• Business and conflict

Business and conflict

This report summarises discussions among numerous stakeholders on how business can play a role in helping to mitigate the impact of Colombia’s armed conflict on the vulnerable and socially excluded, and encourage conditions for lasting peace and greater prosperity. The paper summarises key contributions from speakers and participants at the meetings, including examples of current corporate activity and ideas for the future, as well as dilemmas that need to be addressed.

The summary highlights the following challenges of business engagement:

• resources illegally obtained: the risk of utilising land or other resources illegally obtained as a result of conflict exposes companies to possible future legal recourse, allegations of beneficial complicity, and reputational risk
• little business presence: business does not operate in some geographical locations, either because such areas are very rural or too isolated or they lack the necessary infrastructure at present to make them commercially attractive for companies
• difficulty of sectors working together: there is difficulty in business, civil society and the public sector working together because of low levels of trust between each sector and lack of skills on how to work together
• moving beyond philanthropy: the majority of companies are still operating on a philanthropic basis, missing opportunities of impact through responsible core business practices and engagement in public policy and institution building
• human rights as a business issue: human rights is not regarded as a business issue or an issue about which business is invited to have a say.

Suggested remedies to the problems include:

• carrying out risk assessment of company operations and those in the supply chain to ensure that no resources, including land, have been illegally obtained as a result of conflict
• companies can share costs and risks by working collectively
• create opportunities for cross-sector dialogue, and confidence-building measures leading to practical action
• raise awareness amongst business leaders of advancement in understanding of business impact on communities through core business practices and increase the number of companies who develop mature corporate responsibility strategies
• campaigners need to explain and support the role business can play in respecting and promoting human rights.

The overriding conclusion of the dialogue process was that more companies could do more to help address the causes and consequences of conflict in Colombia, and that it made sound business sense for them to do so.

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