Responsible Business Helpdesk Türkiye

The sustainability and human rights and environmental due diligence (HREDD) regulations that have entered into force across the European Union (EU) are raising companies’ responsibilities to identify, prevent, and address human rights and environmental impacts throughout their supply chains. In this transformation process, the Responsible Business Helpdesk (RBH) Network, established by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) with the support of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), has evolved into a global support network guiding local businesses in various regions of the world.

RBH Türkiye was established in 2024 under the auspices of TÜRKONFED as the national hub of this global network. Designed to inform and assist Turkish companies, particularly exporters to the EU market, on HREDD obligations, RBH Türkiye aims not only to share information but also to promote a culture of sustainable and responsible business conduct through local expertise and guidance.

Collaboration Between Minerva BHR and RBH Türkiye

Under GIZ’s IGS Programme, Minerva BHR served as the local technical backstopping consultant throughout the establishment and development of RBH Türkiye. 

Working in close coordination with GIZ and TÜRKONFED, the Minerva team led the development of the centre’s strategic framework, the establishment of its knowledge infrastructure, and the definition of its service standards. Throughout the project, RBH Türkiye’s advisory capacity, operational processes, and communication networks were shaped through Minerva’s technical support.

Training and Knowledge Sharing

One of RBH Türkiye’s most visible activities has been its awareness-raising and training initiatives. In-person workshops led by Minerva in Bursa, Kocaeli, Denizli and Istanbul brought together businesses, sector representatives, trade unions and civil society organizations. These sessions explored the key steps of HREDD, the implications of EU legislation for Turkish supply chains, and the relationship between sustainability and competitiveness. Additionally, the Model Supplier Contract Clauses developed by Responsible Contracting Project were translated into Turkish and shared with suppliers operating in the textile and automotive sectors during a practical seminar held in collaboration with the Fair Wear Foundation. This initiative represented an important step in promoting the integration of human rights, labour conditions, and environmental standards into contractual relationships between buyers and suppliers, thereby strengthening a culture of fairness and shared responsibility across supply chains.

RBH Türkiye also launched an online training platform featuring online modules delivered by expert trainers on topics such as;

• human rights impact assessment, 
• grievance and feedback mechanisms, 
• stakeholder engagement and reporting, 
• circular economy and carbon management, and
• responsible contracting and model supplier clauses

Moreover, the web-based modules available on the online training platform offered an open and interactive learning experience for participants who could not attend in-person sessions or wished to gain a deeper understanding of HREDD processes.

The localization, content development, and quality assurance processes of all online, in-person, and web-based trainings were coordinated by Minerva. The training materials were adapted from the European RBH Network resources and redesigned to reflect the dynamics of the Turkish business context. Terminology standardization and content review were carried out by Minerva, ensuring the creation of an accessible and context-specific knowledge base aligned with Türkiye’s legal and sectoral framework.

​Self-Assessment Tool

Within the scope of RBH Türkiye, Minerva developed a HREDD Self-Assessment Tool enabling companies to measure their progress in implementing human rights and environmental due diligence processes. 

The tool provided each participating company with insights into its strengths, areas for improvement and priority actions. 

Designed by Minerva, the tool represents one of the first systematic approaches to measuring HREDD awareness and implementation among Turkish enterprises.

Translated and Localized Resources

A wide range of international documents were translated into Turkish and complemented with explanatory notes tailored to the local context for publication in RBH Türkiye’s Knowledge Centre. All translation, content review, and terminology standardisation processes were carried out by Minerva.

Within this scope:

• The German Supply Chain Due Diligence Act (LkSG), relevant BAFA guidance documents, the EU Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD), and the EU Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) were translated into Turkish.
• Information notes prepared by the RBH Network on the CSDDD, CSRD, the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), and the EU Strategy for Sustainable and Circular Textiles were also translated.
• Legal frameworks and international conventions on corporate sustainability, human rights, and environmental compliance were compiled in RBH Türkiye’s knowledge centre, accompanied by explanatory materials designed for companies.
• To support a clear and consistent understanding of the HREDD concept within the Turkish business community, a comprehensive “HREDD Glossary” was developed, standardising key concepts and terminology.

These resources have enhanced access to international regulations, guidance documents, and good practices on HREDD in Turkish, positioning RBH Türkiye as a comprehensive information and reference hub for responsible business conduct.

Lasting Impact: The Sustainable Future of RBH Türkiye

In the final stage of the project, Minerva developed a sustainability concept and business model to ensure RBH Türkiye’s long-term institutional viability. 

The model aimed to transform the centre into a permanent service unit within TÜRKONFED, moving beyond a temporary project structure and positioning it as an institutional actor in Türkiye’s business and human rights landscape.