Events Calendar

The UN Global Compact Africa Hub is hosting a webinar on May 2, 2024, from 1:30-3:00 pm Abuja/Nigeria time. The online event aims to connect participants of the UN Global Compact and non-participants in countries without a UNGC office.

The webinar is part of the UN Global Compact Africa Hub's Connect Series, which engages target audiences locally, regionally, per sector, or organization. The event will introduce the UN Global Compact's extended Africa Strategy 2024-2025 and present a diverse portfolio of programs available for participants.

The agenda includes:

Introduction and Welcome Remarks

Extended Africa Strategy 2024-2025 presentation

Update on the Global Compact's Value Proposition, including a portfolio of localized programs, and impacts of the Global Compact on the Continent

Q&A Session

The expected outcomes include:

Participants from countries without a Global Compact office are encouraged to engage further with the Global Compact and harness all the benefits of their membership

Participants' experience in countries without Global Compact local activities is enhanced and enriched

Insights on the Global Compact's overall Value Proposition, new initiatives, and new opportunities to engage and raise ambitions are shared with participants

22 April: UN Country Team Session on the Private Sector Contribution to the SDGs through their Business Models

23 April, 9.00: Closing session for the Programme "Fondements de la Durabilité d'Entreprise" for French Speaking Countries hosted online from October 2023 to March 2024, by UN Global Compact Africa Hub in partnership with Network France will be held in-person, in partnership with CGECI, at CGECI.

25 April, 9.00: Session "La Durabilité d'Entreprise, un Levier pour une Gouvernance Responsable et des Résultats Performants" in partnership with Chambre de Commerce et d'Industrie de Côte d'Ivoire (CCI Cote d'Ivoire) and INAD-CI. The Africa Hub officially welcomes the CCI Cote d'Ivoire as a new participant to the Global Compact. 

 26 April: The Africa Hub officially welcomes Atlantic Group Holding as the Global Compact's new participant. 

As part of the UN Global Compact Africa Hub's Webinar Series engaging target audiences (locally, regionally, per sector or organization), the Hub is inviting Participants of the UN Global Compact in Uganda to CONNECT, in collaboration with the Global Compact Network Kenya and the Federation of Uganda Employers.

As the world's largest corporate sustainability initiative, the UN Global Compact calls on businesses to align their operations and strategies with ten universally accepted principles and the Sustainable Development Goals. With thousands of participants in over 160 countries, the Global Compact aims to mobilize a global movement of sustainable companies and stakeholders to create the world we want. In Uganda, over 40 companies have joined the UN Global Compact, representing a diverse array of sectors and sizes. This substantial participation underscores the growing presence and commitment to sustainable business practices in the country.

The UN Global Compact Africa Hub located in Abuja, Nigeria serves as the regional backbone for implementing the ambitions of the Africa Strategy and increasing the Global Compact’s footprint and impact across the continent. It plays a crucial role in localizing content from the global office to address the unique challenges and opportunities faced by businesses across the African continent. Through this webinar, the Hub aims to foster collaboration, provide resources, and offer support to accelerate progress towards sustainable development goals in Uganda.

Through this webinar, the Africa Hub seeks to provide a platform to share the latest updates from the UN Global Compact, notably highlighting the transition of the Global Compact Network Kenya as the new focal point for the Global Compact participants in Uganda, and the collaboration with the Federation of Uganda Employers. Additionally, the webinar will introduce the UN Global Compact's extended Africa Strategy 2023-2025 and present a diverse portfolio of programmes available for Uganda Participants.

Global Compact Network Kenya in collaboration with Danish Industry East Africa is set to host their inaugural East Africa gender conference.

The conference to be held on 21st March 2024 in Nairobi Kenya, will give participants an opportunity to contribute to the discussion on gender equality and further help strengthen the work done to foster inclusive and equitable societies while facilitating mutual knowledge exchange among the partners.

The conference will also be an opportunity to showcase the work of Global Compact Network Kenya, Danish Industry East Africa, and their partners within the area of Gender Equality in the region.

