Responsible Agricultural Investment (RAI) Tool for Agribusiness

The RAI Tool is a Microsoft Excel-based reference tool developed by IISD and Cerise+SPTF to help agribusinesses align their operations with the CFS-RAI Principles and IFC Performance Standards. It focuses on seven dimensions of responsible conduct, ranging from strategy and accountability to financial transparency. The tool is intended as a management and conversation starter rather than a rating system, guiding users through a three-phase assessment process: preparation (including desk reviews), field visits and interviews, and the development of a prioritised action plan to address identified gaps.

• The tool's primary objective is to translate high-level, generic frameworks—specifically the CFS-RAI Principles and the International Finance Corporation (IFC) Performance Standards—into the operational language of business functions and management practices.
• The assessment framework is organised into seven key dimensions: strategy and accountability; inclusive and transparent structure; safe and responsible agriculture and food systems and operations; environmentally sustainable processes and products; responsible treatment of stakeholders; responsible human resource development; and financial transparency and benefit-sharing.
• The tool is structured as an Excel spreadsheet containing five sections: an ID card for agribusiness profiles, scoping questions to filter relevant indicators, a practices section for scoring, an outcomes section for output indicators, and two dashboard tabs for visualising results.
• To ensure objective results and avoid overestimating scores, the guidance recommends a '3P approach' to triangulate evidence using Practice (observation), Paper (documents), and People (interviews).
• The tool is intended as a management instrument to identify gaps and build action plans, not as a rating tool; therefore, the guidance emphasizes that details, nuances, and triangulation are more important than the final numerical score.
• The recommended process for improving business conduct involves identifying gaps (specifically those with scores below 50%), prioritising them based on 'quick wins', strategic alignment, risk management, and local context, and then implementing a detailed action plan with staff ownership and defined timelines.

APA

International Institute for Sustainable Development (2024). Responsible Agricultural Investment (RAI) Tool for Agribusiness. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/2024-07/responsible-agricultural-investment-tool-agribusiness-guidance.pdf

Chicago

International Institute for Sustainable Development. Responsible Agricultural Investment (RAI) Tool for Agribusiness. 2024. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/2024-07/responsible-agricultural-investment-tool-agribusiness-guidance.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=International Institute for Sustainable Development |title=Responsible Agricultural Investment (RAI) Tool for Agribusiness |date=July 2024 |url=https://www.iisd.org/system/files/2024-07/responsible-agricultural-investment-tool-agribusiness-guidance.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{internationalinstituteforsustainabledevelopment2024responsible, author = {{International Institute for Sustainable Development}}, title = {{Responsible Agricultural Investment (RAI) Tool for Agribusiness}}, institution = {International Institute for Sustainable Development}, year = {2024}, month = jul, url = {https://www.iisd.org/system/files/2024-07/responsible-agricultural-investment-tool-agribusiness-guidance.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }