As part of its ongoing development, the Risk Information Alliance (RIA) has developed a joint assessment Framework for producing country risk assessments related to sustainability topics. It builds on earlier work carried out by RIA members, including the recent pilot assessment on rubber production in Indonesia. The Framework brings together a methodology for developing assessments and a structured set of sustainability indicators.

The methodology defines the process and steps used to produce RIA country risk assessments and includes elements that address credibility and transparency. It outlines how information should be collected, evaluated and documented during the assessment process.

The Framework also includes sustainability indicators organised under themes and criteria. The indicators cover a range of sustainability topics, including:

  • Land rights and third parties’ rights
  • Management activities and environmental protection
  • Ecosystem conversion, degradation and High Conservation Value (HCV) protection
  • Human rights
  • Labour rights
  • Economic and trade conditions

RIA country assessments describe the context of a given country by compiling relevant legislation, explaining the legal framework, and presenting an overview of the situation on the ground. This includes information drawn from local actors and a range of written sources, such as reports, studies, and articles.

For each indicator, the Framework provides guidance and thresholds to support the evaluation and determination of risk levels.

About the public consultation

RIA is now launching a focused public consultation on the draft assessment Framework. Stakeholder feedback is an important part of the development process and helps ensure the Framework is robust, credible, and practical to apply.

Although the Framework is not a certification standard, the risk assessments developed through it will be used within the systems of RIA member organisations. These systems rely on a risk-based approach that requires credible and well-documented country assessments for system users, including auditors, certificate holders, members, and accreditors.

Given the importance of reliable risk assessments in these systems, the Framework is being developed in line with recognised good practices for stakeholder engagement. The consultation process follows the ISEAL Code of Good Practice for Sustainability Systems, which encourages open participation and transparency in system development.

The consultation period will remain open until 15 April 2026.

Feedback sought

RIA is particularly interested in stakeholder feedback on the following elements of the Framework:

  • Methodology
    • Whether the methodology for developing assessments is robust and credible.
  • Indicators
    • Whether the indicators are comprehensive, clear, and useful.
    • Suggestions for additional topics or alternative grouping, order, or formulation.
  • Guidance and thresholds
    • Whether the guidance and thresholds are clear, robust, and practical to apply.
    • Suggestions for approaches that could strengthen the assessment of specific topics.
  • Risk screening
    • Whether the indices used for risk screening are reliable and appropriate.
    • Suggestions for indices that could cover topics not yet included.
    • Suggestions for alternative ways to conduct rapid screening at country or topic level.
  • Output format
    • Whether the current output format, which presents findings in a large table, is clear and practical.
    • Suggestions for formats that could improve the usability and uptake of country assessments.

Who can participate?

The consultation is open to a broad range of stakeholders, including:

  • Economic actors, such as plantation owners or managers, land tenure or use-rights holders, industry representatives, and participants in sustainability assurance or certification systems.
  • Social actors, including local and national NGOs, workers’ organisations and labour unions, as well as representatives of local communities or Indigenous and Traditional Peoples.
  • Environmental actors, such as environmental NGOs, associations, and representatives of local communities or Indigenous and Traditional Peoples.
  • Other stakeholders, including national bodies, RIA member organisations, certification bodies, and assurance service providers, government and enforcement agencies, and research institutions.

Following the consultation period, the RIA Framework will be made publicly available as an open resource. It is intended to support risk-based sustainability approaches, beginning with the RIA members’ own assurance systems, and to serve as a knowledge base for organisations developing similar country risk assessments.

If you are interested in contributing feedback on the Framework, please register here to receive the consultation package and participate.

For more information and comment, please contact:

Nicolas Viart | SBP 
Cell: +44 7527 300 443 
Mail: nviart@sbp-cert.org

Chloé Viala | Preferred by Nature 
Cell: +33 633 34 17 25
Mail: cv@pbn.org