For more information, email: info@globalcompactkenya.org

The UN Global Compact Network South Africa has partnered with TopCo Media for the Future of Sustainability Conference. The conference offers opportunities to engage with renowned sustainability experts, business leaders championing ESG practices and policymakers shaping the future of sustainable development.

Conference key themes

ENERGY AND MOBILITY | Pioneering Renewable Pathways

SUSTAINABLE FINANCE | Green Intra-continental Trading Solutions

THE CIRCULAR ECONOMY | Ensuring Renewability & Innovation

SUSTAINABLE INVESTMENT | Green-Conscious Growth

ECO-TECH | Innovations for the Future

FUTURE-PROOF LEADERSHIP | Cultivating Organisational Change

THE BUSINESS OF BIODIVERSITY | Regenerative Land Innovations

Event Details

Date: 19-20 March 2024

Venue: The Empire Conference & Events Venue (16 EMPIRE RD, PARKTOWN, JHB)

Why should you attend?

Be inspired by keynote speakers and panel discussions addressing critical sustainability challenges across various sectors.

Network with like-minded individuals and organisations, fostering partnerships and collaborations.

Discover cutting-edge technologies and strategies to drive sustainable business practices and societal progress.

Engage in interactive workshops and breakout sessions to deepen your knowledge and explore specific solutions.

How to Register?

Global Compact Network South Africa participants have a discount of 15% on delegate passes. Use the code GCNSA2024 during registration to claim your discount.

Click here to learn more

The sixty-eighth session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) will take place from 11 to 22 March 2024. In partnership with the Champions of Change Coalition, the UN Global Compact will host a Roundtable Dialogue discussing the urgent need for more ambitious targets and comprehensive action to achieve gender equality by 2030. 

The UN Global Compact will engage the private sector to include their valued input in the effort to close the global gender equality gap, fostering a more inclusive and equitable world for everyone. In line with the Forward Faster initiative, the session will focus on what the private sector can do to close the gender gaps in representation and leadership, as well as the gender pay gap – stubborn deterrents to achieving full economic participation of women worldwide.

The event will also feature a networking lunch and a spotlight presentation unveiling the preliminary findings of research conducted by the Africa Business Leaders Coalition (ABLC) and the Boston Consulting Group on Women’s Economic Inclusion in Africa. Key insights of the Business Leadership Dialogues will inform the African Business Leaders Gender Equality Statement set to launch in 2024.

Details of The Business Leadership Dialogue:

Date: Wednesday, 13 March 2024 

Time: 12:00-16:45 

Venue: The Yale Club, New York

To learn more visit: 

https://events.unglobalcompact.org/businessleadershipdialoguegender

Transformational Governance (TG) prioritises accountability, ethics, inclusivity, and transparency in business, aligned with Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 16. Traditional corporate governance overlooks socio-economic, political, and environmental risks crucial to ethical leadership and sustainability.

In 2022, the United Nations Global Compact launched a ThinkLab on Transformational Governance to shape the Global Compact’s thought leadership on critical sustainability issues. As a result, the Transformational Governance Corporate Toolkit was developed. The Toolkit aids companies in assessing their TG baseline and gaining actionable insights. In Nigeria, integrating TG into corporate governance aligns with the global goal of creating resilient and just societies.

In line with this, the launch of the Transformational Governance Corporate Toolkit by the UN Global Compact Network Nigeria aims to identify integration opportunities within Nigeria’s corporate landscape.

Date:  March 5, 2024

Time: 10:00 to 11:30 AM

Venue: Lagos & Online

Register Here

The UN Global Compact Network Kenya will be joining the United Nations Environment Programme for the sixth session of the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA)(UNEA-6) that will take place from 26 February to 1 March 2024 at the UNEP headquarters in Nairobi, Kenya.

UNEA is the world’s highest-level decision-making body for matters related to the environment, with a universal membership of all 193 Member States.

UNEA-6 will focus on how multilateralism can help tackle the triple planetary crisis of climate change, nature and biodiversity loss, and pollution and waste. Backed by strong science, political resolve and engagement with society, the Assembly will be an opportunity for world governments, civil society groups, the scientific community and the private sector to shape the global environmental policy.

