National action plans on business and human rights

: implications for human rights in sub-Saharan Africa - comparative research of Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda

Abstract

In 2011, the United Nations Human Rights Council endorsed the Guiding Principles for Business and Human Rights: Implementing the "Protect, Respect, and Remedy framework. This framework aims at addressing governance and other gaps that permeate business and human rights both at the international and national levels. However, the extent of this framework in bringing about positive human rights outcomes, particularly norm-consistent behaviours by stakeholders, was unknown. Further, effective measures for its implementation were equally lacking both at national and international levels.

Therefore, using a qualitative, comparative, and socio-legal approach this research examined the national action plans on business and human rights: implications for human rights in Sub-Saharan Africa. I conducted comparative research in Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda to understand their business and human rights conditions and causative factors. This comparison was important to understand how these states are negotiating their respective action plans for business and human rights.

I drew upon the General Theory of Human Rights Planning developed by Azadeh Chalabi in the grounding of this research, and particularly in the elaboration of the framework for business and human rights action plans in Sub-Saharan Africa, developed in chapter 9. The foundation of this framework comprises six factors that the research found to explain business and human rights conditions in Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda. These factors include participation and inclusion, political influence, power-relations, institutional alignment, colonial legacies, and informal economy.

The framework for business and human rights action plans provides a foundation for business and human rights action planning, especially in Sub-Saharan Africa. At the beginning of this research, human rights frameworks with precision for the grounding of action plans for business and human rights especially in conditions such as those prevailing in Sub-Saharan Africa, were lacking. This issue was more pronounced in developing countries. However, the framework for business and human rights action plans addresses this gap, thus providing the necessary tools for business and human rights action planning for planners, international organizations, and civil society.

Last but not least, this framework also provides for business and human rights research, academic scholars, and practitioners.

Date of Award	Jul 2023
Original language	English
Sponsors	Department for the Economy
Supervisor	Anne Smith (Supervisor), Rory O'Connell (Supervisor) & Charles O'Sullivan (Supervisor)