New initiative on children’s rights and nutrition

Norges Bank Investment Management and UNICEF have been collaborating since 2017 on children’s rights in global garment and footwear supply chains (the garment network). This initiative has now been finalized with the publication of a Compendium of company examples to address children’s rights, in addition to last year’s guidance tool.

Given the success and feedback from companies in the garment network, we have decided to continue the collaboration by creating a new initiative focusing on children’s rights and nutrition.

– Children’s rights are a longstanding priority area for our responsible investment work. The rise in unhealthy diets and obesity around the world represents a new and growing challenge for children, families, society, and business alike, says Carine Smith Ihenacho, Chief Corporate Governance and Compliance Officer at Norges Bank Investment Management.

The new nutrition and children’s rights initiative brings together a network of companies in the food retail sector. The network will discuss how to assess the business risks and opportunities related to children’s nutrition, and how to contribute to improved business practices that respect children’s rights to nutrition and health.

– Companies in the food retail sector can be exposed to financial and sustainability risks related to a changing food regulatory environment, public calls to take action and potential shifts in consumer demand. This makes children’s rights to nutrition and health an important next topic for the fund in its continued collaboration with UNICEF”, Ihenacho says.

A selection of companies in which Norges Bank Investment Management has holdings have been invited to join the network. Over the next two years, the ambition is to hold four workshops and develop a guidance tool similar to that of the garment network.

Read UNICEF’s press release here.

Press contact:
Line Aaltvedt
Manager, Media and External Relations
Tel: +47 948 54 656
Email: press@nbim.no