As civil society increasingly interacts with private sector actors, this training is an answer to a growing need within civil society actors: developing the internal capacity to engage more effectively and strategically with businesses across a range of settings. Last week, RBConnect conducted a private sector engagement (PSE) training with the European Center for Constitutional and Human Rights (ECCHR) in Berlin.
RBConnect founders Liesbeth Enneking and Manon Wolfkamp, together with Lenka Hora Adema from the VU University Amsterdam, developed and executed a training based on a blend of academic insights and practical, hands-on methods. Simulation exercises, collaborative learning techniques, and engagement with practical experts enabled participants to internalize key concepts and apply them directly to their daily work. Discussions drew on real-world case studies from mechanisms like the OECD National Contact Points and Stakeholder Engagement in line with the OECD Guidelines, bringing theoretical models to life.
The training not only deepened participants’ technical expertise but also sought to foster a reflective dialogue about ECCHR’s role in the broader business and human rights ecosystem.
It was an inspirational setting for RBConnect to conduct this first training on how civil society can engage with the private sector in an age of shrinking civic space and upcoming due diligence legislation. Thanks to Laura Duarte and Cannelle Lavite for inviting us and working with us!
