|
|
MONTHLY BULLETIN | DECEMBER 2025
|
|
|
A year in review at the UN Global Compact
|
2025 marked a pivotal year for accelerating sustainable business. Amidst global challenges, the UN Global Compact demonstrated that collaboration, accountability and principled leadership can drive meaningful change. Marking our 25th Anniversary, the initiative expanded to over 23,000 participating companies and strengthened action through new Country Networks and SME programmes. Throughout the year, global events — from the UN General Assembly High-Level Week to COP30 — mobilized businesses around climate action, human rights and inclusive growth. With new tools and insights launched, 2025 proved that when businesses act together, real transformation is possible.
|
|
|
Reflecting on Anti-Corruption and Human Rights Days
|
The Global Compact commemorated Anti-Corruption Day on 9 December and Human Rights Day on 10 December, reminding us that integrity, dignity and equality are essential to sustainable and inclusive societies. Corruption and human rights abuses undermine trust, weaken institutions and hinder progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The UN Global Compact calls on businesses to strengthen due diligence and protect the rights of all people across operations and supply chains. By championing transparency and human rights together, companies can build fairer markets and a world where everyone can thrive.
|
|
|
|
Global leaders unite at COSP11 Private Sector Forum in Doha
|
The UN Global Compact and UN Office on Drugs and Crime convened the COSP11 Private Sector Forum in Doha, Qatar, bringing together leaders from business, government, civil society and academia to advance anti-corruption and business integrity. Under the theme “Future-Proofing Business Integrity: AI, Innovation and Global Collaboration,” discussions highlighted how AI and data analytics are transforming compliance and transparency. The Forum also marked the launch of the COSP Private Sector Platform, reinforcing collective action and public-private partnerships to strengthen ethical markets and support the Sustainable Development Goals.
|
|
|
|
New digital tool for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) created by Global Compact Network South Africa
|
On 17 November 2025, Global Compact Network South Africa launched its new digital SME Readiness Tool at a B20 side event in Johannesburg. Developed with the UN Global Compact, the Africa Business Leaders Coalition (ABLC) and other partners, the tool helps SMEs assess sustainability maturity across eight indicators aligned with global frameworks and the SDGs. By strengthening reporting and highlighting capability gaps, the tool enables SMEs to become market- and finance-ready. The tool spotlights Africa as a driving force for inclusive, sustainable growth.
|
|
|
|
Global Compact Country Network Uruguay elevates the country’s global standing
|
Country Network Uruguay is sharpening its international competitiveness by placing sustainability, governance and strong institutions at the centre of its development model. At a recent UN Global Compact Network Uruguay gathering, more than 50 leaders explored how emerging global standards are reshaping the country’s path. Participants emphasized that sustainable progress must be economically viable and grounded in solid governance. With human rights, integrity, labour conditions and environmental management becoming key market advantages, collaboration across public and private sectors is more vital than ever.
|
|
|
|
UN Global Compact China Office convenes annual meeting marking 25 years of global impact
|
The UN Global Compact China Office hosted its annual meeting in Beijing, marking 25 years of the UN Global Compact. They convened over 200 business leaders and stakeholders under the theme, Sustainable Leadership and Chinese Companies’ Globalization. Discussions explored ESG trends, SDG alignment and the global role of Chinese enterprises. The meeting featured high-level dialogues, a CEO roundtable, the release of annual reports and the launch of six Expert Working Groups under the Belt and Road Initiative, reinforcing corporate action toward the 2030 Agenda.
|
|
|
|
|
Make sure to follow us on TikTok and stay in the loop!
|
|
|
GLOBAL SPOTLIGHT | Francophone Africa
|
Fondements de la Durabilité d’Entreprise Programme strengthens environmental, social and governance (ESG) capacity across Francophone Africa
|
The second edition of the Fondements de la Durabilité d’Entreprise (FDE) programme is boosting ESG capacity across Francophone Africa. Reaching 560 businesses in 19 countries through six French-language sessions, the FDE equips companies with practical tools on climate action, gender equality, labour rights and sustainability reporting. The programme is closing critical capacity gaps and enabling SMEs to advance responsible business. Strong regional partnerships and growing demand position FDE as a key catalyst for sustainable transformation.
|
|
|
Trending leading-edge Academy offerings
|
|
|
1. Doing Business with Integrity
Developed in collaboration with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), with thanks to the Siemens Integrity Initiative and Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (NORAD), this course supports businesses in demonstrating ethical conduct at every level. Covered topics include gifts and hospitality, conflicts of interest, facilitation payments, third-party vetting, social investments, bid rigging and the protection of whistle-blowers.
