Global Compact Governance
Following a comprehensive review of the United Nations Global
Compact’s governance during 2004–2005, a new governance framework
was adopted in August 2005. In keeping with the Global Compact’s
voluntary and network-based character, the governance framework
(download the current
Global
Compact Governance Framework or the
2008
Governance Update) is light, non-bureaucratic and designed
to foster greater involvement in, and ownership of, the initiative
by participants and other stakeholders themselves. In November
2008, the Global Compact Donor Group adopted its own Terms of
Reference, which was revised in November 2013. As a part of this
revision the Donor Group was renamed the Government Group. Governance
functions are shared by seven entities, each with differentiated
tasks within a multi-centric framework:
The role of each entity in the governance framework is as follows:
Global Compact Leaders Summit
The Leaders Summit is a triennial (next to be held
in 2013) gathering of the top executives of all Global Compact
participants and other stakeholders. As the largest gathering
of its kind, the Leaders Summit represents a unique opportunity
for Global Compact participants to discuss the Global Compact
and corporate citizenship at the highest level, and to produce
strategic recommendations and action imperatives related to
the future evolution of the initiative. More broadly, the
Leaders Summit aims to deepen the commitment of participating
leaders from business, labour and civil society to the Global
Compact and its principles; to build and scale up momentum within
the business sector; and to foster enabling environments and
collective action. For more information about the most recent
Leaders Summit in 2010, click here.Local
Networks
Local Networks are groups of participants that come
together to advance the Global Compact and its principles within
a particular country or geographic region. They perform
increasingly important roles in rooting the Global Compact within
different national, cultural and linguistic contexts, and also
in helping to manage the organizational consequences of rapid
expansion. Their role is to facilitate the progress of companies
(both local firms and subsidiaries of foreign corporations)
engaged in the Global Compact with respect to implementation
of the ten principles, while also creating opportunities for
multi-stakeholder engagement and collective action. There are
currently more than 100 Local Networks around the world.Apart
from acting in accordance with the Global Compact’s principles
and objectives, Local Networks are self-governing. They have
the opportunity to nominate members for election to the Global
Compact Board, provide input on major activities undertaken
by the Global Compact Office and convene the Annual Local Networks
Forum. Their input is also sought on the agenda for the triennial
Leaders Summit. Furthermore, Local Networks play an important
role in support of the communications on progress and integrity
measures. In 2013 a Local Network Advisory Group (LNAG) was
established to better facilitate communication and interaction
between Local Networks and the Global Compact office (View
Terms of Reference for LNAG). For more information on Global
Compact Local Networks click here.
Annual Local Networks Forum
The Annual Local Networks Forum is the main occasion
for Local Networks from around the world to share experiences,
review and compare progress, identify best practices, and adopt
recommendations intended to enhance the effectiveness of Local
Networks. For more information click here.
Global Compact Board
The Global Compact Board is a multi-stakeholder advisory
body that meets annually (first meeting in June 2006) to provide
ongoing strategic and policy advice for the initiative as a
whole and make recommendations to the Global Compact Office,
participants and other stakeholders. The Board is comprised
of four constituency groups — business, civil society, labour
and the United Nations — with differentiated roles and responsibilities
apart from their overall advisory function. While the Board
as a whole holds an annual formal meeting, the constituency
groups are expected to interact with the Global Compact Office
on an ongoing basis. The Secretary-General, the Chair of
the Foundation for the Global Compact, the Chair of the Principles
for Responsible Investment and the Executive Director of the
Global Compact Office have ex-officio seats on the Board.
The 31 Board members are champions willing and able to advance
the Global Compact’s mission. Members of the Board act
in a personal, honorary and unpaid capacity. Their Board
membership does not render them UN officials.
Drawing in particular on the expertise and recommendations
of its business members, the Board is also expected to play
a role in the implementation of the Global Compact’s integrity
measures. In addition to their overall Board responsibilities,
the civil society and labour constituency groups are expected
to provide close liaison to their communities and share with
the Board as a whole, and the Global Compact Office and Inter-Agency
Team in particular, insights into the most recent trends and
best practices of corporate citizenship in their respective
domains. For more information click here.
Global Compact Office
The Global Compact Office is the UN entity formally entrusted
with the support and overall management of the Global Compact
initiative. It has received the endorsement of the UN General
Assembly (
A/RES/60/215)
and has been given UN system-wide responsibilities for promoting
the sharing of best practices. The Global Compact Office
also has responsibilities with regard to advocacy and issue leadership,
fostering network development and maintaining the Global Compact
communications infrastructure. Furthermore, the Global Compat
Office plays a central role in advancing the partnership agenda
across the UN system and has overall responsibility for brand
management and implementation of the integrity measures.
The Global Compact Office represents itself and the other members
of the Inter-Agency Team on the Board. It also services the
Leaders Summit, the Global Compact Board and the Annual Local
Networks Forum.
Global Compact Government Group
The Global Compact Office is funded by voluntary contributions
from Governments to a UN Trust Fund. Contributions are welcome
from any Government. Current contributors to the Trust Fund include:
China, Colombia, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Norway,
Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom.
The bi-annual meeting of the Global Compact Government Group is
open for governments that contribute to the work of the initiative
in line with the Global Compact Strategy and Work Plan. Government
contributions can be:
- to the Global Compact Trust Fund;
- in the form of direct support to a specific Global Compact
Local Network; and
- additional support of specific Global Compact initiatives
in line with the Strategy.
The contribution of governments can be financial or in kind,
as for example by funding Junior Professional Officers, hosting
events and contributing to studies. Governments communicate
on their engagement with the initiative annually in a simple
common standard format to the Global Compact Office, which can
be downloaded here
(doc). The Global Compact Office encourages governments
to contribute directly to the Trust Fund if possible.
The Government Group meets twice annually at capital level
to review progress made and to ensure the effective and efficient
use of the contributions that Governments have provided to the
Global Compact Trust Fund. The Terms of Reference for the Government
Group can be downloaded here.
The UN Global Compact Financial Reports are also available for
2011
and 2012.
Governments contributing to the Trust Fund and other interested
Governments are also welcome to participate in a Friends Group
that meets more frequently in New York to be kept informed of
developments in the initiative.
.
Papers on Global Compact Governance
Contact
Ursula Wynhoven
wynhoven@un.org
+1-212-963-5705
(Last updated 12 December 2013)
