The AA1000 Framework was developed to help organisations build their accountability and social responsibility through quality social and ethical accounting, auditing and reporting. It addresses the need for organisations to integrate their stakeholder engagement process into their daily activities.

The Framework provides guidance to users on how to establish a systematic stakeholder engagement process that generates the indicators, targets, and reporting systems needed to ensure to ensure greater transparency, effective responsiveness to stakeholders and improved overall organisational performance.

The A1000 Framework was published as a stand-alone document and includes sections on purpose and principles, framework for integration, assurance and stakeholder engagement.

The AA1000 Series is composed of the AA1000 Framework, the AA1000 Assurance Standard and the AA1000 Stakeholder Engagement Standard.