What are the best practices for promoting sustainability when working abroad?

1 Research the local context

Before you start working abroad, do some research on the local context and culture. Find out what are the main sustainability issues and opportunities in your destination country, and how they relate to your field of work. Learn about the local laws, regulations, norms, and values that affect sustainability. For example, what are the environmental standards and policies, how are human rights and labor rights protected, what are the social and economic challenges and opportunities? This will help you avoid cultural misunderstandings, respect the local community, and align your work with the local sustainability goals.

3 Engage with stakeholders

Working abroad means working with different stakeholders, such as colleagues, clients, partners, suppliers, beneficiaries, and authorities. Engaging with them in a respectful and collaborative way can help you promote sustainability. For example, you can share your knowledge and skills, learn from their perspectives and experiences, listen to their needs and expectations, involve them in decision-making and problem-solving, and seek feedback and improvement. By engaging with stakeholders, you can build trust, mutual understanding, and long-term relationships that support sustainability.

4 Apply sustainability principles

Working abroad also means applying sustainability principles to your work. These principles can guide you to design, implement, and evaluate your work in a way that contributes to sustainability. For example, you can apply the principle of efficiency, which means using resources wisely and avoiding waste. You can also apply the principle of effectiveness, which means achieving your goals and meeting your standards. You can also apply the principle of equity, which means ensuring fair and inclusive distribution of benefits and costs. And you can also apply the principle of resilience, which means adapting to changing conditions and recovering from shocks.

5 Learn and improve

Working abroad is a learning opportunity, not only for your professional development, but also for your sustainability performance. You can learn and improve by reflecting on your actions and outcomes, identifying your strengths and weaknesses, recognizing your successes and failures, and seeking feedback and improvement. You can also learn and improve by exploring new ideas and innovations, experimenting with different approaches and methods, and embracing change and diversity. By learning and improving, you can enhance your sustainability skills and competencies, and increase your positive impact.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?