FIDIC, the International Federation of Consulting Engineers, represents worldwide the business interests of suppliers of technology-based intellectual services for the built and natural environment. Through Member Associations in over 60 countries, it is committed to promoting the values articulated by the UN Secretary General as the core of a Global Compact. Such values enable the Federation to extend its mission, formulated in the report Engineering Our Future, "to accept and uphold our responsibilities to society".

Engineering-based consultancy is a $US billion 230 industry employing some one million staff in 70000 firms worldwide. A significant part of the industry belongs to FIDIC, the industry's global voice. Industry statistics are established annually through the FIDIC Annual Survey.

FIDIC helps to defend and protect the rights of workers in its industry by promoting standard Clauses for the engagement of staff and labour in its Conditions of Contract.

FIDIC's principal Conditions of Contract are widely recognized as leaders in the field. They are used worldwide for many projects involving infrastructure development, notably:

• construction projects designed by the engineer, 
• for electrical and mechanical plant, and for building and engineering works, designed by the contractor;
• for Engineer-Procure-Construct/Turnkey projects.

The texts of the staff and labour clauses in these Conditions of Contract cover the engagement of labour, rates of pay, the applicability of labour laws, working hours, staff facilities, health and safety, superintendance, recordkeeping, and conduct.

FIDIC's Conditions of Contract also provide guidance on drafting Particular Conditions, where it is necessary to modify the General Conditions. This guidance covers, amongst other items, staff and labour.

Finally, FIDIC publishes Guides to allow the the formulation of balanced and equitable Conditions of Contract.

Environmental management

FIDIC's initiatives to uphold its mission "to promote commitment to sustainability" among providers of technology-based intellectual services to the built and natural environment focussed initially on environmental issues with the formulation of an Environment policy statement and a Consulting engineers and the environment Guide for Actions.

Environmental Management System ("Industry EMS")

FIDIC's policy and guide for action led to the highly regarded Environmental Management System Training Resource Kit, developed in partnership with United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), materials for which are now available in 15 languages. The kit, is intended for operators of industrial facilities. It is now in its second edition, and is available from the FIDIC Bookshop and comprises:

• EMS Training Kit:  the core element of the system;
• EMS Guide to Certification/Registration: to help firms and organizations evolve their EMS to certification according to the International  Standards Organization (ISO) environment standards;
• EMS Handbook: to provide support for participants training seminars;
• Executive Summary;
• EMS Training seminars organised by the UNEP-ICC-FIDIC partnership.

Urban Environmental Management: Environmental Management System ("Urban EMS") 

UNEP, the International Federation of Consulting Engineers (FIDIC) and the International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives (ICLEI) have developed the Urban Environmental Management: Environmental Management Systems Training Resource Kit. The Kit is a "train-the-trainer" modular system designed to assist local authorities, municipalities and local governments (or trainers thereof) in the development of a practical and pragmatic approach to implementing an EMS in their own organisation.

The kit provides a systematic approach to manage environmental issues and is based on the model of ISO 14001 (1996 requirements). For those who intend to be certified under this standard, even if at a later stage of the EMS development, the Kit provides information on how to proceed. By guiding city managers through the implementation of an EMS, the Kit also intends to provide a series of tools to integrate sustainable development planning (such as Local Agenda 21, the UN Climate Change Convention, and other international agreements) into the various aspects and priorities of city management.

The kit is targeted at change agents such as: people who will promote the concept and practice of EMS for local authorities; local government associations and training institutes; trainers who will organise workshops; city managers who need a self-teaching tool to undertake an EMS in their own municipality.

The Kit contains, which builds on the UNEP-ICC-FIDIC Environmental Management System:

• Thematic modules (per ISO 14001, 1996 element), including resource kits, case studies, information materials and exercises for the implementation of EMS in local authorities; and,
• A method for training, organising workshops (distribution), and follow-up (feedback).

Sustainable development

As articulated in the strategic policy paper Engineering Our Future, FIDIC is responding to the worldwide shift in emphasis from environmental protection in isolation to integrated sustainability solutions encompassing the environmental, social and economic domains. 

• Strategy Paper for Sustainable Development in the Consulting Engineering Industry (pre-press draft in PDF) identifies professional policies and the professional services delivered by the industry as the main foci for future activities.
• Consulting engineering industry in Industry as a Partner for Development, a UNEP sector report to the World Summit on Sustainable Development 2002 prepared under the auspices of UNEP and the UN CSD (information; pre-press PDF: 1.7 MB)
• FIDIC Business Guidelines for Sustainable Development: draft released at the FIDIC 2001 Annual Conference Partners in Sustainability (DOC 95: 3000 kb!! >>)

Several recent FIDIC Annual Conferences have promoted sustainability:

• FIDIC 2000 Conference (Hawaii): special sessions and roundtables to explore the engineering business community’s ability to respond to a worldwide demand for sustainable development of both natural resources and the work it does to create the built environment
• FIDIC 2001 Conference Partners in Sustainability (Montreux) that aims to establish lasting partnerships and organizational links that will allow the industry to provide effect solutions.
• FIDIC 2004 Conference Partners for Responsible Investment (Paris) reviewed the requirements on infrastructure investments stemming from sustainable development.

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