As the planet’s only universal membership forum for the environment, UNEA provides a unique platform for courageous decisions and new ideas to chart a bold plan of collective environmental action. In so doing, UNEA-6 will support the achievement of the sustainable development goals. 

UNEA-6 will be preceded by a meeting of the Open-ended Committee of Permanent Representatives, which will help lay the groundwork for the Assembly. 

For details click here

The United Nations Global Compact in Rwanda is hosting a CEO Breakfast on Thursday, 29th February 2024, from 8:00 to 11:00 am CAT, at Kigali Serena Hotel, to discuss the Role of the Private Sector in advancing Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Rwanda under the theme:

“Positioning Rwanda’s Private Sector to drive and report on the SDGs Achievement”.

This CEO Breakfast event is co-organized by the United Nations Resident Coordinator’s Office and aims to have 30 top CEOs in Rwanda in attendance. The CEO Breakfast will be an opportunity to encourage more businesses to join the collective efforts aimed at advancing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

By joining the UN Global Compact, businesses in Rwanda leverage peer-learning opportunities and UN Global Compact resources to reinforce their engagement, and therefore collectively support the country’s sustainable development journey.

Specifically, the event will achieve the following anticipated benefits:

Raise awareness among CEOs on the opportunities offered by the UN Global Compact in Rwanda to enhance their company’s sustainability journey.

Raise awareness among CEOs about the global urgency to commit to rescuing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly through the Forward Faster initiative.

Encourage the CEOs to deliberately align their corporate sustainability initiative to the achievement of the SDGs, including monitoring and reporting their contribution to the SDGs.

To learn more about the event, email call: +250 788636663 or email:

dushimumukiza@ungloabalcompact.org

The UN Global Compact will participate in the 7th African Social Partners' Summit (ASP), in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania from 7-8 February 2024.  The Tanzanian Minister of Labour and the Prime Minister’s office will be present at the opening, and the Africa Head, Dr Herve Lado, will be a Panelist on the Panel titled "Access to Finance,  Partnerships and Development Finance.

The Summit is co-organised by the International Organisation of Employers (IOE) and the Association of Tanzania Employers (ATE) with the generous support of the European Union and Business Africa.

Under the stewardship of employers, the African Social Partners’ (ASP) Summit serves as an important multi-stakeholder platform where key constituents from trade unions, government representatives, youth, academia, and international organisations converge to keep the spotlight on job creation across the African continent.

This 2024 Summit will review current national progress to advance job creation, specify priorities by country, provide best practice examples, identify effective strategies that promote inclusive growth, and sustainable development, and target resilience as we move forward in a post-pandemic era.

Driving corporate action on climate change.

Global efforts are off-track to limit global temperature rise to 1.5°C. To protect people, businesses and the planet from the impact of the climate crisis, we need decisive multi-stakeholder action, in line with the UN Secretary-General’s Acceleration Agenda. As Governments and non-state actors converge at COP28, the private sector plays a crucial role to cut emissions, accelerate a just transition to a green economy, and invest in adaptation and resilience for a liveable planet.

Join our community of global business leaders and problem solvers at COP28 in Dubai from 30 November -14 December to take action in the battle against climate change.

View the entire schedule

5 - 6 November

Cairo, Egypt

The UNGC Africa Regional Forum hosted in Cairo will serve as a dynamic platform for participants to engage in insightful discussions, exchange experiences, and share best practices related to the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and adherence to the ten main principles of the Global Compact.

This forum is set to foster meaningful dialogues and collaborations among executive directors and devoted network members, aiming to set the SDGs on a transformative path.

Together, we will agree on actions required to accelerate progress toward the SDGs, in alignment with the call from UN General Secretary Antonio Guterres for a Rescue Plan for People and Planet.

Stay tuned for more updates on speakers, discussion topics, and more exciting details.

Mark your calendars.

A partir de mardi 17 octobre prochain, plusieurs centaines d’entreprises africaines embarqueront avec le #Pacte #Mondial des #Nations #Unies, pour un parcours d’apprentissage de six mois sur les fondamentaux la durabilité.

