Activities the Foundation has supported

Funds raised are spent on high impact activities in support of the Global Compact. These include: tools and guidance materials, support for Global Compact learning and dialogue activities, support for Local Network activities, and improvements to the Global Compact’s communications infrastructure. Since the Foundation’s launch in April 2006, contributions from corporate donors have made possible many activities in support of the Global Compact, including the following:

Events (Learning/Dialogue/Outreach)

Global Compact Leaders Summit, July 2007

The Global Compact Leaders Summit is one of the key elements in the Global Compact's governance framework. It is a triennial event to which the leaders of all participants and other stakeholders engaged in the initiative are invited. The Summit focused on the strategic direction of the initiative, overall business trends and their link to the corporate citizenship agenda. The event was held on July 5-6 2007 at the Palais des Nations in Geneva, Switzerland.

Global Compact Learning Forum in Accra, Ghana, November 2006

One of the UN Global Compact’s most important international events for 2006 is its International Learning Forum Meeting, which took place in Accra, Ghana on 22-24 November 2006. More than 200 participants and other stakeholders from around the world came together to share experiences on how to implement the Global Compact’s principles on human rights, labour standards, the environment and anti-corruption, especially in the African context.

The Annual Local Networks Forum, Barcelona, Spain, September 2006

The Annual Local Networks Forum is the primary occasion for Global Compact Local Networks from around the world to come together to share experiences, review and compare progress, identify best practices, and adopt recommendations intended to enhance the effectiveness of Local Networks and the support they provide to Global Compact participants.

Communications on Progress Outreach

The Communications on Progress requirement is the Global Compact's primary quality assurance and credibility mechanism. As part of the general strategic drive towards enhanced quality, the Global Compact has implemented a de-listing policy for non-communicating companies. Following this critical development, a series of meetings was held and an independent contractor engaged by the Foundation to provide outreach to companies and other stakeholders and ensure that all have the resources necessary to satisfy this requirement.

Tools and Publications

Global Compact Annual Review

The UN Global Compact Office launched a major annual publication that reviews the Global Compact’s annual progress and the state of the art of corporate citizenship around the world. The first issue was presented at the 2007 Leaders Summit.

Making the Connection Global Reporting Initiative / Practical Guide to Communications on Progress

Two publications:

  1. a guide that introduces and explores ways to address GRI and Global Compact requirements simultaneously; and
  2. a tool designed to provide simple advice and practical tips for Global Compact companies of every size and industry and from every region.

Human Right Framework Poster

This poster offers a framework for implementing a human rights programme. It is available in all six official United Nations languages.

Climate Change Report

This is a brief report showcasing how Global Compact companies are engaging on the climate change issue.

Principles of Responsible Management Education

Both a flyer on the launch of the Global Compact's Principles of Responsible Management Education initiative and a short report that presents its principles.

Joining Forces for Change: Demonstrating Impact and Innovation through UN-Business Partnerships

Joining Forces for Change profiles how 18 companies have partnered with 17 different United Nations agencies, funds and programmes to help address significant global issues. The guide is structured according to the types of contributions that companies can make through partnerships. The majority of the projects presented shows the win-win potential of partnerships, and underline the benefit for companies of choosing to partner with the UN.

Enhancing Partnership Value: A Tool for Assessing Sustainability and Impact

“Enhancing the Value of UN-Business Partnerships: A Tool for Assessing Sustainability and Impact” is a tool developed jointly by the UN Development Programme (UNDP), the UN Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR), the UN Office for Partnerships (UNOP) and the Global Compact Office, with the support of the Boston Consulting Group, to assess the sustainability of UN-Business partnerships. The tool will enable partners to better capitalize on opportunities to add value to partnerships, and will not only strengthen the individual partnerships and increase their impact but it will also in itself support the convergence toward a united UN fit for the 21st Century. A significant number of UN organizations, corporations and other stakeholders have provided input in the process.

Human Rights Impact Assessment Guide

This guide gives an overall view of the process of implementing a human rights assessment program into a corporation. It identifies eight crucial steps as the major milestones, beginning with contextualizing the process and setting baselines, moving on to managing implementation and then ending with monitoring and evaluation.

Operational Guides for SMEs

This publication will present practical guidelines for small and medium size enterprises that want to engage in the Global Compact.

Global Compact Video

The Global Compact Office will record brief statements from CEOs around the world expressing their vision for the Global Compact. These statements will be edited for a brief inspirational video which will be shown during the opening plenary of the Leaders Summit and also used frequently after the Summit for GC promotion.

Business Focal Point Newsletter

The foundation is currently supporting the Business Focal Point Newsletter and plays a key role in the production of a quarterly e-newsletter called the UN Business Focal Point Newsletter. This contract is with a public policy think tank in Germany called the Global Public Policy Institute (GPPi), www.globalpublicpolicy.net

Rainforest Alliance Report

Although an increasing number of companies are using voluntary certification schemes, only a few have yet analyzed how this has affected their financial performance. This study was part of an effort by the UN Global Compact and Rainforest Alliance, along with leading companies operating under sustainability certification schemes in several markets, to develop and test a methodology that companies can use to analyze their investments in sustainability, and in the preparation of their annual reports and other publications.

Global Compact CD-Rom Resource Package

This second edition of the Global Compact Resource Package is a comprehensive introduction to the Global Compact and is meant to serve as an awareness-raising tool for the Global Compact and its underlying principles. It can be used by all that seek background information on the Global Compact and guidance on the integration of the ten principles in their daily operations. We hope that this tool can be of practical use for all networks and Global Compact participants in their efforts to contribute to a more inclusive and sustainable global economy.

The resource package includes modules and case studies for each of the Global Compact’s four main issue areas – Human Rights, Labour, the Environment, and Anti-Corruption as well as the Global Compact Performance Model, which serves as a roadmap to accompany the Principles. At the end of each section is a separate resource directory with additional information on the Global Compact and the subject of Corporate Citizenship.

Support for the Principles of Responsible Investment Initiative

Organized by the Global Compact and UNEP Finance Initiative, The Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI) was launched on the 27th April 2006 in New York, USA. The Foundation continues to support the Principles for Responsible Investment. For more information, click here to go to the PRI website