal services in Rwanda
LEARNING: A key gap in almost all justice systems worldwide is obtaining data on the quality, effectiveness and user perception of justice services. This represents a major gap in ensuring justice sector policy is evidence based and responsive to the needs of the citizens. Through an innovative ICT-enhanced citizen monitoring approach in Rwanda, Richard Kananga explains how Oxfam is working …
Practicing partnership: reflections from South Africa
LEARNING: Partnerships in development communities require different approaches and practices depending on the relationship between organisations. Oxfam Australia’s former South Africa Country Director introduces a discussion paper which reflects on a trip where he met with 40 different partner organisations. Partnership is an important idea for the development community. Uncomfortable with the very obvious power differentials that are inherent …
Labour rights in Unilever’s Vietnam supply chain: what has changed since the first Oxfam study?
LEARNING: Rachel Wilshaw, Ethical Trade Manager for Oxfam, introduces their latest report on labour rights in Vietnam, a unique study done in conjunction with Unilever. Five years ago, Oxfam and Unilever agreed to an unusual study. Unilever opened up its business so Oxfam could understand how it managed labour rights, and what this meant for workers on the ground. Vietnam …
A letter from Yemen
ON THE GROUND REFLECTION: Mark Goldring, Oxfam GB’s Chief Executive, recently visited Yemen where chronic poverty is being aggravated by war. Ten million people have insufficient food and two million have been forced to flee their homes. In this post, originally a letter to Oxfam staff, Mark reflects on the suffering he witnessed and Oxfam’s humanitarian response. Many things surprised me …
Business must show more commitment and collaboration on climate change
OPINION: At the Paris climate summit there were promising signs from the private sector about taking action on climate change, but the path to a low carbon future is still far from clear. Lucia Lopez Pineda urges businesses to step up their game in collaboration with civil society and the development sector. This week the Business and Climate Summit 2016 …
Everyday tech heroes: the search begins
NEWS: Over the past year Oxfam GB’s use of technology in programmes has increased by over 60%, with our staff and partners even more keen to hear about the latest developments in tech for good. That’s why Oxfam is partnering yet again with the UK’s leading social tech funder, the Nominet Trust, on a quest to find the 100 most …