Une session de 2h30 par mois, d’octobre 2023 à mars 2024, en français, en ligne, sur des thématiques d’actualité comme l’adaptation au changement #climatique, l’#égalité femme-homme en entreprise, le #travail décent…Première formation de cette nature en français en Afrique soutenue par le Pacte Mondial.

Plusieurs centaines d’inscrits déjà…mais il est encore possible de s’#inscrire via ce lien.

Nous attendons de ce parcours d’apprentissage qu’il soutienne les entrepreneurs africains dans les initiatives de durabilité déjà engagées et qu’il les équipe de nouvelles idées pour contribuer de manière plus #intentionnelle à l’atteinte des #ODDs dans leurs contextes.

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From Tuesday 17 October, several hundred African companies will embark with the #Pacte #Mondial of #Nations #Unies, for a six-month learning journey on the fundamentals of sustainability.

A 2h30 session per month, from October 2023 to March 2024, in French, online, on current themes such as adapting to #climatique change, the #égalité of women and men in business, decent #travail... The first training of its kind in French in Africa, supported by the Global Compact.

Several hundred people have already registered... But it is still possible via this link.

We expect this learning path to support African entrepreneurs in the sustainability initiatives already underway and equip them with new ideas to contribute more intentionally to achieving #SDGs in their contexts.

October 15 - 18, 2023.

A call to all sustainability enthusiasts!

Get ready to venture into a transformative journey with Sustain 360, our capacity-building program designed exclusively for UNGC Network Egypt participants.

🚀 We're delighted to announce this exciting opportunity, Sustain 360 first of its kind in Egypt for emerging sustainability leaders.

💫Sustain 360 will offer a unique platform for participants to explore, learn, and drive sustainability initiatives within their organizations.

Elevate your impact!

🗓️ Mark your calendars: 

4  - 5 October

Sandton Convention Centre, South Africa

Get ready to join the most impactful and forward-thinking minds across Africa, as we empower leaders to drive a more sustainable future at the ESG Africa Conference. 

This highly anticipated event provides an unparalleled platform for industry pioneers and experts to come together and tackle the common challenges associated with embedding ESG practices within organisations. 

The conference’s core theme, “Sustainable Future Through Leadership,” underscores the essential role that leaders play in ensuring their organizations align with ESG principles and integrate them into their overall strategy. 

Don’t miss out on this unique opportunity to be part of the change-makers shaping Africa’s sustainable future!

Learn more

4  - 5 October

Sandton Convention Centre, South Africa

Get ready to join the most impactful and forward-thinking minds across Africa, as we empower leaders to drive a more sustainable future at the ESG Africa Conference. 

This highly anticipated event provides an unparalleled platform for industry pioneers and experts to come together and tackle the common challenges associated with embedding ESG practices within organisations. 

The conference’s core theme, “Sustainable Future Through Leadership,” underscores the essential role that leaders play in ensuring their organizations align with ESG principles and integrate them into their overall strategy. 

Don’t miss out on this unique opportunity to be part of the change-makers shaping Africa’s sustainable future!

Learn more

21 - 22 September 2023

Africa has staked its position as the cornerstone of the world’s future. The continent is now positioned to be the most important driver of global business with a $2.5 trillion market opportunity. 

The Global Africa Business Initiative is designed to highlight opportunities on the continent where every sector of the economy from manufacturing to agriculture to services to finance is on a growth trajectory. 

The environment is primed for ambitious plays, for an infusion of creative and decisive moves for economic growth and sustainable development. 

Get the highlights from 2022 and join us at the 2023 conference.

Learn more here 

19th September 2023

Javits Center, New York

Theme: Moving Forward Faster

Alongside the SDG Summit 2023, during the UN General Assembly High-Level Week, this year’s UN Global Compact Leaders Summit will convene business leaders, UN officials, Government leaders, SDG stakeholders and civil society professionals from across the globe to comprehensively review the private sector’s contribution to advancing the SDGs. 

