Engaging Leading Human Rights Experts

GTE and renowned business and human rights experts Shift first collaborated in 2019 to identify and work to address human rights issues related to GTE’s business operations and value chain. Shift is the leading centre of expertise on the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs). The nonprofit organization at one point was chaired by the late John Ruggie who authored the Guiding Principles during his mandate as the UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative on Business & Human rights.

Shift introduced GTE staff to a methodology for effectively assessing human rights risks. Shift also facilitated discussions with GTE’s management, corporate responsibility personnel and other field staff at the Company’s operations sites in Colombia and Ecuador, in order to build additional capacity within the Company for managing human rights issues.

With operations in Ecuador currently growing, in 2023 and 2024, the Company carried out training led by Shift, on the standards of the Guiding Principles of Human Rights and Business. This training workshop was attended by supply chain partners, government officials and civil society organizations. In 2023, the Company also held a session with 19 local supply chain partners in Lago Agrio, communicating its Human Rights Policy, operating philosophy, and the requirements to apply its corporate policies and contractual clauses that speak to the respect and protection of Human Rights.

The partnership between Shift and GTE continues today. Gran Tierra is one of 18 companies that participate in Shift’s Business Learning program, which was designed to support companies that are committed to working to fulfill their responsibility to respect Human Rights. In order to qualify for the program, participants must meet the following criteria:

  • Evidence of high-level commitment to business and Human Rights
  • Demonstrated organizational capacity to drive the implementation process
  • Support for the broader, mission-driven learning approach
  • Coherence with Human Rights principles

“Partnering with Shift has been a game-changer for us at Gran Tierra Energy. We are committed as a company to integrate the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights in our business and this partnership has allowed us to take our focus on human rights to the next level. We are grateful to continue to work with the Shift team, and look forward to their guidance and expertise in order to become a human rights leader in our industry and in support of Colombia and Ecuador.””
Sustainable Sucumbíos
Gran Tierra Energy’s flagship Ecuador social investment project Sustainable Sucumbíos, in partnership with the Ministry of Agriculture, focuses on transforming agricultural processes to make them more profitable and sustainable. GTE has invested US$3.3 million over four years, which has directly benefited local families in Ecuador, by improving agricultural productivity and increasing household income through agricultural […]
Preventing Child Recruitment in Putumayo
Gran Tierra Energy, the FC Barcelona Foundation, Colombia’s Agency for Reincorporation and Normalization (ARN) and the World Vision International Foundation, continue their strategic alliance to increase resilience in vulnerable children and reduce their susceptibility to two important Human Rights concerns in the area: substance abuse and militia recruitment. Financed by GTE, the program is implemented […]
Addressing Legacy Threats to Human Safety
One of the most significant Human Rights threats throughout Colombia is the prevalence of anti-personnel mines and other explosive devices that are an unfortunate legacy of the decades-long conflict in the country. To address this risk in southern Putumayo where the Company undertakes exploration and development activities, GTE launched a Humanitarian Demining Pilot Project in […]
Protecting Human Rights in Ecuador
As a new operator in a country, Gran Tierra must contend with industry legacy impacts that the region may have had. While it is a new company for local Ecuadorian populations in the Sucumbíos province, Gran Tierra’s international experience as a responsible business partner has prepared it well to meaningfully engage communities and manage Human […]
Supporting Colombia’s Reintegration and Reincorporation Efforts
A number of GTE’s efforts are focused on supporting the Colombian government’s reintegration of ex-combatants back into Colombian society. The dynamics of post-conflict situations are complex, but the objective is simple: to support the country’s efforts at achieving lasting peace. Creating economic opportunities is one of the critical issues facing the reintegration of 13,000 ex-combatants […]
Strengthening Human Rights Throughout the Supply Chain
Gran Tierra Energy is committed to operating at the highest level of responsible business conduct, through the adherence and application of the highest Human Rights and Business international standards, as well as in strict compliance with the legislation of the countries where the company operates. The Company creates and ensures a non-discriminatory and respectful work […]
Supporting our Stakeholders with Human Rights Training
One of the main pillars of GTE’s Human Rights work involves integrating its policies and concepts into its business. This effort requires extensive training with internal stakeholders to ensure they understand and adhere to the Company’s policies which are designed to protect rights. This includes: Training sessions for a variety of external stakeholders focus on […]