United Nations
Development Programme

According to UNDP, in the age of globalisation, social and economic development is supported not only governments, but also by other stakeholders (businesses, local governments, NGOs, etc.). Hence, the UN system is promoting the idea of building a broad partnership for sustainable development. This partnership uses the potential of all partners and a synergy of them acting together for implementing a common goal.

Simultaneously, the concept is becoming increasingly popular among the business community that apart from core business operations, the private sector may and wants to (by utilising its business know-how, experiences, funds, etc.) undertake social actions, as they contribute to its long-term success. The above concept was named the Corporate Social Responsibility CSR.

Based on the assumption that business community may play a key role in solving some of the social problems, UN Secretary-General, Mr. Kofi Annan launched in 1999 in the course of the World Economic Forum in Davos the Global Compact initiative. The initiative appealed to the business community to be guided in their actions by 9 (now 10) basic principles in the areas of human rights, labour rights, environmental protection and counteracting corruption. Ethics in business is expected to minimise negative effects of globalisation and support the UN efforts for improving the fate of people around the world.

Global Compact constitutes a platform for cooperation between the UN system and the business community, based on commonly adopted values. In Poland, the Global Compact initiative is present since 2001, when the Global Compact Steering Committee was established. The Committee's core objective is to undertake projects for development, promote social responsibility of business within Poland's private sector, exchange of know-how and good practices between companies.

UNDP tasks within the cooperation with the business community include:

• promoting and establishing partnerships with the private sector for the
• achievement of UNDP goals (poverty poverty, sustainable development, etc.) through projects,
• consulting projects with the private sectors where business know-how may considerably contribute to their success,
• building together with the business community a coalition for advocating for specific issues,
• stimulating the private sector to undertake social actions on partnership basis with other social stakeholders,
• promoting the Global Compact principles,
• promoting and facilitating the dialogue between the public and private sectors,
• highlighting the benefits ensuing from such cooperation.