What does the Netherlands Enterprise Agency expect of entrepreneurs?

The Dutch government expects entrepreneurs to follow the OECD guidelines for responsible business conduct. These guidelines help companies address issues such as human rights, working conditions and environmental concerns. RVO informs entrepreneurs about RBC as part of our services and programmes, especially when the risks are high, for example, such as in specific countries or sectors.

The RBC implementation policy

RVO supports Dutch companies in conducting responsible business abroad. Through this support, RVO promotes RBC in the programmes and schemes it implements for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The RBC helpdesk offers entrepreneurs information and customised advice, ensuring that RVO makes a significant contribution to the international ambitions of Dutch businesses. This initiative has a positive impact on people and the environment while creating opportunities for your company. Our RBC implementation policy outlines how RVO accomplishes this.

Starting points and international norms

RVO's implementation policy for international RBC aims to raise knowledge and awareness among companies and partners while also encouraging improvement. The OECD guidelines and the UN Guiding Principles for Business and Human Rights serve as the international standards that underpin this policy, including the implementation strategy.

Conditions for companies  

To qualify for funding or any other form of government support, companies must meet the following conditions on international RBC.

• Companies must declare that they are aware of and will follow the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises on Responsible Business Conduct. This includes implementing the due diligence process to identify potential or actual negative impacts on people and the environment within their operations and value chain. Where necessary, they must address these issues and communicate about them transparently. Companies must inform RVO if new information or circumstances arise that indicate their involvement in wrongdoings, such as human rights violations or environmental damage.
• The government does not support any activities on the FMO exclusion list.

Companies must agree to these terms and have a responsibility to adhere to them. For specific schemes or activities, an RBC scan and reputation check are part of the application process. In this process, companies answer questions on their application of RBC and the due diligence they conduct in their activities. The completed scan or reputation check may lead to further communication with a company. RVO carries out random checks to ensure that companies comply with the established conditions for international RBC. If necessary, RVO can establish improvement process agreements with companies.

RVO aims to raise awareness and facilitate improvements. Occasionally, a company may not yet align with the OECD guidelines but wishes to do so. In these cases, RVO can help.

In extreme situations, RVO may, in consultation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, reject a company’s application or participation based on international RBC conditions.

Focus on RBC in service and activities 

RVO emphasises the importance of RBC in its programmes and activities related to international business or development cooperation. This approach to RBC is tailored to the specific context of each programme or activity and may vary depending on the scheme or programme. As part of this emphasis, RVO may request a risk analysis to identify and limit any potential negative consequences associated with the activity. The extent of this analysis depends on the nature of project and its associated risk profile. When an activity targets a country or sector with a higher risk of negative impacts on people or the environment, RVO will pay specific attention to RBC and may impose stricter requirements on the companies involved.

You can find the specific requirements for each programme on the programme page. These requirements are also outlined in the application procedures. RVO's project adviser can help you with this during the advisory process.