Justice, Equity, Diversity, And Inclusion (JEDI)

At RBGLP, we place the principles of Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (JEDI) at the core of our practice and client relationships. With Zambia and the African sub-region as our focus, we partner with clients to foster meaningful change and embed JEDI values into every aspect of their operations, ensuring shared accountability for a more equitable future.

Mission Statement

Delivering on our commitments to diversity and inclusion is a strategic priority, equal to putting our clients at the centre of everything we do. Collaborating with our clients on JEDI initiatives is a shared value that drives impactful change.

Summary

Global and regional challenges such as the COVID-19 pandemic, political and economic uncertainties, and heightened awareness of racial and gender inequities have reinforced the importance of embedding JEDI principles in business. These initiatives are vital to organisational success, particularly in Africa where diversity is intrinsic to the cultural and social fabric.

At RBGLP, we guide clients in responding to JEDI-related crises and in implementing credible initiatives. From crafting vibrant JEDI strategies to coaching and education, we empower clients to improve processes, enhance engagement, and foster equity in their organisations.

What We Do

We provide tailored support to organisations facing JEDI challenges, such as addressing socio-political events, handling allegations of discrimination or harassment, or fostering a culture of inclusivity. Our expertise spans legal, strategic, and operational aspects, ensuring our clients and their people are both supported and protected.

Key Areas of Focus

• Accountability: Assisting clients in setting and publishing actionable JEDI goals.
• Processes: Embedding JEDI perspectives into operations such as work allocation and governance structures.
• Recruitment & Retention: Creating robust pipelines to attract and retain diverse talent through scholarships, reciprocal mentoring, and sponsorship programmes.
• Culture: Promoting education on micro-aggressions, unconscious bias, and inclusive communication strategies to foster allyship and mutual respect.
• Laws & Regulations: Helping organisations understand and implement legal requirements under local and regional frameworks such as Zambia’s Employment Code Act and other equality-focused regulations across Africa.
• Clients: Enhancing client service delivery through JEDI-aligned partnerships, including collaborative mentoring programmes and joint initiatives to raise awareness and drive change.

Our Impact

At RBGLP, we challenge ourselves and our clients to increase the scope and depth of our JEDI initiatives. Some of our achievements and areas of impact include:

Internal Achievements

• Establishing policies ensuring at least 30% representation of underrepresented lawyers and professionals in client engagements.
• Launching Diversity & Inclusion programmes within RBGLP to educate our teams on unconscious bias and bias interruption strategies.
• Implementing mentoring and sponsorship initiatives tailored to support underrepresented talent across Zambia and Africa.

• underrepresented talent across Zambia and Africa.

Client Support

We have assisted clients with:

• Recruitment and Talent Development: Developing recruitment pipelines that increase the hiring of underrepresented talent across Africa.
• Defending Discrimination Claims: Providing strategic advice and legal representation in cases of alleged discrimination, harassment, and victimisation, and collaborating with regulatory bodies enforcing equality legislation.
• Metrics and Accountability: Establishing mechanisms for tracking and driving JEDI progress, including bias interrupters and educational sessions.
• Policy Development: Supporting multinational organisations with gender equity tools, such as gender pay gap reporting frameworks and workplace diversity toolkits.
• Leadership Coaching: Coaching executives, including Chief Diversity Officers, to lead JEDI efforts effectively.
• Diversity Infrastructure: Building JEDI committees, affinity networks, and task forces to institutionalise equity principles.

Why RBGLP?

RBGLP combines a deep understanding of the African socio-political and legal landscape with a global perspective, enabling us to provide practical, innovative, and culturally sensitive solutions for JEDI challenges. We partner with clients to inspire trust, transparency, and impactful change across their organisations and communities.

Work with us to embed justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion into the heart of your business.