The Summit will address business leadership during converging crises, the critical role of a principles-based approach, global trends, and tools and partnerships needed to achieve the 2030 Agenda fully.

This inclusive day-long event aims to inspire and challenge organizations to move forward faster by setting measurable, credible and ambitious targets aligned with calls to action in five systematic areas — gender equality, climate action, living wage, water resilience, and finance & investment — where the private sector is best positioned to advance the 2030 Agenda and drive progress across all 17 SDGs

Learn more and sign up here

4th September, 2023

KICC, Nairobi, Kenya

Business leaders from across Africa will gather in September as part of the UN Global Compact Africa Business Leaders Coalition (ABLC) to discuss how to advance Africa’s sustainable growth, prosperity and development.  The rountable will hold on the sidelines of the Africa Climate Summit 2023 in Kenya.

The ABLC is a CEO-led initiative emanating from the UN Global Compact Africa Strategy 2021–2023 and is committed to bringing measurable impact to the continent’s most pressing issues. It works closely with the UN Global Compact Hub in Abuja and 10 Global Compact Local Networks operating across Africa. Members of the ABLC commit to upholding the Ten Principles of the UN Global Compact and becoming a UN Global Compact participant within six months of joining. 

Ahead of COP28 to be held in the UAE in November 2023, the ABLC will focus its efforts on sustainable development and ambitious climate action by bringing the perspectives of dozens of leading African CEOs and Board Chairs into the global conversation. 

18 August 2023

Webinar

10:00 am -12:00 pm (PER)

The Global Compact Network South Africa is inviting companies of all sizes and industry sectors to participate in the launch of the Voluntary National Review (VNR) on the SDGs. VNR participation will involve companies contributing SDG case studies, impact stories, and challenges.

Join us for the launch and learn about your crucial role in ensuring VNR success.

Sign up here.

17 - 18 August 2023

9:00 a.m. Daily (WAT)

Organized by the United Nations Global Compact Network Nigeria and Global Rights, the National Business and Human Rights Roundtable is a forum for galvanizing corporations, government agencies and civil society organizations to support the business and human rights agenda, and in particular, strengthening the basis of a workable relationship between businesses, government and civil society in this regard.

The Roundtable led the various efforts that cumulated in the adoption of a National Action Plan (NAP) on Business and Human Rights in Nigeria building on the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights. The Roundtable reckons with the UN Global Compact’s mission of driving companies to align strategies and operations with Ten Universal Principles anchored on human rights, labour, environment and anti-corruption and ensuring compliance with relevant international guidelines on business and human rights, especially the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights and “Human Rights Due Diligence”.

Theme: Giving Effect to the BHR National Action Plan in Nigeria

Hybrid: Lagos, Nigeria & Zoom

Date: 17 and 18 Aug 17, 2023

Time: 09:00 (WAT) daily.

 Sign up here

25th July, 2023

Virtual

In partnership with UN Women, Global Compact Network Kenya will hold the Women Empowerment Principles (WEPs) Forum.

The Women’s Empowerment Principles (WEPs) are a set of Principles offering guidance to business on how to advance gender equality and women’s empowerment in the workplace, marketplace and community. Established by UN Women and UN Global Compact, the WEPs are informed by international labour and human rights standards and grounded in the recognition that businesses have a stake in, and a responsibility for, gender equality and women’s empowerment.

WEPs are a primary vehicle for corporate delivery on gender equality dimensions of the 2030 agenda and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. By joining the WEPs community, the CEO signals commitment to this agenda at the highest levels of the company and to work collaboratively in multistakeholder networks to foster business practices that empower women. These include equal pay for work of equal value, gender-responsive supply chain practices and zero tolerance against sexual harassment in the workplace.

Learn more here.

8th June, 2023

Westin Hotel, Cairo

Theme: Unlocking Financial Pathways for Adaptation Projects 

Discover how the private sector can seize climate adaptation finance opportunities, paving the way for a sustainable future. Don't miss out on this vital discussion hosted by the UN Global Compact Network Egypt.

Engage with industry leaders, experts, and like-minded professionals as we explore innovative solutions to address climate change challenges.