Framework Glossary
An interactive glossary of all core APA Framework terms, concepts, and tools. Use the search to find exactly what you need.
Core Principles
APA Framework
A holistic, integrated philosophy and operational model for building authentic, trust-based partnerships in Africa, centered on the four pillars of DEI, Business as Engine, Trust, and Accountability.
DEI as Litmus Test
The core principle that the authenticity of a partnership is measured by how deeply diverse voices are included and genuinely empowered in decision-making processes.
Business as Engine
The principle that core business practices, not peripheral philanthropy or CSR, are the most powerful and sustainable drivers of positive social impact and shared value.
Building Trust
The foundational principle that long-term, patient investment in relationships is the essential prerequisite for creating resilient and successful partnerships.
Accountability Architecture
The set of formal, co-created mechanisms (like GRMs, participatory M&E, and joint governance bodies) that ensure mutual accountability between all partners.
Key Concepts
The measurable business advantage (including reduced risk, stronger brand loyalty, improved access to capital, and enhanced innovation) gained from genuine, trust-based stakeholder relationships.
Shared Value
The concept that corporate success and social well-being are interdependent. A business creates shared value by identifying and addressing social problems that intersect with its business.
Social License to Operate (SLO)
The ongoing acceptance or approval of a company’s operations by its local community and other stakeholders. Authentic partnership is the most effective means of securing a stable SLO.
Business Integration
The degree to which social impact and community partnership are embedded within core business strategy, operations, and P&L, rather than being siloed in a separate department.
Community Power
The extent to which community members are not just consulted but are active co-creators, co-owners, and decision-makers in an initiative, with shared power in governance.
From Risk to Resilience
The APA concept that proactively addressing social and trust-related risks through authentic partnership is the most effective long-term strategy for building business resilience.
Roadmap Stages
Diagnostic Phase
The first stage of the APA Roadmap, involving a trust audit, deep stakeholder mapping, and an assessment of internal barriers to partnership.
Pilot Selection
The second stage of the APA Roadmap: choosing a visible, high-impact area to test the APA model and build internal buy-in.
Co-Creation & Design
The third and most critical stage of the APA Roadmap: a 6-12 month joint design process focused on building relationships before defining outcomes.
Implementation & M&E
The fourth stage of the APA Roadmap, focused on launching the pilot with adaptive management and co-designed Monitoring & Evaluation systems.
Scale & Integrate
The final stage of the APA Roadmap: embedding learnings from the pilot into corporate strategy, procurement policies, and internal incentive structures.
Diagnostic Tools
Trust Audit
A diagnostic tool used in the initial phase to assess the current level of trust (or mistrust) between a company and its stakeholders, identifying historical grievances and perceptions.
Stakeholder Mapping
A diagnostic process that goes beyond identifying obvious leaders to find and understand the perspectives of marginalized, less visible, or opposing voices within a community.
Political Economy Analysis (PEA)
A diagnostic method for understanding the interaction of political and economic processes in a society: who the key actors are, what their interests are, and how power is distributed.
Stakeholder Engagement Score
A metric for quantifying the quality and depth of stakeholder relationships, moving beyond simply counting meetings to assess the level of trust and mutual influence.
Accountability Mechanisms
Accountability (Mutual)
A system where accountability flows in all directions. The company is accountable to the community for its commitments, and the community is accountable to the company for its role in the partnership.
Grievance Redress Mechanism (GRM)
A formal, co-designed system that allows community members to raise complaints and seek resolution in a safe, accessible, and trusted manner. It is a cornerstone of the Accountability Architecture.
Participatory Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E)
An approach to M&E where community members are actively involved in defining success indicators, collecting data, and analyzing results, ensuring the evaluation reflects local priorities.
Independent Verification
The use of credible, third-party organizations to verify a company’s claims about its social performance and adherence to APA principles, building trust with external stakeholders.
Co-created Local Development Plans
A key output of the co-creation process, where development priorities and benefit-sharing mechanisms are designed jointly by the company and the community, rather than imposed top-down.
Solutions for Funders & Donors
An actionable insight for foundations to move from short-term, project-based grants to long-term, flexible, core funding that supports the process of trust-building.
Fund the Architecture (for Funders)
An actionable insight for funders to provide dedicated funding for the independent ‘architecture of accountability,’ such as community paralegal programs or impartial GRMs.
Convene and Catalyze
The role foundations can play as neutral third parties to convene dialogues between communities, companies, and governments to de-risk the initial stages of partnership.
Core Funding
Flexible, long-term funding that supports an organization’s essential operational costs, rather than being restricted to a specific project. This model enables adaptability and trust-building.
Patient Capital
Long-term investment that is willing to accept below-market returns for a period in order to achieve greater social impact.
Solutions for Governments
Policy Integration (for Governments)
An actionable insight for governments to embed APA principles (like co-creation and GRMs) as requirements in regulations for foreign direct investment.
Incentivize Authenticity
An actionable insight for governments to create tax incentives or streamlined permitting for companies that can demonstrate verified APA-compliant practices.
Partnership Capacity Building
Funding and support for local communities to engage with private sector partners on a more equal footing, including training in negotiation, financial literacy, and contract law.
Common Challenges
‘Investment Readiness’ Paradigm
The dominant but flawed view that communities must be ‘made ready’ for investment, a paradigm the APA Framework seeks to replace with ‘Partnership Readiness’ for investors.
Trust Deficits
The deep-seated skepticism and mistrust that communities often hold toward external actors due to generations of broken promises and extractive projects.
Corporate Inertia
The resistance within large organizations to adopting new, seemingly slower processes like the APA Framework, due to a culture that prioritizes speed and top-down control.
Comparative Models
An approach where social impact is treated as a separate, often philanthropic function, disconnected from core business strategy, with low strategic value and community empowerment.
Standard ESG
An approach where social metrics are tracked primarily for compliance and risk mitigation, with stakeholder consultation but limited sharing of decision-making power.
APA Framework (as a model)
An approach where shared value creation is at the heart of business strategy. Community members are co-creators with shared governance, and mutual accountability is built into the model through co-designed M&E and formal mechanisms.
Outcomes & Benefits
A key component of the Authenticity Premium, where authentic partnerships create a stable social license to operate, reducing disruptions from protests and lowering regulatory risks.
Stronger Brand Loyalty (Premium)
A key component of the Authenticity Premium, where demonstrating genuine ethical commitment leads to higher customer retention and a more engaged and motivated workforce.
Partnership Longevity
The outcome of building trust and mutual accountability, resulting in partnerships that are resilient and able to navigate long-term challenges.
