From Commitment to Action: Reporting on the Nairobi Declaration

Background 

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The Nairobi Declaration on Business and Human Rights, adopted on 10 October 2024 in Nairobi, Kenya, is a landmark continental framework reaffirming Africa’s commitment to remedy, reparations, and responsible business conduct. Rooted in Agenda 2063 and aligned with the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs), the Declaration responds to Africa’s unique challenges, including climate change, digitalisation, supply chains, and the just energy transition.

One year on, the Declaration remains a living framework guiding states, businesses, civil society, and National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs) in translating commitments into practice through National Action Plans (NAPs), grievance mechanisms, corporate due diligence, and regional cooperation. This session will serve as a rapporteur-style update—highlighting progress achieved, persistent challenges, and pathways for accelerating action.

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Framing in Line with Forum Theme

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The African Business and Human Rights Forum 2025 is convened under the theme “From Commitment to Action: Advancing Remedy, Reparations, and Responsible Business Conduct in Africa.”

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This session is central to that theme: it tracks the journey from commitment (Nairobi Declaration 2024) to implementation and measurable impact in 2025. By placing remedy and reparations at the core, the session will test whether Africa’s BHR agenda is delivering tangible results for communities, workers, and vulnerable groups—and identify concrete steps to close the action gap between policy and lived realities.

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Key Objectives

 

The session aims to:

• Take stock of progress since adoption of the Nairobi Declaration.

• Highlight achievements, challenges, and lessons across stakeholder groups.

• Spotlight how commitments on remedy, reparations, and protection of vulnerable groups are being operationalised.

• Provide a platform for multi-stakeholder dialogue between civil society, trade unions, business, and NHRIs.

• Generate concrete recommendations to feed into the Forum’s closing session and guide follow-up actions.. 

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Guiding Question

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• Civil Society: How have civil society actors advanced remedy and reparations for communities impacted by business-related harms? What lessons emerge from advocacy, monitoring, or litigation?

• Trade Unions: What role are unions playing in ensuring effective remedies for workers in evolving industries and supply chains, including within just transitions?

• Employers: How are employers’ federations supporting companies, especially MSME’s, in implementing commitments on remedy and reparations? What role do they play in fostering social dialogue and practical solutions on remedy?

• Business: How are businesses moving from compliance to leadership in supporting remedy and reparations? What innovations in due diligence and grievance mechanisms can be shared?

• NHRI: How are NHRIs and regional institutions closing accountability gaps and ensuring transparency in remedy processes?

• Government: How have governments advanced implementation of National Action Plans (NAPs) on business and human rights, especially regarding access to effective remedy? What measures ensure these NAPs remain dynamic and responsive?

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Expected Outcomes

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• A rapporteur’s update on the Nairobi Declaration capturing:

  • Achievements and progress since adoption

  • Persistent gaps and structural challenges

  • Stakeholder-specific recommendations for accelerated action

• A consolidated input to the Forum’s closing session, serving as a benchmark for accountability.

• Enhanced visibility of the Nairobi Declaration as a continental reference point for remedy, reparations, and responsible business conduct in Africa.

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Speakers 

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• ​Civil Society Representative  –  Mr. Humphrey Katebe, Civil Society

• Trade Union Representative  –  Ms. Boitumelo Tsotets, Trade Union

• Business Sector Representative  –  Dr. Wilson Odiyo, Corporate Affairs Director, Eastern Produce Regional Services (EPRS)

• Employer Federation Representative  –  Mr. George Tamale, Senior Adviser, Federation of Uganda Employers (FUE) and IOE Representative

• NHRI Representative  –  Mr. Abdi Jibril (PhD), Commissioner, Ethiopian Human Rights Commission (EHRC)

• Government Representative  –  Ms. Mary Nartey, the Director of Human Rights at CHRAJ and the Co-Chair of the NAP Steering Committee 

• Moderator  –  Prof. Damilola Olawuyi, Chairperson, UN Working Group on Business and Human Rights