How to Participate

"I am sure you will make the right choice".

(Kofi Annan, UN Secretary General, World Economic Forum, 31 January 1999, Davos)

Following its multistakeholder nature, the Global Compact encourages the engagement of different actors: companies, business associations, trade unions, civil society organizations, public institutions, academics, governments... Every stakeholder gives a specific contribution to the initiative, assuming a leading role in the promotion of sustainability.

• Academia adds critical dimensions to the UN Global Compact's operations. Through thought leadership, research, educational resources, learning know-how, and educational infrastructure, this sector can increase knowledge and understanding of corporate citizenship, and thereby advance the agenda of the Global Compact at the local and global level. In addition, academia plays an important role in shaping future business leaders and educating them on the importance of responsible citizenship (see the Principles for Responsible Management Education).
• The Global Compact network includes a number of important business associations representing leading companies from around the world. These associations are well known for their thought-leadership and private-sector expertise on critical issues related to sustainable development and corporate citizenship.
• Cities have the potential to make enormous strides in creating sustainable societies – where economic, social, political and environmental issues are integrated and advanced. As the focus of population, business activity, economic wealth, government, academia, infrastructure and civil society, cities represent an extraordinary array of human, material and financial resources that can be used to translate the Global Compact principles into concrete and positive urban outcomes.
• Civil society organizations (CSOs) are an important and integral part of the UN Global Compact and its goal of embedding economies with universal principles and values. Civil society organizations contribute much needed perspectives and expertise that can complement those of other participants and stakeholders.
• The role of international and national labour organizations is distinct from both business and other elements of civil society. Internationally recognized labour standards, including the fundamental rights reflected in the Global Compact's ten principles, are developed in a tripartite process in which business and labour play critical and central roles.
• Public sector organizations play a critical and varied role in the Global Compact. Some have engaged directly in the initiative and are working on internalizing the principles within their strategy and operations and/or through undertaking Global Compact-related projects and initiatives. Others play a more catalytic role incentivizing or otherwise encouraging the businesses with whom they engage to become involved in the Global Compact. Some provide funding to the Global Compact Trust Fund and/or support Global Compact Networks or other Global Compact Related Activities. Some host Global Compact events at home or abroad.
• Indeed, the main actors of the initiative are the companies. Participation in the Global Compact is open to any company that is serious about its commitment to work towards implementation of the Global Compact principles throughout its operations and sphere of influence, and to communicate on its progress. Properly constituted (under prevailing national law) companies from any industry sector are eligible for participation, except those companies involved in the manufacture, sale etc. of anti-personnel landmines or cluster bombs, companies that are the subject of a UN sanction or that have been blacklisted by UN Procurement for ethical reasons.

Due to administrative constraints, organizations with less than ten direct employees (micro enterprises) will not be entered into the participant database. However, the Global Compact encourages micro enterprises to stay informed about all Global Compact activities via the official website and to engage with their Global Compact country network.