New guidance on meaningful stakeholder engagement for the agrifood sector
1 July
Meaningful stakeholder engagement (MSE) is foundational to effective human rights and environmental due diligence – and one of the most practically challenging areas for companies to get right, particularly in complex, high-risk agrifood supply chains.
New guidance published in May 2026 addresses that challenge directly.
Meaningful Stakeholder Engagement: Practical guidance for companies in the agriculture and food manufacturing sector was led by Oxfam Novib and co-developed with ETI, AIM-Progress, amfori, Ethical Trade Sweden, Fair Labor Association, and the Food Network for Ethical Trade, with input from trade unions, companies, civil society, and rightsholders throughout.
This substantial and carefully structured resource is organised around the key questions of who to engage, how, and when. It sets out what true engagement looks like in practice: safe, respectful, ongoing dialogue where the perspectives of workers, farmers, and communities actually shape company decisions and contribute to better outcomes.
The guidance aligns with the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights and the OECD Guidelines, and is designed to support companies preparing for legislation including CSDDD. Alongside the main document, a tools annex and knowledge annex provide practical support – including a stakeholder mapping tool, a checklist, and an impact tracking tool — for companies at different stages of maturity.
The full guidance is available in English and Spanish at the link below, alongside both annexes.
