About

Objective

The SME Compass is an online portal of the Helpdesk Business & Human Rights, which aims to make it easier for small and medium-sized companies to implement environmental and human rights due diligence processes along the value chain.

Many small and medium-sized companies are asking themselves: How do I start? And how do I proceed? The SME Compass provides orientation and accompanies its users step by step through the implementation process with concrete instructions, tips and practical help. This service is free of charge and offered in German and English.

Project partners

The SME Compass is offered by the Helpdesk Business & Human Rights in cooperation with the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH - Sector project Corporate and Public Responsibility for Sustainable Supply Chains - on behalf of the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development. 

The Helpdesk Business & Human Rights, a free advisory service for companies, is situated in the Agency for Business & Development (AWE) with the National Action Plan on Business and Human Rights. The service is provided by KfW/DEG Impulse with the support of GIZ. 

With the launch in December 2020, the SME Compass replaces the previous online portal with the same name. Since 2009, the previous SME Compass (in German only), which was developed by the GIZ on behalf of BMZ, had been providing SMEs with information on sustainable procurement.

Acknowledgements

The SME Compass was developed in a consultation process with companies of various sizes and sectors and in cooperation with experts and service providers.

The Helpdesk Business & Human Rights and the sector project Corporate and Public Responsibility for Sustainable Supply Chains would like to thank their partners for the successful collaboration on the launch of the SME Compass:

ITC: Database for Standards Tool

Shift: Consultation Methodology

WBA: Standards Tool Methodology

DIMR: Standards Tool Criteria Catalogue

Adelphi: Concept, Texts, Practical Guides

Talleux & Zöllner: Web Design, Programming, Support

Goldland: UX Design

Dr. Nicole Helmerich: Standards Compass Setup

MediaCompany: Public Relations

Business Scouts for Development: Consultations, Marketing

Ressourcenmangel: Explanatory Videos

Siegelklarheit: Consultation Methodology

Welcome!
Do you have any questions?

Do not hesitate to contact us
by email or call us:
helpdeskwimr@wirtschaft-entwicklung.de +49 (0)30 590099-430

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