Join Global Compact !

The United Nations Global Compact is the world’s largest voluntary corporate citizenship initiative. Companies join the Global Compact because they share the conviction that business practices rooted in universal principles contribute to a more stable and inclusive global market and help build prosperous and thriving societies.

With more than 6,000 participating companies from 135 countries, as well as 2300 nonbusiness participants (as of September 2010), the Global Compact has emerged as a truly global initiative with a strong presence in both North and South. The initiative also enjoys the backing of the United Nations’ member states, as expressed in several General Assembly resolutions recognizing and encouraging the Global Compact’s work.

The Commitment

Participation in the UN Global Compact is a visible commitment to the implementation, disclosure, and promotion of ten universal principles.

A company joining the initiative is expected to:
• make the UN Global Compact and its principles an integral part of business strategy, day-to-day operations, and organizational culture;
• incorporate the UN Global Compact and its principles in the decision-making processes of the highest-level governance body (e.g., Board);
• take actions in support of UN goals and issues, including the Millennium Development Goals;
• communicate annually with its stakeholders on progress made to implement the principles, ideally integrated into the annual report or similar public document (known as the Communication on Progress – COP – policy); and
• advance the UN Global Compact and the case for responsible business practices through advocacy and active outreach to peers, partners, clients, consumers, and the public at large.

Some of the benefits of participation in Global Compact:

• Adopting an established and globally recognized policy framework for the development, implementation,
and disclosure of environmental, social, and governance policies and practices.
• Sharing best and emerging practices to advance practical solutions and strategies to common
challenges.
• Advancing sustainability solutions in partnership with a range of stakeholders, including UN
agencies, governments, civil society, labour, and other non-business interests.
• Linking business units and subsidiaries across the value chain with the UN Global Compact’s Local Networks around the world – many of these in developing and emerging markets.
• Accessing the United Nations’ extensive knowledge of and experience with sustainability and development issues.
• Utilizing UN Global Compact management tools and resources, and the opportunity to engage in specialized workstreams in the environmental, social and governance realms.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

In order to join the Global Compact Initiative, please visit Global Compact website. For more information on how to participate visit http://www.unglobalcompact.org/HowToParticipate/index.html