14 December 2012: The UN Global Compact Board met on 14 December 2012 to set the priorities and direction of the initiative, including the Global Compact strategic review and the contribution of the private sector to the post-2015 development process.

At the meeting, which took place in New York, US, UN Secretary-General (UNSG) Ban Ki-moon, Chair of the Board, noted that now is an ideal time for the Compact to undergo a strategic review, to assess how the initiative can prepare for the next phase of growth to make corporate sustainability a significant force in achieving a sustainable future.

Ban also noted that the Compact has been charged with helping to engage business in the post-2015 global development agenda, and said that in the coming year, a new partnership mechanism for the UN will be developed. He indicated that the new mechanism would enable scaling up of business’ contributions in UN priorities including health, energy, food and nutrition, climate and water.

Board members reviewed the Global Compact Strategic Review, including: supporting and empowering the 101 Local Networks; enhancing the governance framework; and bolstering linkages with the UN, including the Secretary-General’s initiatives. The Board agreed on the introduction of a new disclosure requirement for non-business participants in 2013, and called on all business participants to make an annual contribution to the Foundation for the Global Compact.

Linking the UN Conference on Sustainable Development (UNCSD, or Rio+20) to the post-2015 global development agenda, Board members welcomed the Global Compact’s efforts to engage business in the process. [UN Global Compact Press Release] [UN Secretary-General’s Statements]