An awareness raising webinar on Germany's new Act on Due Diligence in Supply Chains (DDSC) and how suppliers from Botswana can turn this new challenge into an opportunity.

The UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs), endorsed by the UN Human Rights Council in 2011 created a common understanding of the role businesses can play in promoting the respect for human rights and remedying abuses in the context of business activities. In response to the UNGPs, many governments, Germany included, created National Action Plans on business and human rights and adopted legislation to counter corporate abuses and enhance accountability.

Germany has now adopted the 2021 Act on Due Diligence in Supply Chains (DDSC) which will have tremendous impact on global supply chains that touch the German economy. Businesses must adapt to meet this opportunity and avoid the pitfalls and challenges of failing to comply. The DDSC is intended to universally promote fairness and enhance corporate social responsibility practices by improving human rights and environmental standards in global supply chains.

As of 1 January 2023, the procurement implications for German companies will be far-reaching. Before then, Germany's main supply chains partners overseas must also be prepared to comply.

The webinar will discuss the importance of adapting to the DDSC and address the following questions:

• How does this affect suppliers outside of Germany? What could this law mean for Botswana companies that are already – or wish to become - primary or secondary suppliers to Germany’s manufacturing sector?

• What needs to be done before 2023?

• How can Botswana business turn these new requirements from a challenge into an opportunity?

Opening Speakers:

Ambassador Mmasekgoa Masire-Mwamba

Christoph Kannengießer Chief Executive Officer of the Afrika-Verein

Mr. Simon Wolfe (Moderator) is the Founder and CEO of Marlow Strategy, an international advocacy and campaigns firm based in London. Simon's experience includes working on political, legal, corporate and issue based campaigns in over 40 countries with a particular expertise in emerging and frontier markets.

Discussants:

Mr. Norman Moleele is the Chief Executive Officer of Business Botswana having risen through the ranks and possess senior management experience and capabilities in strategic modelling, leadership, business development (including monitoring and evaluation, training and mentoring), strategy formulation, change management, customer service, stakeholder management and building strategic relationships. Mr. Moleele who holds a Master’s Degree in Strategic Management (University of Derby), Post Graduate Diploma in Law majoring in conciliation and arbitration (University of Namibia), Post Graduate Diploma in Business Administration (Milpark Business School), and Certificate in principles of Business & Management (Wits Business School), is responsible for amongst others; driving the overall strategy, risk and management of Business Botswana focusing on Private Sector growth and Social development, research policy and advocacy, establish international partnership, provision of membership service, business development and contribution to accelerated economic growth agenda for the private sector. Mr Moleele sits on the a number of Boards]

Ms. Mmantlha Sankoloba is currently serving as Chief Executive Officer of Botswana Exporters and Manufacturers Association (BEMA) since 2018, Ms. Sankoloba is also Founder of S.H.E Networks Global and a seasoned HR Practitioner, and an experienced professional with significant track record in executive leadership and real time business practices in the manufacturing and export sector. Ms Sankoloba further serves as President of the OACPS Business Forum; Chairperson of the SACU TWG-Boarder Coordination; Advisory Board Chair, Department of Marketing (University of Botswana); National Steering Committee Chair of Trade Forward Southern Africa; and Co-Chair of the National Reference Group on the Africa Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA)]

Ms. Tebogo T. Mapodisi is currently employed at the Office of the President as Director-Human Rights. Ms. Mapodisi is also a Part Time Lecturer with the University of Botswana (Centre of Continuing Education) where she teaches Business Law and studied at the University of Botswana where she obtained Bachelor of Laws (LLB), and obtained a Masters in Law specialising in Administrative and Constitutional Law at the University of Cape Town. Ms. Mapodisi has published an article in the University of Botswana Law Journal entitled “Ouster clauses, judicial review and the Botswana ombudsman: A need for reform?” Vol. 18 University Of Botswana Law Journal (2014), available at http://journals.ub.bw/index.php/ublj/issue/view/79. She has also authored a book titled “Towards the Establishment of a National Human Rights Institution: Lessons from Zimbabwe and South Africa” (2017), Vision publishers, Gaborone.

Dr. Frank Schauff - Frank has worked in Germany’s and the EU’s top foreign policy environments including the leadership of the Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD) in Berlin. In more than twelve years as CEO of the Association of European Businesses (AEB), the main representative body of foreign investors in Russia, Frank has gathered extensive high-level Eurasian economic and political expertise.]

Ms. Daisy Banda & Ms. Waleria Schule – Daisy is a Senior Consultant at twentyfifty – a leading Business and Human Rights Consultancy based in Lusaka. Daisy is an international and Zambian expert with extensive experience advising twentyfifty’s clients on the implementation of human rights due diligence, including the requirements of the new Supply Chain Act. She has a background in Development Studies and Public Policy working in areas of social research, labour rights in agriculture, child protection/child labour, community development and programming. She has worked across Africa, Europe and South America. Waleria is a Senior business and human rights consultant at twentyfifty based in Berlin. She has advised companies in a wide range of industries on their implementation of human rights due diligence in line with the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights and more recently the German supply chain act. For several years she led twentyfifty’s partnership with the German Global Compact Network.

Botswana - Germany: Supply Chain Due Diligence Webinar