Strategic Review and Post-2015 Agenda in Focus at Global Compact Board Meeting
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New York, United States of America
(14 December 2012, New York) – The UN Global Compact Board, comprising high-level representatives from business, civil society, labour and the United Nations, met today to guide the priorities and direction of the initiative, including the Global Compact strategic review and the private sector contribution to the post-2015 development process. Chair of the Board UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon underscored his support for the initiative and its efforts to make corporate sustainability a transformative force.
Board members reviewed the Global Compact Strategic Review, which is focused on identifying ways to strengthen the Global Compact and bring it to scale, including supporting and empowering the 101 Local Networks; managing the issues portfolio related to human rights, labour, environment and anti-corruption; improving recruitment and retention of participants; enhancing the governance framework; and bolstering linkages with the UN and the Secretary-General’s initiatives.
Key decisions taken by the Board were related to disclosure and fundraising. The Board agreed on the introduction of a new disclosure requirement for non-business participants in 2013. In order to ensure a sustainable funding model, the Board called on all business participants to make an annual contribution to the Foundation for the Global Compact, and encouraged the Global Compact to take a more rigorous approach to fundraising.
The Secretary-General expressed appreciation to the Board for its guidance on the future of the initiative, emphasizing that “your engagement could not come at a more promising time”. He continued, “After more than a decade of building principles, issue platforms and Local Networks, the Global Compact is poised to bring business action and solutions to bear on global challenges on a transformative scale.”
During his remarks, the Secretary-General also recognized the efforts of the Global Compact during the UN Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20), held in Rio de Janeiro in June 2012: “The Corporate Sustainability Forum catalyzed the largest ever private sector engagement in a United Nations event and demonstrated that the Global Compact is capable of mobilizing significant private sector action in support of UN goals.”
Linking the Rio+20 Conference to the post-2015 global development agenda, Board members welcomed the Global Compact’s efforts to engage business in the process.
Following the meeting, Board members participated in a high-level luncheon, co-hosted by Permanent Representatives of Germany, Switzerland and Brazil to the United Nations. Featuring the UN Secretary-General and attended by over 20 Government representatives, participants discussed the Global Compact’s next growth phase – as well as the role of business in achieving sustainable development globally.
A complete Board Meeting report will be available shortly.
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