Ivorian Companies Step up Sustainability Commitment

In a significant development for sustainable business practices in Africa, the United Nations Global Compact and the General Confederation of Enterprises of Côte d'Ivoire (CGECI) have joined forces to enhance corporate sustainability in Cote d'Ivoire, paving the way for responsible companies to play a pivotal role in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).



This follows a crucial forum held in April 2023, which brought together the Office of the Resident Coordinator, the Africa Hub of the Global Compact, and the CGECI. The inaugural meeting of the Advisory Committee of the UN Global Compact in Cote d'Ivoire took place on October 24, 2023, at the Pullman Hotel in Plateau, Abidjan. The Committee will advise the Global Compact in the process of setting up a Network in the country in the coming years.

The collaboration coincided with United Nations Day, as Mr. Philippe POINSOT, the Resident Coordinator of the United Nations System, highlighted. He emphasized that the United Nations embodies values of peace and justice, making the timing of this partnership particularly poignant. The focus of the partnership centers on addressing sustainability and human rights, with CGECI-selected companies at the forefront of these efforts.

Stéphane Aka-ANGHUI, the Executive Director of CGECI, expressed enthusiasm for this partnership with the UN Global Compact. He highlighted CGECI's existing involvement in sustainability through the creation of two dedicated commissions, namely the Energy Commission and the QHSE and Governance Commission. Mr. Aka-ANGHUI underscored the importance of creating a favorable environment for companies to achieve sustainability objectives.

Hervé LADO, the United Nations Africa Regional Head of the Global Compact, provided a comprehensive presentation on the United Nations Global Compact, outlining its principles, integration methods for companies, and the roles of local actors in achieving objectives. Established in 1999, the Global Compact encourages companies to align their strategies with ten universal principles, covering human rights, labor, the environment, and anti-corruption. It also advocates for the advancement of societal goals and the implementation of the SDGs. As of 2023, ten business networks operate across the African continent, and more than 18,000 companies worldwide have embraced the ten principles.

To strengthen global collective impact, the UN Global Compact has issued invitations for companies in Cote d'Ivoire to join the initiative and take actions to achieve the SDGs. Membership conditions include a commitment to uphold the ten principles, encompassing human rights, labor, the environment, and anti-corruption.

The Global Compact in Cote d'Ivoire, represented by its new Country Manager Mr. Dominique KADJA, has set ambitious goals, aiming to achieve its initial objectives of recruiting 50 companies in the coming months in collaboration with CGECI. The inaugural meeting of the Advisory Committee was marked by the exchange of Letters of Intent between the Global Compact and CGECI.

Côte d'Ivoire boasts approximately ten pioneering companies committed, including NSIA Banque, MTN CI, SIFCA Group, IH2-Ivoire Hydrogène, AZITO O&M, and IFG Afrique.

This collaboration between the United Nations Global Compact and CGECI signals a significant step forward for Africa in terms of sustainable, socially responsible businesses. This partnership promises to be a vital force in the pursuit of a more sustainable and prosperous African continent, underlining the shared commitment to responsible business practices and the achievement of the SDGs