What We Do
Henekom delivers HREDD — human rights and environmental due diligence — as one combined discipline, exactly as the UNGPs, CSDDD and others are converging to require.
Our Clients
Trusted by leading organizations across sport, corporate, government, and civil society — including sports federations, host nations, host cities, local organizing committees, sponsors, multi-nationals, and municipalities.
Our Services - Sports and Entertainment
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We advise on how to build human rights commitments into the bid itself — the plan's structure, stakeholder map, and strategic sequencing — so the plan starts as a strength of the bid — before host status is even awarded. If designated host, we carry the work through the hosting and delivery phases.
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Standard-setting-stage advisory for federations, confederations, future host committees, teams and others n the sports ecosystem — informed by direct service on FIFA's Expert Advisory Group for World Cup 2026 and Club World Cup 2025.
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We help brands evaluate the human rights risk profile of the events they sponsor — assessing governance, labor standards, geo-political risks, and grievance infrastructure before a sponsorship dollar is committed, so brand risk is understood upfront rather than discovered after the fact. If none exist, we help leverage sponsorship dynamics to institute them.
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Conduct legal review and proactive government alignment ahead of any public-facing communication, so human rights programming survives scrutiny before it's published.
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We design and deliver human rights and environmental due diligence training built around the specific risks a client actually faces, weaving that ethos throughout every level of the organization — one shaped by what's really happening on the ground.
Advisory
Governance & Delivery
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We conduct human rights reviews to build the action plan and run stakeholder engagement on the client's behalf — from the bid phase through delivery — so the plan reflects real, continual input from government, civil society, and community partners.
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We embed a human rights lead directly into the bid or host committee's executive team, with real authority to build and execute on plans.
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We design Responsible Contracting Policies and the bid management systems that operationalize them — embedding vendor compliance and corrective action directly into procurement; this includes local supplier registration and issuing Request for Proposals.
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We carry the plan through delivery by working directly inside every operational team — event management, transportation, safety and security, procurement, marketing, communications and community relations — so human rights commitments show up in day-to-day operations, not just in a policy document.
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Intake, referral, and case management infrastructure that gives every report a clear path from first contact to close-out, with patterns surfaced to leadership before problems grow.
Legacy & Sponsor Activations
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Community legacy design that turns event momentum into lasting local infrastructure — including our work on Houston's Grow the Game pillar, bringing renovated pitches, club partnerships, and youth scholarships to underserved communities long after the final whistle.
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Day-to-day management of the fan engagement side of sponsor activations — staffing, programming, and operations for signature installations, like the 120'x180' turf pitch at the Houston’s FIFA Fan Festival, hosting tournament competitions, community groups, and fan open play for all ages and community groups.
Beyond Sports
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We evaluate an organization's internal structure, governance, and operations — with input from internal stakeholders across leadership and staff — to identify gaps and opportunities, giving leadership a clear picture of where the organization stands.
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We build strategic plans for organizations and nonprofits — translating mission and stakeholder input into a clear, actionable roadmap leadership can execute against.
Rights Ready Venues
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Human rights built into live sites — safe spaces, accessibility coordination, inclusion infrastructure, and community-facing programming fans actually encounter taking plans from paper to practice.
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A standalone, replicable worker support hub and grievance system built to the UN Guiding Principles' effectiveness standard — accessible, predictable, equitable, transparent — so workers can raise concerns and see them resolved, while flagging systemic issues before they escalate.
City & Constituent Human Rights Impact Assessments
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We conduct human rights impact assessments for cities and municipalities on their own — independent of sporting events — evaluating local policy, infrastructure, and community impact using the same rigorous, stakeholder-driven methodology.
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We assess how an organization's policies, programs, and practices stack up against peers and sector standards, giving leadership a clear, evidence-based picture of how rank among their peers.
Organizational Strategy & Assessment
What’s The Buzz?
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“Strategic thinkers who listen closely and act boldly make the world go round. Minal Davis and Henekom fall squarely into that rarefied category, guided by subject matter expertise on how government works. Minal’s leadership secured the first city endorsement of the Children’s Bill of Rights in Sports, a human rights framework that went on to be adopted by the US Conference of Mayors and more than a dozen municipalities.”
Tom Farrey, Executive Director
The Aspen Institute, Sports & Society Program
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“Partnering with the Henekom Group has proven to be a truly strategic and rewarding decision for the North Texas FWC Organizing Committee in preparing for the FIFA World Cup 2026. From the outset, Minal Davis and her team demonstrated an exceptional level of professionalism, maturity, and expertise that has consistently exceeded our expectations. The Henekom Group’s approach to landscape assessment was both thorough and insightful, ensuring nuanced aspects of our region were carefully considered. Their ability to synthesize complex data into actionable strategies has been invaluable, providing us with clear direction as we navigate the many facets of planning such a monumental event. Perhaps most impressive is their skill in building consensus among diverse stakeholders. Minal’s leadership fosters an environment of trust and collaboration, helping us align our vision and priorities while respecting the perspectives of all involved.”
Monica Paul, President
North Texas FWC Organizing Committee™
