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The Global Compact is a framework for businesses that are committed to aligning their operations and strategies with ten universally accepted principles in the areas of human rights, labour, the environment and anti-corruption . As the world's largest, global corporate citizenship initiative, the Global Compact is first and foremost concerned with exhibiting and building the social legitimacy of business and markets.
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It's The world’s most inclusive voluntary initiative to promote responsible corporate citizenship and ensure that business, in partnership with other societal actors, plays an essential part in achieving the shared goal of a more sustainable and equitable global economy.
It aims to bring business together with UN agencies, labour, CSOs and governments to advance ten universal principles in the areas of human rights, labour, environment and anti-corruption, as well as Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) principles.
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Global Compact in Syria
On Monday July 7th and in collaboration between the State Planning Commission and the United Nations Development Programme was the launching of Project SYR/08/001 ”Enhancing Civic Engagement in CSR Through Inclusive Growth Based Civic-Private Sector Partnerships”. The event was held under the patronage of HE Dr. Tayseer Al Redawi, Head of the State Planning Commission, and in the presence of Mr. Talal Abu Ghazaleh, Deputy Chairperson of the UN Global Compact.
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i. Capacity Development & Training
ii. Education
iii. Entrepreneurship
iv. Environment
v. Health
vi. National Development
vii. Rural Development
viii. Safety
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The launching was within “The First Introductory Conference on the UN Global Compact” which aimed at introducing the audience to the ten principles of UN Global Compact and shed light on the role of the private sector in institutionalizing these ten principles which fall under the areas of human and labor conditions, the protection of the environment, and transparency assurance within business activities and communications.
The event received distinguished high-level presence by Syrian Government and UN officials, senior executives of private sector firms, heads of development NGOs, VIP entrepreneurs and philanthropers, heads of Unions of Chambers of Commerce and Industry, and TV, print and on-line Media.
Substance was delivered through presentations by the Project Director in Syria, Mr. Muhammad A. Agha and his team on the UN Global Compact and Project outputs. Syria Trust for Development (TRUST) also displayed two cases of civic engagement in development, Shabab and FIRDOS Village. The final speech was delivered by Mr. Abdulsalam Haykal, President of Syrian Young Entrepreneurs Association (SYEA) on "Entrepreneurship in Development and the Art of Start”.
The launched project focuses on achieving inclusive growth through enhancing civic engagement and utilizing corporate citizenship in the development of the local community. At this point, several achievements have been accomplished: a number of advocacy and awareness seminars are scheduled in the Project three pilot Governorates (Damascus, Aleppo, and Der el-Zor). Within this context, the Project addressed the Business Women in Aleppo on July 14th. Additionally, a long list of leading corporations, such as Emaar-Syria, MTN, MAS Economic Group, Haykal Group, Bank Audi-Syria and Al-Fadel Group, have been mobilized and accordingly expressed interest in registering in the UN Global Compact Network.
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UN Global Compact was also present in the SYEA 2008 Job Fair and conducted two lectures on labour principles in collaboration with ILO and addressing job seekers and the 68 participating employers. The Project funded UNV participation in the said job fair as an effort to support UN Global Compact concept of volunteerism.
In parallel of the above, three assessment studies will be released by October 2008 on the private sector practices impact on environment, human and labour conditions, and anti-corruption and transparency in trade activity. A group of CSR focused NGOs, such as TRUST, SYEA, and Syria Business Council (SBC), will act as the resource unit for the private sector and the local community in achieving socio-economic development through CSR. A Projects Fair will be held in early November to mobilize the private sector commitment for development through supporting the displayed projects under UN Global Compact and CSR. The final event will be to hold a national conference at the end of the year for the purpose of launching UN Global Compact and its Network in Syria.
On another front, the Project will support financially and technically the anti-corruption study being conducted by the “Strengthening the Institutional Capacity of the People’s Assembly” UNDP Project. The said cooperation is intended to create a better understanding of the status on the ground and producing an on-target analysis in the Global Compact report.
This Project is funded by the UNDP DGTTF grant. Technical support is provided by ILO on the human and labour conditions component. The Sub-Regional Resource Facility (SURF) of UNDP has also contributed to the Comparative Experiences study of UN Global Compact among Arab countries as Syria stands fifth to launch this initiative after Tunisia, Egypt, UAE, and Jordan.
Agha had addressed the distinguished audience with the Project’s ambitions, within the National priorities, for the launching of UN Global Compact and its Network in Syria not only to be a case of success but rather to resemble a model for other countries in the region to benefit from.
A main outcome of the July 7 event was the announcement by Mr. Talal Abu Ghazaleh of a Syria UN Global Compact Committee to be established and launched by end of this year as well.
The national dialogue has started on this very important issue with an evident consensus. Great hopes are coming ahead.
Project Outputs
- Civic Engagement enhanced through participatory involvement of CSOs and the private sector in CSR using GC themes as an entry point;
- Three Assessment studies concerning Human Rights (Labour Conditions), Corporate Environment Impact, and Anti-Corruption Measures conducted and launched through the GC framework; and
- Inclusive Growth concept promoted and applied through effective CSOs facilitation role between the private sector and local community.
Project Partners:
- UNDP
- State Planning Commission
- Ministry of Social Affairs and Labour
- Ministry of Environment
- Ministry of Economy and Foreign Trade
- Chambers of Commerce
- Chambers of Industry
- The Private Sector leaders, including media
- The leading CSOs through the National Advisory Committee to be nominated in coordination with the NGO Platform
Global Compact Project Chart
