Programme Overview

SDG Ambition
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SDG Ambition is a six-month accelerator that aims to challenge and support participating companies of the United Nations Global Compact in setting ambitious corporate targets and accelerating the integration of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) into core business management. This programme enables companies to move beyond incremental progress and step up transformative change, unlocking business value, building business resilience, and enabling long-term growth.

Originally developed in 2019, the programme has now reached over 90 countries and 2,000+ companies in all industries.

SDG Ambition Accelerator will empower and equip participating companies of the UN Global Compact to develop and implement innovative business strategies that significantly increase their positive impact on the SDGs. Through the Global Compact Country Networks, participating companies will assess current performance, identify risk areas, discover new opportunities across business units and functions and take ambitious business action towards achieving the SDGs.

Participating in the SDG Ambition Accelerator allows companies to select benchmarks linked to the Forward Faster targets and use the 8-step approach to help them reach their goals. Almost 70% of companies from previous rounds have committed to adopting SDG Ambition Benchmarks associated with the Forward Faster Initiative. After completing the SDG Ambition Accelerator, companies with goals related to Forward Faster will be invited to join the initiative. This will give them access to:

  • Recognition: Receive public recognition for demonstrating highest level ambition ensuring transparency and credibility in sustainability efforts while avoiding the pitfalls of greenwashing.
  • Policy advocacy: Gain access to closed-door policy dialogues and high-level convenings, influencing decision-making processes and shaping impactful policies.
  • Thought Leadership: Showcase successes through case studies, speaking engagements, and featured impact stories, inspiring others with your sustainability leadership
  • Global Forums and convenings: Secure access to global forums, enabling leadership representation, peer exchange and amplifying ambitious actions on a worldwide stage ensuring a genuine commitment to sustainability.


PROGRAMME BENEFITS

  • Enhanced alignment with the SDGs: The program helps companies align their business strategies with the SDGs, providing a framework to integrate sustainability into their core business practices and goals and a systems thinking approach.
  • Improved business performance: Aligning business strategies with the SDGs represents a market opportunity and leads to financial success in the long run. The program allows companies to identify new business opportunities, lower expenses, and enhance risk management.
  • Access to resources and expertise: The program provides guidance, peer-to-peer learning opportunities, networking opportunities, and a clear methodology beyond the SDGs.
  • Improved innovation: By prioritizing the SDGs, companies can stimulate innovation and the development of new products, services, and business models that meet the needs of a rapidly changing world.
  • Reinforced resilience: Businesses prioritizing sustainability have a better chance of enduring disruptions and adapting to shifting market conditions and regulatory changes. This resilience can enhance their long-term market competitiveness.
  • Participate in the Forward Faster initiative by selecting SDG Ambition Benchmarks linked to the Forward Faster targets.

WHAT YOU WILL GAIN


  • How to strategically prioritize actions & goals that will accelerate your company’s contribution to the 2030 Agenda.
  • How to set targets aligned with aspirational ambition benchmarks to spearhead the transformation of economies and societies.
  • How to identify subgoals & track performance metrics to evaluate progress and inform iterative decision-making.
  • How to approach sustainability management and design new business processes & systems that integrate SDG goals across multiple parts of the business.
  • How to build a business case and generate sustainability buy-in from your company.
  • A comprehensive 8-step approach to take you through all the steps above, from strategic prioritization to actioning on system opportunities to accelerate integration.

Who can participate

The UN Global Compact invites companies to join SDG Ambition Accelerator. In order to take part, companies are required to be participants of the UN Global Compact in good standing and to meet the following criteria:


  • Currently engaged with a Global Compact Country Network in your country or willing to join
  • Committed to strengthening corporate target setting and action to increase progress on the SDGs
  • Willing to appoint two representatives who can commit to around 6.5 hours per month for a six-month period to participate in programme activities and events and an executive level “Ambassador” to follow programme developments, provide support and participate in high-level events.

Delivered through the UN Global Compact Academy.

