15 May 2018
Local Businesses Discuss Action for SDGs in Latin America and Caribbean
Photo by IISD | Lynn Wagner
story highlights

UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed stressed the need to foster “a new generation of partnerships,” citing the importance of the private sector in this regard.

A new publication finds that 80% of the companies participating in the UN Global Compact in the LAC region are taking action on the SDGs.

The event focused on the way in which business can take a principles-based approach to the SDGs and sustainable development more broadly.

26 April 2018: A two-day event on local businesses’ role in advancing the SDGs brought together nearly 600 local and global leaders from business, finance, civil society, government, Global Compact Local Networks and the UN. Participants at the ‘Making Global Goals Local Business – Argentina’ event underscored the impact of multi-stakeholder partnerships and responsible business action in support of the SDGs.

UN Global Compact and the Global Compact Network Argentina organized the event in Buenos Aires, Argentina, from 25-26 April 2018. In a video message, UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed stressed the need to foster “a new generation of partnerships,” citing the importance of businesses’ alignment with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. She encouraged companies to sign on to the Ten Principles, which address human rights, labor, environment and anti-corruption.

The event included the launch of the ‘Blueprint for Business Leadership on the SDGs,’ an interactive digital resource that asks business to reflect on how five leadership qualities—intentional, ambitious, consistent, collaborative and accountable—can be applied to their strategies. The Blueprint encourages adopting holistic and systemic solutions to achieve the scale of impact necessary for achieving the SDGs.

A new publication reports that 80% of Global Compact businesses in the LAC region are taking action on the SDGs.

Also during the meeting, the UN Global Compact released a publication titled, ‘Business Partnerships for the Global Goals: Advances in Latin America and the Caribbean,’ which focuses on business action in the region. It highlights that 80% of the companies participating in the UN Global Compact in the region are taking action on the SDGs. The publication discusses how the Compact’s Local Networks help business drive SDG implementation on the ground, including by: organizing local awareness-raising events; developing and disseminating tools and resources; facilitating and participating in public-private partnerships; and mobilizing finance.

The event also featured: concrete examples illustrating how business, the UN and Local Network collaboration is driving local impact on the SDGs; opportunities for businesses to connect in person with Local Networks from around the world; and the launch of the 2018 UN Global Compact SDG Pioneers Campaign, including an initial call for nominations. SDG Pioneers are business leaders who are doing an “exceptional job” of supporting the 2030 Agenda. The 2018 SDG Pioneers will be announced in September. [UN Global Compact news story] [Event webpage] [Blueprint for Business Leadership on the SDGs] [Business Partnerships for the Global Goals: Advances in Latin America and the Caribbean]

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