United Nations Global Compact (UNGC) Leaders Summit-a CSR update from Article 13, the expert advisors on issues of corporate responsibility and governance.

Jane Fiona Cumming, a Director of Article 13 – the corporate social responsibility specialists – represented the company at the summit. In her feedback, Jane Fiona reported on two key messages coming out of the summit: there is a desire to do more than just compliance amongst participants and there is a move towards working together to achieve scale. Two key questions which were raised a number of times throughout the proceedings revolved around making the Global Compact more effective and implementing a more robust peer review system.

Jane Fiona also reflected on two questions which were raised as part of a plenary session responding to McKinsey & Company’s new findings on the global megatrends that are shaping the leadership agenda. These questions were seen as a useful starting point for companies considering aspects of corporate citizenship:
• According to your view, what are the three most important environmental, social and governance megatrends? How do they affect your business or organisation?
• What are the three key actions business leaders and corporate decision-making bodies can take to ensure that these issues are more effectively translated into strategies, policies and operations – within a company, its subsidiaries and throughout the supply chain?

Relating to these messages and questions, Jane Fiona brought back a number of challenges which she has issued to the wider Article 13 team to address in the next phase of their UNGC-related activities. These challenges involve considering how Article 13 can scale up the actions they are taking; ways in which they can increase the ‘bite and transparency’ of their annual Communication on Progress (COP); and how to link the COP with the Millennium Development Goals. Jane Fiona has also encouraged the team to look at different models of collaboration that could be taken.

The United Nations Global Compact is an international voluntary initiative through which companies, UN agencies, labour and civil society work together to support universal environmental and social principles. Signatories of the Compact take action to advance ten universal principles in the areas of human rights, labour, the environment and anti-corruption. Further information can be found at www.unglobalcompact.org.
To find out more about the work Article 13 has been doing to meet their commitment to the UNGC visit www.article13.com and click on Our CSR.
Copyright Article 13 – July 2007
Article 13 are specialist advisors in governance, corporate social responsibility (CSR) and sustainable development. We develop policy and strategy through the use of research and engagement to deliver innovation, governance and organisational responsibility. We typically help companies, governments and academic institutions to meet the growing pressure for better performance, whether it is social, environmental, ethical or economic.