25 November 2015: Regional and national networks of the UN Global Compact gathered for annual meetings in Africa and Latin America, in which members discussed scaling up work on corporate sustainability, building the ‘Post-2015 Business Engagement Architecture’ and implementing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in line with the Global Compact’s Ten Principles and critical business needs and operations.

Global Compact networks from sub-Saharan countries met in Lagos, Nigeria, from 23-24 November 2015. Members discussed working with stakeholders from the bottom up, and ensuring global-local alignment of aims.

Global Compact networks from ten Latin American countries met in Santiago, Chile, from 26-27 October 2015. They discussed implementing the SDGs in a systematic way, and building on the Post-2015 Business Engagement Architecture first proposed in 2013, which seeks to enhance corporate sustainability as a contribution to sustainable development. The meeting also introduced the SDG Compass, a resource to guide business action on the SDGs. The SDG Compass, which was launched at a Private Sector Forum at the UN in September 2015, proposes that businesses use the SDGs as a framework to shape, steer, communicate and report their activities.

The UN Global Compact is the world’s largest corporate sustainability initiative, and seeks to promote responsible business practices among the global business community and the UN System. [Press Release on Africa Meeting] [Press Release on Latin America Meeting] [Publication: SDG Compass: The Guide for Business Action on the SDGs] [IISD RS Story on Private Sector Forum] [IISD RS Story on Post-2015 Business Engagement Architecture] [UN Global Compact Website]