Toward Rio: New 3.2m Euro Program to Boost Sustainable Business in Developing Countries

(New York, 13 June 2012) – A new 3.2 million Euro program that aims to build capacity of local businesses in developing countries on corporate sustainability management and reporting is being launched by the UN Global Compact, the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) and the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO), ahead of the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development – Rio+20.

Companies operating in developing countries are facing increased demand from international clients to integrate sustainability aspects into their processes. In this context, world leaders at Rio+20 will discuss the importance of sustainability reporting to drive sustainable business conduct, which is also highlighted in the draft of the Rio+20 Outcome Document.

The joint program to be launched in Rio this week will enable companies in developing countries to improve their management and reporting of key economic, environmental and social issues such as greenhouse gas emissions, energy efficiency, human rights, women empowerment, and anticorruption.

“We support this partnership as an initiative which pursues a comprehensive voluntary reporting approach, equally covering environmental and social issues. In working together with GRI and the Global Compact to make sustainability reporting standard practice, we are bringing the worlds of enterprise and international development cooperation together, thereby assisting companies in developing countries to integrate into global value chains,” said Hans-Peter Egler, Head Trade Promotion, Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO).

The Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) produces a comprehensive sustainability reporting framework that is widely used around the world. The UN Global Compact (UNGC) is an initiative for businesses that are committed to aligning their operations and strategies with ten universally accepted principles in the areas of human rights, labor, environment and anti-corruption. As part of their collaboration, the Global Compact and GRI are working together to provide companies with a comprehensive framework for corporate sustainability performance and disclosure, based on the Global Compact Principles and the GRI Guidelines.

Georg Kell, Executive Director of the Global Compact, said: “Corporate sustainability management and reporting can help companies identify areas for improvement and better manage their risks and opportunities. Ultimately the program aims to strengthen businesses’ sustainability management practices in these markets to improve the competitiveness of local businesses facilitate access to international markets and capital.”

Ernst Ligteringen, Chief Executive of the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI), said: “Transparency is a key part of sustainable business operation, and can help companies in developing countries get access to new markets, manage their risks and opportunities, and improve performance.”

“The number of companies in developing countries that report their sustainability performance is growing, but the situation is the same globally – growth is not quick enough. For a sustainable future and a Green Economy, all businesses need to act responsibly and transparently. With this new program, we hope to encourage and enable more companies in developing countries to operate more sustainably and transparently,” added Ligteringen.

The Global Compact, GRI and SECO will launch the new project on 16 June at the Rio+20 Conference, highlighting the importance of sustainability management and reporting for improving companies’ competitiveness in developing countries. The Rio+20 Conference provides an unprecedented opportunity for the global community to rally behind the principle that corporate transparency on sustainability performance and strategy is a keystone of sustainable development.

Notes to editors

The new program will be launched at the UN Conference on Sustainable Development – Rio+20 – during the Rio+20 Corporate Sustainability Forum event, The case for corporate sustainability management and reporting in developing markets, 9-10.30am, 16 June 2012. For more information, see www.compact4rio.org/agenda.

About the Global Reporting Initiative
The Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) produces a comprehensive Sustainability Reporting Framework that is widely used around the world, to enable greater organizational transparency. The Framework, including the Reporting Guidelines, sets out the Principles and Indicators organizations can use to report their economic, environmental, and social performance. GRI is committed to continuously improving and increasing the use of the Guidelines, which are freely available to the public. www.globalreporting.org
GRI and development: https://www.globalreporting.org/information/current-priorities/sustainable-development/Pages/default.aspx

About UN Global Compact
Launched in 2000, the United Nations Global Compact is a both a policy platform and a practical framework for companies that are committed to sustainability and responsible business practices. As a multi-stakeholder leadership initiative, it seeks to align business operations and strategies with ten universally accepted principles in the areas of human rights, labour, environment and anti-corruption, and to catalyze actions in support of broader UN goals. With 7,000 corporate signatories in 135 countries, it is the world’s largest voluntary corporate sustainability initiative. www.unglobalcompact.org

About SECO
SECO is the Swiss federal government's centre of expertise for all core issues relating to economic policy. The Economic Cooperation and Development Division of SECO designs and implements economic and trade policy measures with selected advanced developing and transition countries. The main goal of SECO’s development cooperation is to reduce poverty by helping partner countries to gain access to world markets and by fostering sustainable economic growth. SECO’s priorities include: promoting stable economic conditions; improving trade competitiveness and diversification; encouraging domestic and foreign investment; and improving basic infrastructures. Special emphasis is placed on issues relating to energy, the environment, climate and economic governance. SECO is also responsible for coordinating Switzerland’s relations with the World Bank Group, the regional development banks and the economic organisations of the United Nations. http://www.seco-cooperation.admin.ch/index.html?lang=en

Media Contacts

Matthias Stausberg
Head of Public Affairs & Media Relations
Spokesperson
UN Global Compact
+1-917-367-3423
stausberg@un.org

Lucy Goodchild
Press & Communications Manager
Global Reporting Initiative
+31 (0)20 531 0067, +31 (0)6 303 99 531
goodchild@globalreporting.org

Hans-Peter Egler
Head Trade Promotion Division
State Secretariat for Economic Affairs SECO
+41 (0) 31 324 08 13
hans-peter.egler@seco.admin.ch