Let us choose to unite the power of markets with the authority of universal ideals'

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The UN Global Compact

• Let us choose to unite the power of markets with
  the authority of universal ideals.
• Let us choose to reconcile the creative forces
  of private entrepreneurship with the needs of the
  disadvantaged and the requirements of future
  generations
• Former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan

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What is the UN Global Compact?

• Worlds largest CSR network
• 4000 participating businesses (2400 in Europe)
• Over 100 countries
• Voluntary initiative calling on companies to
  embrace 10 development principles
• Human rights
• Labour
• Environment
• Anti-corruption
• Engagement via
• Policy dialogue
• National, regional networks
• Partnerships, projects

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What the Global Compact is not?

• Mandatory
• A tool for monitoring company behavior
• A management system
• A code of conduct
• A government regulatory instrument
• Philanthropy
• Public relations

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Entry requirements

• Letter of participation from companys top
  executive to UN Secretary-General
• Commitment to integrate 10 principles into
• Business strategy
• Operations
• Culture
• Willingness to
• Collaborate with other global stakeholders in
  support of development goals (e.g., Millennium
  Development Goals)
• Become a public advocate for
• Global Compact
• Corporate social responsibility

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The Global Compact Principles

• Human Rights
• Principle 1 Businesses should support and
  respect the protection of internationally
  proclaimed human rights and
• Principle 2 make sure that they are not
  complicit in human rights abuses.  
• Labour Standards
• Principle 3 Businesses should uphold the freedom
  of association and the effective recognition of
  the right to collective bargaining
• Principle 4 the elimination of all forms of
  forced and compulsory labour
• Principle 5 the effective abolition of child
  labour and
• Principle 6 the elimination of discrimination in
  respect of employment and occupation. 
• Environment
• Principle 7 Businesses should support a
  precautionary approach to environmental
  challenges
• Principle 8 undertake initiatives to promote
  greater environmental responsibility and
• Principle 9 encourage the development and
  diffusion of environmentally friendly
  technologies.   
• Anti-Corruption
• Principle 10 Businesses should work against
  corruption in all its forms, including extortion
  and bribery. 

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What else is expected?

• Communication on progress
• Annual public statement on implementation of GC
  principles
• Demonstration of transparency and
  accountability
• Communication with stakeholders
• Safeguarding the integrity of the GC

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Benefits of engagement

• Improvements in
• Employee morale, productivity
• Reputation, brand recognition
• European orientation
• Better access to
• Capital
• Opportunities for multi-stakeholder dialogue
• CSR tools, guidance
• Reduced risk profile

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National GC Networks

• Numbers 80 national networks
• Composition
• Business, government, civil society organizations
  
• Small and big businesses, domestic and foreign
• Activities
• Learning and training workshops
• Policy dialogue, forums
• Partnership projects for development

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Recent Global Compact seminars, workshops

• Croatia Business and gender equality
• Moldova Policy dialogue on labour standards
• Ukraine Public-private partnerships
• Bulgaria Employee health care
• Lithuania
• Climate change seminar
• Climate friendly technologies
• How climate change will affect Lithuanian
  business
• Creating enabling environment for CSR, including
  tax incentives for responsible businesses
• White wave campaign against payment of wages
  without taxes

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Partnership projects for development

• Key characteristics
• Social responsibility (environment, communities)
• Job creation, promote entrepreneurship
• Provide affordable goods, services to vulnerable
  groups
• Market innovation often involved
• NGOs, business associations, governments involved
• Emphasis on sustainability
• Part of companys core business
• These projects are NOT
• Purely charitable and philanthropic
• Public relations

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Partnership projects for development Examples

• Coca Cola Every drop matters project
• Access to safe drinking water
• Turkey, Croatia, Romania, Kazakhstan
• Telekomunikacja Polska Funds project on IT tools
  in support of education, local economic
  development in rural Poland
• Astelit, KyivStar, MTS have project to counter
  human trafficking, protect rights of Ukrainians
  working abroad
• Toll-free emergency telephone number
• Counseling

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Global Compact in Serbia

• Since December 2007
• Now 25 participants, and growing (35000
  employees)
• 2008 Focus on Principle 6 The elimination of
  discrimination in respect of employment and
  occupation.
• By supporting nationwide advocacy campaign for
  the rights of persons with disabilities in
  Serbia 
• Communication on progress training workshops
• One unifying platform / forum bringing together
  all CSR actors from all the sectors (business,
  government, civil society, academia, trade
  unions).

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ISO The Global Compact

• 2006 ISO and the United Nations Global Compact
  Office (UNGCO) have signed a memorandum of
  understanding (MoU) to enhance their cooperation
  on the development of the future ISO 26000
  standard giving guidance on social responsibility
  (SR).
• The MoU will help to ensure consistency between
  ISO 26000 and the 10 Global Compact principles.

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Thank you

• Stevan Vujasinovic
• UNDP/UNRC Communications Specialist
• 69 Internacionalnih brigada St. Belgrade Serbia
• 381 11 2040 405
• stevan.vujasinovic_at_undp.org
• www.unglobalcompact.org