Making a difference

Human rights

Crown Agents:

• supports universal human rights both within the communities in which it operates and within the organisations with which it does business, and will seek to ensure that its activities world-wide are not complicit in human rights abuses; and
• is not involved in the supply or shipment of goods or services where there are clearly identifiable risks of use for acts of internal repression or external aggression that would violate human rights.

Employment standards

Crown Agents:

• promotes equal opportunity for its employees and does not discriminate on grounds of gender, disability, colour, age, race or ethnicity, or marital, social, religious or HIV status;
• upholds freedom of association and the right to collective bargaining;
• operates in complete recognition of employment rights and does not condone unacceptable employee treatment such as child labour, forced labour or any form of harassment;
• provides the safest and healthiest possible workplaces, recognising its responsibility to ensure all reasonable precautions are taken to protect human health and the environment; and
• compensates its employees at a level to enable them to meet at least their basic needs, and complies with relevant equal pay and working hours directives. It provides relevant training and opportunities for employees, and endeavours to assist them to achieve a work-life balance.

Environment and development

Crown Agents:

• is committed to sustainable development, and endeavours to ensure its services achieve improvements in national development targets ;
• encourages the development and use of environmentally friendly technologies within its sphere of influence; and
• takes due account of prior environmental impact assessments for relevant business opportunities.

Stakeholders

Crown Agents:

• demonstrates high standards of corporate governance to its shareholder, the Crown Agents Foundation;
• recognises the value of its employees as a key asset and provides opportunities to improve their skills and capabilities in order to raise their economic and social opportunities;
• aims to be recognised by its clients as a leading partner in their development, by delivering effective results through professional advice, expert training and practical support; and
• promotes fair competition (including respect for intellectual property rights) and is professional, impartial and equitable in its selection and payment of suppliers and contractors, both for its own usage and on behalf of its clients.

Integrity and conduct

Crown Agents:

• does not give or accept bribes or other illegal inducements;
• has no links with any political party and does not make political contributions;
• respects and adheres to laws in countries where it operates;
• is not party to price fixing or other anti-competitive practices.
• is not party to money laundering, insider dealing or tax evasion; and
• complies with trade and financial sanctions imposed by the UN.

Community

Crown Agents:

• makes allocations to the Crown Agents Foundation to further its social and developmental objectives;
• endeavours to partner governments, non-governmental organisations, private companies and local communities to contribute to the empowerment and participation of civil society; and
• supports charities and projects through the Crown Agents Staff Charity Association.