In 1999, UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan challenged business leaders at the World Economic Forum to join the UN Global Compact, an initiative uniting companies with UN agencies, labor organizations, and civil society to uphold universal environmental and social principles. Today, hundreds of companies worldwide, along with international labor and civil society organizations, actively contribute to the UN Global Compact, advancing ten universal principles in human rights, labor, environment, and anti-corruption.

Through the power of collective action, the UN Global Compact seeks to promote responsible corporate citizenship so that business can be part of the solution to the challenges of globalization. In this way, the private sector – in partnership with other social actors – can help realize the Secretary-General’s vision: a more sustainable and inclusive global economy.

The United Nations Global Compact is a purely voluntary initiative with two objectives:

• Mainstream the UN Global Compact 10 principles in business activities around the world
• Catalyze actions in support of UN goals

There are numerous benefits to participating in the UN Global Compact. These include:

• Demonstrating leadership by advancing responsible corporate citizenship.
• Producing practical solutions to contemporary problems related to globalization, sustainable development and corporate responsibility in a multi-stakeholder context.
• Managing risks by taking a proactive stance on critical issues.
• Leveraging the UN’s global reach and convening power with governments, business, civil society and other stakeholders.
• Sharing good practices and learnings.
• Accessing the UN’s broad knowledge in development issues.
• Improving corporate/brand management, employee morale and productivity, and operational efficiencies.

For more information, visit the website of the UN Global Compact.