Accountability Framework revisions coming in 2025
6 March 2025
Updated guidance provides new clarity on company action on responsible supply chains
In 2023, the AFi initiated a process of updating the Accountability Framework, which was first published in 2019. The Framework is a practical roadmap for achieving commodity supply chains that are protective of forests, other natural ecosystems, and the rights of Indigenous Peoples, local communities, and workers.
The overall goal of the Framework updates is to provide more clarity for companies and other stakeholders to help accelerate progress towards responsible supply chains. More specifically, the updates aim to incorporate recent learnings and innovations, and improve the user-friendliness of the resources. Revisions also seek to address ‘live’ issues where lack of clarity or alignment may impede progress on responsible supply chains. The updates also provide stronger linkages to new laws, mandates, and trends, such as EU regulations, climate and nature frameworks, and disclosure expectations.
The revisions build on the existing Framework and retain its main positions to provide continuity for users. This allows companies following the Framework to continue to act with confidence knowing that their actions are in line with consensus-based good practices.
The AFi’s approach to updates
Decisions to revise sections of the Framework are informed by user feedback as well as broader dynamics related to the Framework’s topical scope, which spans deforestation, natural ecosystem conversion, and human rights abuses associated with agricultural and forestry commodity supply chains.
New and updated guidance is developed through a process of research, consultation with companies and other stakeholder groups, and the outcomes of discussions with AFi technical working groups. Before publication, all Framework documents are reviewed by to full the AFi Coalition of environmental and human rights organisations and approved according to the AFi’s governance.
Revised guidance releasing in 2025
As part of the Framework updating process, this year we are developing and rolling out a series of new and updated Operational Guidance documents. As described in the AFi’s Policy on Revisions to the Accountability Framework, all revised documents incorporate user and stakeholder input, and reflect the consensus of the full AFi Coalition.
Based on this policy, we are conducting a formal public consultation on a subset of these updates. Topics included in the public consultation process are ones that incorporate significant new content or additional details on the current issues of greatest interest to Framework users and AFi stakeholders. This consultation is taking place during the first quarter of 2025.