To our development partners,

I am pleased to confirm that Training and Technology Transfer Ltd reaffirms its support of the Ten Principles of the United Nations Global Compact in the areas of Human Rights, Labour, Environment, and Anti-Corruption.

In this annual Communication on Progress, we describe our actions to continually improve the integration of the Global Compact and its principles into our business strategy, culture, and daily operations. We also commit to share this information with our stakeholders using our primary channels of communication.

Sincerely and with kind regards,

G. I. A. R. Khan
Executive Director

TTT functions as a development management services provider, focusing on out-country and in-country training, consultancy, and scholarship management for recipients from developing nations. TTT maintains offices, representatives, consultants, training activities, and scholarship placements around the world. As such the issue of human rights was previously not considered to impact as directly on TTT’s work as does the issue of corruption, and no formal policy is in place. Care has always been taken in the care and management of staff, contractors, representatives, scholars, and trainees, and to ensure no complicity in human rights abuses. Although TTT does not have a formal company policy on Human Rights, they have always been a factor in our planning process, as a number of our development projects have focused on providing benefit to at-risk groups such as children, women, and indigenous peoples. Due to the ongoing Covid situation our work has moved almost entirely online, with workshop based training and online seminars being the new operating modalities. As such, the issue of human rights protections has receded even further from our operating environment, and we have halted development on our formal policy.

TTT works constantly to ensure that all staff, contractors, consultants, trainees, and scholars are provided safe and sanitary conditions, for work and study, including the provision of full pastoral care and living support where required. TTT has formally adopted the New Zealand State Services Commission framework policies on Diversity and Inclusion, and Employment Relations. We maintain ISO 9001:2015 certification that includes support of many aspects of basic human rights in the provision of development services, such as pro-active assistance for effected persons. We protect workers, contractors, consultants, trainees, and scholars, from all forms of harassment at places of work, study, and (if relevant) accommodation. TTT maintains a forward focus on gender equity, to prevent discrimination in matters such as pay parity, advancement, and responsibility. We respect the rights of children, in the context of all 42 articles, wherever there is a potential impact in the work that TTT conducts, and we respect the rights of indigenous peoples and persons with disabilities wherever there is a potential impact in our work. TTT’s work has no risk or overlap with activities that may promote or allow human trafficking, especially in the Covid era, with the vast majority of our work now taking place entirely online. Although not part of a formalised process, assessment of potential Human Rights issues and impacts for any development work being planned is discussed, and incorporated into the planning process for new projects.

To date, with no formally written policy other than the SSC frameworks for diversity and employment relations, TTT monitors Human Rights issues and potential impacts on a case-by-case, project-by-project basis. It is intended as part of our forthcoming policy to include monitoring structures and criteria for the objective evaluation of performance, and formal acknowledgement of the first two Principles.

Labour rights for TTT are currently defined through our adoption of the New Zealand State Service Commission’s policy framework on employment relations, and the broader frameworks of labour law for each of the countries in which we operate. These frameworks universally outline the right to freedom of association, elimination of forced labour, elimination of child labour, and employment discrimination. These frameworks, in conjunction with individual employee contracts, also state employee rights and responsibilities, as well as their compensation and benefits. TTT’s goals for labour rights are simply to continue to meet all legal and moral obligations.

As a baseline for the prevention of labour risks and violations TTT implements labour policies in line with the legal requirements of each country, aid agency, and funding body that we work with. In addition, we also maintain the SSC employment relations framework policy, which ensures as core features comparable pay for comparable work, and prevention of discrimination. Grievance mechanisms are incorporated into each project plan that is produced prior to implementation for our clients, and includes 24 hour contacts for all involved parties, as maintained as part of our ISO 9001:2015 project management process. All TTT offices also maintain an ‘open door’ management policy under direction from our Executive. All managers are available to their staff at all times. TTT has not, to date, experienced or had to respond to any labour violations or accusations thereof.

Diversity is inherent to TTT”s working environments, with over half of TTT’s head office employees being female, and local staff making up 100% of the headcount at regional and country offices. TTT maintains a formal monitoring of some employment factors by senior management as part of our ISO 9001:2015 process. A mark of TTT’s high satisfaction among employee’s is the average retention period of nearly 12 years, and low rates of absenteeism.

Working primarily in the development and capacity strengthening sectors, which is largely office and (due to Covid) online classroom based, TTT has a minimal environmental footprint. However, we are currently undergoing certification for ISO 14000, and seek to reduce our environmental footprint through more efficient use of resources and reduction of waste, such as more efficient electricity usage, less paper wastage, etc. Due to the current pandemic situation our reliance on international flights has become nil. Once the pandemic situation is resolved and international travel is once again a core element of our business, we will continue our adherence to the sourcing efficient travel solutions, travel only when required, and the purchase of carbon offsets.

During the ISO 14000 certification process a number of areas of potential improvement have been identified, such as appliance replacement with more efficient alternatives, and active curtailment of waste generating actions wherever feasible. These continue as part of TTT’s systemic and equipment-based changes for ISO 14000 to reduce our impact on the environment, including the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions through power usage reduction, more efficient international flights (once international travel resumes), and the reduction of resource usage through more efficient office practices.

Measurement of outcomes will be based on a comparison of the issues identified in the ISO 14000 certification process (ongoing), against the changes that have been implemented during this period.

Anti-corruption is a hugely important aspect of TTT’s development management business. Many of the countries where TTT operates have serious problems with government and civil corruption, and TTT has many times lost out on contracted work through the corrupt practices of government officials and other operators. TTT itself has a zero-tolerance approach to corruption, and ensures that all staff know this through repeated instruction, and that our attitude to corrupt practices is publicly known.

TTT ensures that all staff are aware of the strict stance TTT has toward corrupt practices and activities. Corruption risks are identified during each project planning phase, in order to mitigate risks while preparing and implementing project activities. External audits are conducted annually, against (among other facets) the anti-corruption practices documented in our ISO 9001:2015 process. Internally our financial system is managed to a very tight degree, preventing the misuse of funds, and our records are managed externally by our accountant firm: Grant Thornton.

Anti-corruption monitoring is simple; if any corruption is detected by staff, raised by third parties, the external ISO audit, or through the administration and monitoring of Grant Thornton, the matter would immediately be referred to the Executive Director. No incident requiring this attention has occurred to date.