JOINING POLICY

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BACKGROUNDThe UN Global Compact is a voluntary initiative that seeks to mobilize companies and otherstakeholders from around the world to align their strategies and operations with universal
principles on human rights, labour, environment and anti-corruption, and take actions that
advance societal goals. With a diverse base of businesses and non-business organizations,the UN Global Compact engages stakeholders at all levels of their sustainability journey tocreate a movement of transformative change.
Companies that join the UN Global Compact are committing to:▪
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Operate responsibly by embedding the Ten Principles of the UN Global Compact intostrategies and operations;
Take bold, innovative action to achieve UN initiatives such as the Sustainable
Development Goals and the Paris Agreement;
Share their commitments and progress publicly through an annual Communication
on Progress; andAdvance the case for responsible business practices through advocacy andengagement with peers, partners, employees, clients, consumers and the public atlarge.

While the UN Global Compact does not have mandate to be a compliance or monitoring
body, the initiative provides a platform for continuous improvement, public accountability,learning, and dialogue.
ELIGIBILITY FOR ADMISSIONThe UN Global Compact is an inclusive initiative open to companies committed toimplementing the Ten Principles of the UN Global Compact, and communicating on progress.
To ensure the UN Global Compact policies and practices safeguard the integrity andreputation of the United Nations and the values it upholds, the initiative maintains a few
exceptions that restrict participation. Applicants that meet the following exclusionary criteria
cannot join the UN Global Compact:●●●●

Subject to a UN sanction;
Listed on the UN Ineligible Vendors List for ethical reasons;
Derive revenue from the production, sale and/or transfer of antipersonnel landminesor cluster bombs;
Derive revenue from the production and/or manufacturing of tobacco1.

Any subsidiary, irrespective of their parent company’s participation, can apply individually tobecome a participant. Alternatively, subsidiaries may choose to participate through theirparent company’s commitment, which applies to all subsidiaries and country offices. If aRevenue derived from tobacco was added as an exclusionary criterion on 12 September 2017 to align with themajority of the UN Agencies, Funds and Programmes, which recognize that tobacco products are in direct conflictwith the right to public health, and already exclude partnerships with this sector.
12parent company meets any of the exclusionary criteria, it will not be admitted to the UN
Global Compact. Subsidiaries and affiliated companies can apply individually should they
not meet any of the product-based exclusionary criteria. However this exception does not
apply if the subsidiary or affiliate is part of a corporate group that derives more than 5% ofits revenue from the production of tobacco products. To learn more, see the UN Global
Compact’s Subsidiary Policy.
As of 1 January 2018, we began revising our criteria to accept applications from micros (e.g.
companies and organizations with fewer than ten direct employees) and acceptedcompanies that were existing members of a Local Network. Starting in January 2020, theUN Global Compact will accept all businesses and organizations that fulfill the criteria forparticipation, regardless of the number of employees. All participating companies andorganizations are still required to have at least one direct employee and active operations.
PROCESS FOR JOINING THE UN GLOBAL COMPACT
All applicants are required to submit a Letter of Commitment to the UN Secretary-Generalfrom their highest level executive (or equivalent), committing to implement the Ten
Principles of the UN Global Compact, take action in support of UN goals, and annually reporton progress. In addition, all applicants are required to provide proof of legal registration
status. New joiners are due to submit their first CoP within the submission period of thefollowing calendar year after joining (e.g. if a business participant joins in 2024, the first
CoP is due within the 2025 reporting period.)
All business applicants are required to provide their annual revenue information in USD. The
applicant’s annual revenue information will determine the required annual financial
contribution amount. Further information about required annual financial contributions canbe found here.
The UN Global Compact Office undertakes a review of the application and all applicants arechecked against global databases to ensure the company does not meet any of theexclusionary criteria. Global Compact Local Networks are consulted for additional input andfurther information may be requested from the applicant. If, during the review process, theUN Global Compact Office identifies allegations or findings that the applicant is egregiously
or systematically abusing the Ten Principles and the violations are deemed to undermine theintegrity and reputation of the initiative, or if any of the information is determinedinaccurate, unclear, or incomplete, the UN Global Compact reserves the right to reject theapplication.
Last Update: March 20243