Press release
Companies commit to sustainable business practices
The UN Global Compact Network Namibia will be officially launched:
- on April 23rd;
- at Protea Hotel Fürstenhof.
- commencing 1500hrs.
The Honourable Prime Minister Nahas Angula will be Guest of Honour. The official launch will further include addresses from international experts in the field of Corporate Social Responsibility as well as Namibian corporate leaders.
Initiated by Kofi Annan, former United Nations Secretary-General, in 2000, the UN Global Compact asks companies worldwide to support and internalize the initiative’s 10 Principles and therefore to promote the private sector’s role as potential agent for sustainable development. The UN Global Compact’s 10 Principles are drawn from international conventions and commit companies to respect and advance Human Rights, Labour Rights, environmental concerns and anti-corruption measures in their sphere of influence.
With the on-ground guidance of local networks, such as the newly established Global Compact Network Namibia, the initiative has become the world’s most prominent platform for companies with a sense of Corporate Responsibility. Members learn and benefit from responsible business practices as well as from engaging in partnerships with suppliers, development agencies, civil society, the UN and governmental institutions. Participating firms further commit to measure and report their sustainable performance, as related to the 10 Principles, on an annual basis.
“Many companies are realizing that an improved understanding of social and environmental concerns and their impact on the firm’s operations and its relations with its stakeholders may not only increase their reputation but may also provide real business value to their current (and future) operations”, says Tim Parkhouse, Secretary-General of the Namibia Employers’ Federation (NEF). “Today the Global Compact promotes international, regional and local best practices and corporate tools, proven to enable positive change to benefit the firms as well as their surrounding“. The NEF was identified to host the Focal Point for the Namibian network during a conference in
Windhoek in 2007, organized by the Global Compact Network South Africa.
While the German Development Service (DED) provides most of the funds necessary for the first years’ of running the network’s desk, corporate members such as FNB Namibia and Pupkewitz Group Holdings have already contributed complementary funds to ensure the financial sustainability of the initiative. Other prominent members such as the Ohlthaver & List Group of Companies and Bank
Windhoek are also taking a lead in supporting the UN Global Compact in Namibia. The rising interest in the initiative has led more than 10 corporate firms, business associations and civil society organizations to joining the initiative.
On the one side, companies can use the UN Global Compact to individually tackle specific environmental or social concerns of their operations. On the other side, companies are encouraged to use the network for engaging in Collective Actions, giving them the chance to use their synergies and common interest in advancing one or more of the 10 Principles collectively.
For more information visit
Welcome to the United Nations Global Compact or contact Tobias Schiedermair, Technical Advisor to the Global Compact Network Namibia at
globalcompact@iway.na
