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One of the explicit commitments that a company makes when it joins the UN Global Compact is to produce an annual Communication on Progress (COP). This is a requirement of participation which serves several important purposes:
In recent years, more and more companies – both large and small - have developed corporate sustainability reports. The COP policy is a reflection of this trend towards greater accountability and transparency. A COP is a disclosure to stakeholders (e.g., investors, consumers, civil society, governments, etc.) on progress made in implementing the ten principles of the UN Global Compact, and in supporting broad UN development goals (as expressed in the second objective of the UN Global Compact).
Business participants are required to annually submit a COP on the UN Global Compact website and to share the COP widely with their stakeholders.The COP is an important demonstration of a participant's commitment to the UN Global Compact and its principles, and as such a violation of the COP policy will result in the change in a participant's status and eventually in the delisting of the participant. As of March 2009, nearly 1,000 companies have been delisted (see link below for a full description of the COP Policy).
The COP should be mainstreamed in the company's existing communications methods. While the format for a COP is flexible, it must contain three important elements:
Non-business participants are not required to prepare and submit a COP on the UN Global Compact website.
The Global Compact Office and local networks have developed
tools and guidance
to assist participants of all sizes in the process of preparing a COP.
In 2004, the UN Global Compact Office introduced the "Notable COP" program to highlight and recognize outstanding Communications on Progress. COPs featured in the Notable COP program are selected because of their strong adherence to the COP policy and because they represent illustrative and inspirational examples of communicating progress.
Communication on Progress: Policy Update
(April 2009) - Following extensive deliberations with business and Local Networks, the UN
Global Compact Board agreed to simplify the COP process, clarify minimum requirements and improve
searchability. Updates include:
The policy will become effective on 1 July 2009 for new business participants joining on or after this date. It will be applicable to all business participants as of 1 July 2011. Key Information: |
Simon Gargonne
COP Analyst
UN Global Compact
cop@unglobalcompact.org
+1 212 963 1519