The United Nations Global Compact
An initiative for companies committed to integrating 10 corporate responsibility principles in their business operations and strategies.
Overview
The United Nations Global Compact (UNGC) is an initiative for companies that are committed to integrating 10 corporate responsibility principles in their business operations and strategies. The 10 principles cover the areas of human rights, labour, environment and anti-corruption. By adhering to these principles, businesses can help ensure that markets, commerce, technology and finance develop in ways that benefit economies and societies everywhere.
How to partner
Participation in the Global Compact commits a business to:
- making the Global Compact and its principles an integral part of business strategy, day-to-day operations and organisational culture
- incorporating the Global Compact and its principles into the decision-making processes of the highest-level governance body, ie Board
- contributing to broad development objectives (including the Millennium Development Goals) through partnerships
- integrating in its annual report (or in a similar public document such as a sustainability report) a description of the ways in which it implements the principles and supports broader development objectives (also known as the Communication on Progress)
- advancing the Global Compact and the case for responsible business practices through advocacy and active outreach to peers, partners, clients, consumers and the public at large
Upon joining the UNGC, companies are expected to make a regular annual contribution to support the work of the UNGC office.
UK members of the UNGC can join the UK network of the Global Compact, which convenes regular meetings for members and other interested people. The Secretariat of the UK network of the Global Compact is located at the International Business Leaders Forum.
The process
There are 3 steps for participating in the Global Compact:
- read the online application guidelines
- prepare a letter of commitment (see Global Compact’s website for sample letters) signed by the chief executive to the Secretary-General of the United Nations expressing commitment to the UN Global Compact and its 10 principles, engagement in partnerships to advance broad UN goals, and the annual submission of a Communication of Progress (COP)
- complete the online application form and upload a digital copy of the letter of commitment signed by the highest executive (the name of the chief executive who signed the letter must correspond with the entry in the online registration form)