Contains the findings of research on Local Networks in sub-Saharan Africa including common practices, governance and leadership, funding, and company demand, among others. This document is geared toward Global Compact Local Networks (LNs) for learning purposes.

Includes aggregate information on the type, size and location of companies disclosing sustainability information in sub-Saharan Africa. It provides historical trends in reporting as well as recommendations and best practices around sustainability reporting. This document presents the status of sustainability disclosure through the Global Compact Communication on Progress (COP) in the region.

Held over two days, the third annual Caring for Climate Business Forum at COP21/CMP11 provided a multi-stakeholder platform for dialogue and action among business, investors, civil society, the UN and Government officials. The first day of the Forum consisted of plenary and thematic sessions on the topics of carbon pricing, science-based target setting, responsible policy engagement, adaptation and finance. Sessions were organized by the UN Global Compact, UNEP and UNEP Finance Initiative, UNFCCC secretariat and in collaboration with Caring for Climate strategic partners, which include Global Compact Network France, CDP, The Climate Group, Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI), United Nations Foundation and World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD).

Chief Executives of Caring for Climate and UNEP-FI signatories engaged in a high-level meeting together with Government representatives, including representatives of relevant bodies established under the UNFCCC. The high-level meeting put forward an overview of all commitments and contributions by business and investors towards COP21. Following welcoming remarks, participants engaged in discussions focused on pricing the cost of carbon emissions. The event concluded with a report-back segment and key recommendations for Government actions that would help bring greater scale and quality to corporate climate leadership globally. The high-level meeting was the focus area business event under the Lima-Paris Action Agenda.

Marking the UN Global Compact’s 15th anniversary, Global Compact +15 brought business and civil society to the United Nations to show how the private sector is taking action and partnering to advance societal priorities, with an emphasis on the United Nations global agenda for sustainable development (i.e. the Sustainable Development Goals – SDGs). The General Assembly Session was a unique gathering of all participants and special guests in the UN General Assembly Hall. Together participants aimed to demonstrate to Governments the private sector’s critical role in solving our world’s greatest challenges and show how the Global Compact’s work is at the heart of the United Nations agenda.

Helps investors to understand why and how to engage companies on their tax practices, thus promoting corporate tax responsibility: a more responsible corporate approach to tax practices, including better disclosure and transparency, good governance and appropriate management of tax-related risks.

Many studies show a positive correlation between employee relations and financial performance, which is especially relevant in a labour-intensive sector such as retail. This guide describes lessons learnt from a PRI-coordinated engagement that saw 24 investors managing US$1.5 trillion of assets work together to enhance 27 global retail companies’ performance and reporting on employee relations.

Contains implementation guidance to help companies report on their human rights performance in line with the UN Guiding Principles on Business & Human Rights.

Sets out a simple and thorough process for any company, but particularly small and medium-sized enterprises, to get started with identifying its potential human rights impacts on those people directly affected by its activities, and those whose lives it touches through its relationships with suppliers or other parties. It provides tools and approaches to understand what the business already does to address these impacts, and where it can improve.

Business has much to gain from more inclusive economic prosperity, through access to new markets, unleashing more innovation, and greater social stability so necessary for markets to function. Conversely, business has much to lose from an economy that fails to capitalize fully on human capital, constricts markets, and experiences sluggish demand. This working paper introduces BSR’s perspective on the business role in creating inclusive prosperity.

A primer on the most relevant, urgent, and probable human rights impacts for the extractives sector and opportunities for positive impact.

An increasing number of companies recognize that water poses a significant risk to their business and have begun to take action to mitigate their risks via improved water management practices and stewardship. This paper proposes a new recognition that companies seeking to manage water-related business risks can and should contribute to improved water and sanitation management and governance that is also in the public interest.