For more than a decade, Fafo's research into responsible business has focused on business practice in its regulatory and social context, through scholarly and applied research and through an active engagement with business, government and civil society.
Fafo researchers play leading roles in the fields of business and human rights, corruption, and social assessments of business impacts. Fafo's research has contributed to the development of international norms regarding business performance - including the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, the OECD Guidance for conflict minerals - and helped to understand how states are fulfilling their duties in the areas of business and human rights and decent work.
Economies of Conflict
Human rights abuse and conflict financing activities are often widespread in the informal economies which characterize conflict and post-conflict areas. Warlords, political elites and business may all be involved in such activities, which can harm ordinary citizens, undermine socio-economic development, help to sustain ongoing conflict and increase the likelihood of future conflict. Fafo researchers are members of international research networks on the issue of business in conflict and have advised member states and the United Nations on approaches to companies in conflict zones.
Decent Work
Fafo has long been a leading source of knowledge about on the Norwegian labour market, including including on issues such as social dumping, labour market criminality and the challenges of European economic integration. Building on this tradition, Fafo is a founding member of the Just Jobs Nework and developer of the JustJobs IndexJustJobs Index, whcih promotes the examination and comparison of different countries’ ability to create and sustain JustJobs.
Legal Cultures and Corruption
Fafo's research into legal cultures addresses the links between low-level corruption and informal practice in transition countries. The research focuses on the attitudes and behaviour of ordinary citizens and legal professionals towards law, including the making, implementing and enforcing of the law and how these processes respond to external influences. Fafo's work seeks to understand how institutions in transitional and post-conflict states actually work and aims to contribute to enhancing the effectiveness of anti-corruption and human rights protections.
Economies of Conflict
Human rights abuse and conflict financing activities are often widespread in the informal economies which characterize conflict and post-conflict areas. Warlords, political elites and business may all be involved in such activities, which can harm ordinary citizens, undermine socio-economic development, help to sustain ongoing conflict and increase the likelihood of future conflict. Fafo researchers are members of international research networks on the issue of business in conflict and have advised member states and the United Nations on approaches to companies in conflict zones.
Decent Work
Fafo has long been a leading source of knowledge about on the Norwegian labour market, including including on issues such as social dumping, labour market criminality and the challenges of European economic integration. Building on this tradition, Fafo is a founding member of the Just Jobs Nework and developer of the JustJobs IndexJustJobs Index, whcih promotes the examination and comparison of different countries’ ability to create and sustain JustJobs.
Legal Cultures and Corruption
Fafo's research into legal cultures addresses the links between low-level corruption and informal practice in transition countries. The research focuses on the attitudes and behaviour of ordinary citizens and legal professionals towards law, including the making, implementing and enforcing of the law and how these processes respond to external influences. Fafo's work seeks to understand how institutions in transitional and post-conflict states actually work and aims to contribute to enhancing the effectiveness of anti-corruption and human rights protections.
