UN Global Compact Network Egypt Equips Businesses for Value Chain Transformation
UN Global Compact Network Egypt Equips Businesses for Value Chain Transformation
The UN Global Compact Network Egypt convened corporate leaders and supply chain experts for the Sustain360 Intermediate Level capacity-building programme under the theme "Sustainable Procurement in Practice: Applying ISO 20400:2017 Guidance". The three-day immersive training, which took place from 22 to 24 June 2026, focused on applying ISO 20400:2017 guidance to modern procurement practices. Powered by Global Compact participant, El Abd Foods, the programme gathered 37 procurement and sustainability professionals representing leading companies across Egypt's food and beverage, manufacturing, construction, and retail sectors. Through collaborative learning, the event provided participants with the frameworks needed to translate sustainability commitments into practical purchasing decisions across their respective value chains.
Sustainable procurement acts as the direct link connecting corporate Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) strategies to daily operational realities. By learning to assess risks and opportunities through a whole-life cost approach, participating companies reinforce the environmental and human rights pillars of the Ten Principles of the UN Global Compact. This localized action ensures that supplier selection and contract management directly advance Sustainable Development Goal 12 for Responsible Consumption and Production and Goal 8 for Decent Work and Economic Growth. Embedding sustainability into these early stages of the supply chain demonstrates how ethical sourcing is central to mitigating risk and building long-term business resilience.
The training structure prioritized actionable outcomes over theoretical concepts. Participants engaged in hands-on exercises designed to align procurement strategies with broader business goals. The curriculum covered the fundamentals of sustainable sourcing, the establishment of meaningful performance metrics, and the importance of accurate reporting practices. Attendees left the session equipped with customized roadmaps, ready to embed sustainability metrics into supplier selection and strengthen engagement with stakeholders across their supply networks.
The technical exercises led by Dr. Nasser Ayoub, Managing Director of Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), provided the groundwork, but turning those lessons into market realities requires strong corporate buy-in. Representing the driving force behind the event, Dr. Ayoub highlighted the strategic importance of this alignment.
"Supporting the Sustain360 programme aligns with our core belief that responsible sourcing is the foundation of a resilient business. We are proud to help facilitate this training, as true market transformation requires cross-industry collaboration and a shared commitment to sustainable procurement."
"To meet our national and global sustainability targets, businesses must look beyond their immediate operations and examine their entire supply chain. By equipping procurement professionals with practical tools, we are ensuring that environmental and social responsibility becomes a standardized practice across the Egyptian private sector," said Ms. Walaa El-Husseiny, Country Director of the UN Global Compact Network Egypt.
