With the development of the Post-2015 agenda and discussion of the scope of potential sustainable development goals, the United Nations Global Compact has been asked to bring private sector perspectives and action to the global development agenda. As one of the priority areas designated by the UN Global Compact’s LEAD companies, Women’s Empowerment and Gender Equality aims ensure that all sustainable development goals be inclusive and gender-sensitive to facilitate maximum impact and avoid increasing inequalities. This issue paper explores the responsible business community’s willingness to contribute to the creation of women’s empowerment goals as well as to inform government and policy makers in future implementation of efforts involving the private sector. In addition, gender is incorporated into all ten (10) Issue Briefs exploring a different priority issue area as identified through extensive consultations with LEAD companies and other stakeholders.

Provides an overview of how developing gender inclusive climate strategies can help businesses strengthen resilience and uncover new opportunities.

Learn about how companies in the Global Compact LEAD are taking action to advance corporate sustainability around the world.

Showcases core business solutions to address global challenges. This compilation of case examples features Global Compact LEAD companies that have taken action to advance sustainable development

Lays out five defining features of corporate sustainability, which the Global Compact asks businesses to strive towards – looking at why each element is essential, how business can move forward and what the Global Compact is doing to help.

Identifying the importance of gender equality to the business case, companies around the world have taken steps to advance and empower women.

Provides guidance on how businesses and business schools can collaborate to co-create solutions for sustainability challenges. The toolkit and brochure feature inspiring examples of partnerships, categorized under five themes: influencing, training, collaborating, researching and consulting.

Demonstrates how companies can help to advance the SDGs by operating responsibly in alignment with universal principles and finding opportunities to innovate to address societal challenges. Through a commitment to the UN Global Compact, companies are taking the first step to contribute to achieving the SDGs and have access to a range of tools to scale up their efforts.

Features companies who have made a commitment to changing education; however, none of them acted alone. All have worked with numerous partners to maximize the impact of their investments. These examples are intended to initiate conversation between stakeholders with shared goals to better understand how to work together. By working collaboratively to assess needs and implement activities, investments in education by the business community can be better coordinated, have a greater impact and make a larger contribution to achieving the 2030 education targets.

Explains how the UN Global Compact calls on businesses to take action, and its place in the history of the modern corporate sustainability movement. The report then explores the role of the Global Compact in driving change by setting out 16 findings across three areas: 1.corporate practices; 2. the corporate operating environment; and 3. dominant worldviews. It concludes by setting out three pathways for the future – recommendations for how we can work together to achieve the vision of a sustainable and inclusive global economy, and what the Global Compact can do to scale its impact.

Presents examples of how business associations can and are contributing to sustainable development. This collection of case examples demonstrates how business associations can help their members advance sustainable development through information and knowledge diffusion; capacity building and education; technical standards and specifications; policy advocacy and public affairs; and fostering and brokering partnerships.

Seeks to advance the discussion on how the private sector can make positive contributions to peace in conflict-affected and high-risk areas around the world and, as a result, help to the realization of SDG16. This document complements existing materials such as the UN Global Compact’s Guidance on Responsible Business in Conflict-Affected and High-Risk Areas with a new perspective on deliberate contributions to peace by companies.