Enroll here »
|
|
|
2. Taking Collective Action for Anti-Corruption
This course introduces a six-step approach to implementing anti-corruption Collective Action initiatives, enabling businesses to diagnose local corruption landscapes, engage stakeholders, and mitigate systemic risks. Participants will explore the benefits of Collective Action, gain practical guidance, and learn from real-life examples of successful initiatives worldwide.
Enroll here »
|
|
|
3. Assessing the Risk of Corruption to Your Business
This session explores how businesses can use corruption risk assessments to identify vulnerabilities and develop cost-effective strategies to mitigate risks. Learn the core elements of risk assessment, practical approaches for SMEs, and good practices to strengthen anti-corruption programs from experts and practitioners, with real-world examples of risk-based approaches in action.
Enroll here »
|
|
|
Have questions about the Academy and how you can implement it across your company? View our new user guide here.
|
|
|
|
TAKE ACTION WITH KEY STUDIES AND PROGRAMMES FROM THE UN GLOBAL COMPACT AND GLOBAL COUNTRY NETWORKS
|
|
|
|
SBTi E-learning Course Collection
|
To support organizations in advancing their climate and sustainability efforts, the UN Global Compact Academy is now offering five new and enhanced e-learning modules developed by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi), designed to guide companies from foundational concepts to practical target-setting know-how.
|
|
Business and Human Rights Accelerator
|
The Business and Human Rights Accelerator is a six-month programme that engages participating companies of the UN Global Compact across industries and regions to move from commitment to action on human rights and labour rights. Registration is open from 10 September to 19 December. The programme will run from February to July 2026.
|
|
Action Required: 2025 CoP Submission Deadline Approaching
|
As of 1 January 2026, approximately 3,500 organizations are at risk of being delisted from the UN Global Compact if they fail to submit their 2025 Communication on Progress (CoP) by 31 December 2025, at 5 p.m. ET. Country Network colleagues included in the distribution list will receive this email for transparency purposes only. The message is not directed at Country Networks. We thank all Country Networks for their ongoing support in ensuring organizations meet their commitments. Please reach out with any questions.
|
|
|
UN GLOBAL COMPACT JOURNAL ARTICLES TO CHECK OUT
|
|
|
|
In December UN Global Compact welcomed 204 new companies and one new non-business stakeholder.
|
Largest companies (by employee number) to join:
|
- MIDHCO, Iran
- The Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company, United Kingdom
- Saudi Arabian Airlines corporation, Saudi Arabia
- Nestlé India Ltd., India
- Ermenegildo Zegna NV, Italy
- NU, Mexico
- Sarens, Belgium
- InfraBuild Australia Pty Ltd, Australia
- PT LAUTAN LUAS Tbk, Indonesia
- KPMG Holding AG, Switzerland
|
|
|
ABOUT THE UN GLOBAL COMPACT
|
As a unique initiative of the UN Secretary-General, the UN Global Compact calls on companies worldwide to align their operations and strategies with the Ten Principles in human rights, labour, environment and anti-corruption. Our ambition is to accelerate and scale the global collective impact of business by upholding the Ten Principles and delivering the Sustainable Development Goals. We are the world's largest corporate sustainability initiative, with over 23,000 company signatories and 2,784 non-business signatories, based in 167 countries and 66 Country Networks.
|
|
|
Follow us on social media
|
#TenPrinciples #UnitingBusiness
|
|
|
You are receiving this email since your email is listed as a contact point of your company to the UN Global Compact. Unsubscribing from our mailing list may prohibit you from receiving updates from the UN Global Compact. If you no longer wish to receive communications from the UN Global Compact, please click here to unsubscribe. UN Global Compact does NOT share your email addresses with sponsors or any third parties, and UN Global Compact does NOT run exclusive ‘sponsored’ emails on behalf of third parties. You are able to ask us to send you all of the information we hold about you (subject to certain legal limitations). To do this, please use the email address below and provide any information we may need in order to locate information we store about you.
Please do not print this email unless it is necessary. Every unprinted email helps the environment. If you have questions or suggestions, please email us at info@unglobalcompact.org
|
|
|
|
