Delivering positive impact in fragile & conflict-affected societies
 

Clients

Our clients consist of:

  • Small, medium and large companies that face particular challenges in high risk markets and fragile states and other businesses interested in in minimizing risks when starting operations or investing in FCS.
  • Institutional investors aiming for meaningful corporate social performance.
  • Public sector actors; governments, academic and international institutions and civil society members seeking evidences on social impact in FCS.

Defining Needs 

We work in close consultation with our clients to define the needs and the specific role in addressing (material) issues, one that clarifies the social value and balances the competing needs and interests from other stakeholders. We offer our clients access to resources, information & knowledge and new markets and practical solutions. Where needed, we help build new partnerships to ensure the solutions we provide are effective and cost-efficient. 

Dealing with Challenges

We assist our clients to deal more comfortably with complex FCS challenges in a way that fits their capacity and ambition. We identify those opportunities and risks which matter most to all stakeholders and help to adopt and adapt new knowledge and processes to create practical solutions capable of responding to the challenges, whether in the field or at headquarters. By taking a holistic approach, we leverage the connections between multi-dimensional social, environmental and other issues so the total risks (including those caused by the COVID-19 pandemic) and their thresholds are fully accounted for.

Shaping Decisionmaking

Our client centric approach helps our clients meet growing demands to create social value and the ability to demonstrate tangible contributions to the Sustainability Development Goals (SDGs). We capture the comprehensive nature of impact by showing the interconnectiveness between security, Human Rights and sustainable development which helps decision-making and prioritizing and reduces the complexities of current methods of measuring and reporting.

We do so by:

  • Developing (corporate) social impact assessments, local materiality analyses and measures for tracking and reporting.
  • Assessing key risks and producing operational guidance for the implementation of risk-informed actions and policies.
  • Building effective multistakeholder partnerships for data collection, analysis and impact validation as well as facilitating client-community engagement.

Past Clients 

In 2022, FCS Impact has been assigned by Interpeace to help design a Peace Financing Impact Framework and new peace bond and equity standards as well as draft exclusionary criteria for peace and conflict sensitive investments supporting various industries and sectors. In 2023, it continues to work together with Interpeace and its partners across government, DFIs, peacebuilding, development, investors and industry to develop a widely recognised and validated Peace Financing Impact Framework.

In 2022, FCS Impact conducted a conflict analysis in support of the development of conflict-sensitive media and communications programming by the BBC MA.  Specifically, the analysis sought to: Map the nature, causes and triggers of the conflict(s) affecting the local Bangladeshi communities in Cox’s Bazar; Identify the key actors that influence these conflicts, exploring their interests, motivations, power and relationships with each other; Understand the dynamics of the conflict(s) including trends and opportunities with the aim to identify what factors and actors could contribute to peace, and how these can be supported.

As part of a joint effort with Bureau Van Dorp, FCS Impact has conducted a mapping exercise on ESG investment and conflict sensitivity. The purpose of the assignment was to identify and map out 20 actors and mechanisms in Environmental, Social and Governance investment that have the ability - both capacity and inluence - to use their leverage for the benefit of conflict and climate sensivity. The outcome will assist International Alert to engage with them on a number of key messaging areas that were identified as part of the research and analysis

From June 2020, FCS Impact has been conducting research and analysis for the UN Business and Human Security Initiative by LSE-Ideas and the UN Trustfund for Human Security, FCS Impact and Bureau Van Dorp produced a paper and policy brief on ESG and SDG impact measurements by businesses operating or investing in Fragile and Conflict-Affected Settings (FCS) which resulted in a framework for collaborative action and innovation and practical guidance that would contribute to responsible and sustainable business conduct in FCS. The framework report presents a model to assist companies and investors work with communities, the UN system and local stakeholders to achieve the SDGs and contribute to peacebuilding in FCS. In January 2022, we published a new report Maximizing business contributions to sustainable development and positive peace, a human security approach.