How can you ensure your supply chain is resilient in times of social unrest?

Social unrest can disrupt your supply chain and affect your business performance, reputation, and social impact. Whether it is caused by political turmoil, civil conflict, human rights violations, or environmental issues, social unrest can pose serious risks to your suppliers, customers, and stakeholders. How can you ensure your supply chain is resilient in times of social unrest? Here are some tips to help you plan, monitor, and respond effectively.

1 Assess your exposure

The first step is to assess your exposure to social unrest in your supply chain. Identify the countries, regions, and sectors that are most vulnerable to social instability and violence. Evaluate the potential impact of social unrest on your operations, logistics, quality, costs, and delivery. Consider the direct and indirect effects of social unrest on your suppliers, customers, and communities. Use tools such as risk maps, scenario analysis, and stakeholder engagement to assess your exposure and prioritize your actions.

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Thomas Le Cardinal 🌍✨

Sustainable Mobility Expert @Crédit Mutuel Alliance Fédérale 🎓 MBA ESG 🃏 Climate Fresk & Digital Collage 🌎 Team for the Planet 💚 Shifters
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Pour rendre la chaîne d’appro résiliente en cas de troubles sociaux, il faut suivre les étapes suivantes : - cartographier sa chaîne d’approvisionnement - évaluer la résilience de ses fournisseurs - diversifier la chaîne d’appro aux endroits les plus fragiles - surveiller les signes avant-coureurs

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Shaban K. Ramadhan

Socio-Economic Researcher | Data Analyst | M&E, Resource Mobilization & Data Management Expert. 10+ yrs Exp In Quantitative & Qualitative Data Management & Analysis. (SPSS, STATA, NVIVO, KOBO, ODK & Microsoft Office).
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From my experience, it is always advisable to track signals of social unrest and establish contingency measures to manage potential disruptions.

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Raquel Hernaez Ruiz

HR Business Partner/Talent Management/Culture Transformation/ Wellbeing Corporate
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Para realizar un buen diagnóstico de cómo los disturbios sociales en diferentes regiones pueden afectar directa o indirectamente tu cadena de suministro, es importante tener en cuenta aspectos como: identificar áreas o elementos críticos que podrían ser vulnerables a interrupciones debido a disturbios sociales, realizar un análisis geopolítico para comprender las tendencias y conflictos, revisión y evaluación de proveedores, determinar el impacto que estos podrían ocasionar en tu operativa e identificar dependencias críticas en tu cadena de suministros que te ayuden a comprender y detectar puntos de vulnerabilidad y áreas donde necesitas desarrollar estrategias de mitigación o planes de contingencia.

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2 Build your capacity

The second step is to build your capacity to cope with social unrest in your supply chain. Develop a contingency plan that outlines your response strategies, roles, and responsibilities in case of a crisis. Establish a crisis management team that can coordinate and communicate effectively with your internal and external stakeholders. Train your staff and suppliers on how to handle emergency situations and protect themselves and others. Invest in alternative sources, routes, and modes of transportation that can reduce your dependency on vulnerable areas.

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Debbie Haski-Leventhal

Purpose Leader | Inspirational speaker | Best-selling author | Awarded Professor of CSR | MBA Director | TED Speaker
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While many companies consider business continuity in times of natural or other disasters, it is also critical to consider how they can help. A recent article we published in Disasters showed that some companies are doing it better than others. Those with a strategic approach to disaster management work with all their stakeholders, engage their employees, work through all disaster phases and do it from a moral motivation. Consider how you can leverage your corporate assets and strengths to help in all different stages of disasters.

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3 Engage your stakeholders

The third step is to engage your stakeholders in addressing the root causes and consequences of social unrest in your supply chain. Collaborate with your suppliers, customers, and local communities to understand their needs, concerns, and expectations. Support their efforts to improve their social and environmental conditions, such as by providing fair wages, safe working conditions, and community development programs. Join forces with other businesses, NGOs, and governments to advocate for social justice, human rights, and peacebuilding initiatives.

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Raquel Hernaez Ruiz

HR Business Partner/Talent Management/Culture Transformation/ Wellbeing Corporate
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Para involucrar a tus stakeholder se pueden utilizar varias estrategias como, mantener líneas de comunicación abiertas y transparentes y convocar reuniones recurrentes para buscar puntos de colaboración y acciones de mejora realizando una evaluación conjunta de riesgos. Otras como la elaboración de planes de contingencia, diseñar planes de formación para los empleados para capacitarlos ante posibles disturbios y actuar proactivamente y participar en iniciativas de sostenibilidad para abordar la causas subyacentes, entre otras...

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4 Monitor your performance

The fourth step is to monitor your performance and progress in managing social unrest in your supply chain. Establish a set of indicators and metrics that can measure your exposure, impact, and response to social unrest. Collect and analyze data from various sources, such as surveys, audits, reports, and feedback. Use dashboards, scorecards, and reports to track and communicate your performance and progress. Review and update your plans and actions regularly based on the changing situation and stakeholder feedback.

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5 Learn from your experience

The fifth step is to learn from your experience and improve your practices in dealing with social unrest in your supply chain. Identify the lessons learned and best practices from your own and others' experiences. Share your insights and knowledge with your staff, suppliers, customers, and partners. Incorporate your learnings into your policies, procedures, and standards. Seek feedback and suggestions from your stakeholders on how to enhance your resilience and sustainability.

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6 Foster your culture

The sixth step is to foster a culture of corporate social responsibility (CSR) that can help you prevent and mitigate social unrest in your supply chain. CSR is the commitment of businesses to act ethically and responsibly towards their stakeholders and society. By adopting CSR principles and practices, you can align your business goals with the social and environmental needs of your supply chain. You can also build trust, loyalty, and reputation among your stakeholders and customers. You can also inspire and motivate your staff and suppliers to share your vision and values.

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Angela Penteado

Transformation Change Manager | Facilitator of Change I Team Culture & Capability Builder I Communications Manager I Leadership Development Facilitator I Executive Results Mindset Coach
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I agree that each employer has a social responsibility to engage and communicate warmly and regularly with their team members. As a communication manager I’ve worked on strategies that include video for learning and awareness, newsletters and roadshows that engage key stakeholders weekly or monthly. Building a culture where people feel comfortable and confident is a mark of an authentic culture.

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7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?

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Claudio d'ALELIO MARESCOTTI

Superviseur Général chez OFEACT -Observatoire Financier Européen Antimafia et Contre-Terrorisme ☆EspaceSchengen☆
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La présence sur le territoire du COT (Criminalité Organisée Transnationale).En effet leurs présences est un facteur, souvent, d’emplification des troubles sociales.L’objectif des COT est d’assumer le rôle, en toute discrétion, de ’’ Corps intermédiaire ’’ pour recevoir un avantage financier ou politique de la part des entreprises sous tension sociales.

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How can you ensure your supply chain is resilient in times of social unrest?

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

1 Assess your exposure

2 Build your capacity

3 Engage your stakeholders

4 Monitor your performance

5 Learn from your experience

6 Foster your culture

7 Here’s what else to consider

Corporate Social Responsibility

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How can you ensure your supply chain is resilient in times of social unrest?

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

1 Assess your exposure

2 Build your capacity

3 Engage your stakeholders

4 Monitor your performance

5 Learn from your experience

6 Foster your culture

7 Here’s what else to consider

Corporate Social Responsibility

Rate this article

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