Terms of Reference of the Due
Process Oversight Committee
1. The GRI Due Process Oversight Committee (DPOC) has been established as anindependent committee under the auspices of GRI and has primary responsibilityfor ensuring that the standard-setting activities of the GRI GSSB are conducted inaccordance with its due process, in order to increase public and stakeholder
confidence that the standards are properly responsive to the public interest.
2. The authoritative pronouncements of the GSSB that are subject to the jurisdictionof the DPOC include GRI Standards and related interpretations.
3. These Terms of Reference set out the nature and remit of the DPOC’sresponsibilities. Changes to these Terms of Reference may only be made with theapproval of the GRI Board of Directors.
4. The DPOC shall comprise four ordinary members, appointed by the Independent
Appointments Committee (IAC). The IAC shall also appoint one additional person
as the Chair of the DPOC. All members shall meet appropriate guidelines ofindependence established by the IAC. A Vice Chair will be chosen by the IAC in
the event of the DPOC Chair cannot chair a meeting. The Vice Chair does not
automatically become the next DPOC Chair upon retirement of the existing Chair.
The Vice Chair will take over the Chair until the next year if the Chair resigns or isincapacitated.
5. Members of the DPOC shall be senior individuals of integrity and high reputation
with an interest in and knowledge of international issues related to sustainability
reporting, including a sound understanding of standard-setting processes, and awillingness to serve the public interest in an independent and unbiased manner.
6. Members of the DPOC shall be appointed for a term of three years, renewableonce for a further term of three years. The Chair of the DPOC shall have theauthority to remove a DPOC member before the end of the term for poor
performance, conflicts of interest, or otherwise not acting in the public interest.
7. The DPOC shall meet twice a year in person, or more often as required in order tosupport the activities of the GSSB.
8. A DPOC meeting shall not be held unless there is a quorum present. “Quorum” isdefined as a simple majority of the complete size of the DPOC.
9. The issuance by the GSSB of a GRI Standard and related interpretations requiresDPOC approval that due process has been followed in their development. The
application of due process by the GSSB will help to ensure that the public interest
is embedded in the development of its standards.
10. The DPOC shall expedite the issuance of urgent interpretations when requestedby the GSSB.

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11. The DPOC shall neither undertake nor consider a technical assessment ofproposed GRI Standards while forming its opinion on the application of due
process by the GSSB. In forming an opinion, the DPOC will primarily rely on direct
observation of the GSSB meetings by one DPOC member (attending in person asan observer) to assess the public interest responsiveness of deliberations and tomake comments or recommendations at that meeting. The due process oversightwill also take account of the reports from the Chair of the GSSB, the Head of theStandards Department and any other entity authorized to communicate with theDPOC under the GSSB Due Process Protocol.
12. Expressing an opinion that the GSSB has respected due process means that theDPOC has concluded that for the GRI Standard under review, all views andsensibilities were discussed and considered by the GSSB. This is the DPOC’s
primary responsibility, insofar as respect for due process will help to ensure thatthe public interest is embedded in the standard development.
13. In addition to forming a view about matters specifically relating to the GSSB’s
development of GRI Standards, the DPOC is to perform an annual review of, andpublish an annual report on, the overall adherence of the GSSB to the applicationof due process in the public interest (including the development of interpretation
related to GRI Standards).
14. The DPOC shall conduct a yearly self-evaluation to evaluate the effectiveness ofits oversight activities.
15. The operations of the DPOC shall be funded solely by the GRI.
16. Expenses for travel and the reimbursement of expenses reasonably incurred on
DPOC business shall be borne by GRI.
17. The DPOC shall post on the GSSB website, on an annual basis, a report on its
activities.

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ANNEX 1 - Constituencies

Constituency

Definition

Business Enterprisea) an enterprise (other than a Mediating or Investment
Institution) that has been established in order to generate aprofit for the benefit of its investors or owners or,b) an organization representing the collective interests ofthose falling into category ‘a’.

Investment Institution

an enterprise that is primarily concerned with the direct orindirect, long-term investment of funds in business - including,but not limited to, asset owners, asset managers,development banks, exchanges, ratings agencies and market
information brokers.

Labor

an organization established independently of employers andgovernments to represent the interests of workers.

Civil Society Organizationan organization established in order to promote or secure apublic good relating to sustainability (environmental, socialand governance) and that does not fall into any of thecategories defined above.

Mediating Institution

an individual or organization that provides goods and/orservices associated with the reporting process and derives
benefit from doing so.

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