THE LEARNING EXPERIENCE

The Accelerator includes a 6-month immersive curriculum consisting of 8 steps. Each step will include a short theory on-demand session accessible through the UN Global Compact Academy, followed by a hands-on action class to practice the content and frameworks learned.

The Accelerator curriculum will include:

  • Opening & closing ceremonies
  • Eight on-demand courses
  • Eight facilitated sessions
  • Five global topic sessions
  • Four internal check-ins
  • Additional supplementary sessions to reinforce the curriculum
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Learn what participating companies are saying

* Round 4 2023/24 results

Interested in Participating?

In-Network Track: Available in over 40 Country Networks, the in-network track will be facilitated in the local language and local time zone wherever possible. It will feature a series of live and on-demand sessions, hands-on support, workshops, and peer-to-peer networking opportunities.

Global Track: Facilitated in English, the global track is available for companies that do not have a Country Network running the SDG Ambition Accelerator. It will offer the same curriculum as the in-network track and is delivered through a series of live and on-demand sessions. The live sessions in the Global Track will be facilitated at 08:00 AM GMT/5:00 PM JST. Space is limited. Please apply early.

Africa track: The Africa track will be facilitated in English and offer the same curriculum content as the in-country track delivered through a series of global live and on-demand sessions. It will be available in African countries where an in-country or regional track is not available. The live sessions in the Africa Track will be facilitated at 10:00 AM GMT. Space is limited. Please apply early.

Participating companies of the UN Global Compact based in the countries below can sign up for the in-network track through their Global Compact Country Network. If you are not located in one of the countries below, you can still apply to the Global Track.


The in-network track of the SDG Ambition Accelerator is offered by these Country Networks:

  • Argentina*
  • Bolivia*
  • Brazil
  • Bulgaria*
  • Canada
  • Central America*
  • Central Asia (Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan)
  • China
  • Colombia*
  • Croatia
  • Ecuador
  • Finland
  • Georgia*
  • Germany
  • Greece*
  • Indonesia
  • Jordan*
  • Kuwait*
  • Lebanon*
  • Malaysia & Brunei*
  • Netherlands
  • Nigeria
  • Türkiye*
  • United Kingdom*
  • United Arab Emirates*
  • United States*
  • Uruguay*

* Three-month curriculum programme

Timeline

Applications Open:
10 July 2024
(Please check the exact dates with your Global Compact Country Network)

Application Deadline:
Please check the exact dates with your Global Compact Country Network

Programme Begins:
October 2024
(Please check the exact dates with your Global Compact Country Network)

Programme ends:
May 2025
(Please check the exact dates with your Global Compact Country Network)




Supported by:

Patrons:

Sponsor:

Delivered through the UN Global Compact Academy.

Resources

SDG Ambition

SDG Ambition - Ambition Guide: Setting Goals for the Decade of Action

This publication establishes the initial set of SDG Ambition Benchmarks that challenge organizations to set more ambitious goals and targets in the areas in which business is positioned to have a substantial impact. Business leaders can use this document to support their strategy and set goals ambitious enough to deliver the SDGs by 2030.


SDG Ambition - Integration Guide: Designing Business Systems for the SDGs

This publication presents the approach through which the ten SDG Ambition Benchmarks can be integrated into core business processes and systems to enable effective measurement & management of sustainability performance. Business leaders can use this publication to identify the system opportunities to integrate the SDGs into core business processes.


SDG Ambition Benchmark Reference Sheets

These documents provide illustrative details regarding the steps to integrate each of the SDG Ambition Benchmarks into a company’s business systems, as well as the key design decision required to engage technology partners.


SDG Ambition – Scaling Business Impact for the Decade of Action

This publication is an introduction to SDG Ambition — a new initiative of the UN Global Compact. By raising ambition, deepening integration, and embracing new technologies we believe business can become a leading actor in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). With the launch of SDG Ambition, the UN Global Compact is proud to share its new SDG Implementation Framework, which aims to guide companies to deepen integration of the SDGs and Ten Principles into business strategy, operations, and stakeholder engagement.

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