Calls companies to take action and provides guidance on how companies can support their SME suppliers to incorporate sustainability into their strategies and operations. It offers good practices, the business case for action and further resources that may be of assistance to companies in this endeavour.

Youth represent a quarter of the world's population and will continue to impact the economies and societies of the future, yet many will not realize this potential if denied opportunities to pursue decent work. Many entrepreneurial young people are starting their own business and creating jobs for themselves and others. This note calls on business to promote entrepreneurship among young people and to support and invest in youth-owned enterprises.

Considered through the lens of social license methodology, panelists explored how companies can analyze operations and supplier relations to avoid contributing to negative impacts on human rights, such as child labour. Participants discussed the importance of meeting the minimum requirements to respect human rights as outlined by the Global Compact principles and the Guiding Principles and how doing so can help mitigate potential risks to a company’s reputation and bottom line. Business panelists share best practices and lessons learned about assessing human rights risks in their operations, and strategies they have used to prevent or respond to them.

This working paper introduces the Supply Chain Leadership Ladder, a maturity model for supply chain sustainability programs, which companies can use to develop their program toward deeper impact.

A high-level summary of research findings and recommendations for driving progress on WASH and SDG6 through supply-chains and voluntary standards.

While data shows closing the gender gap would increase the GDP of countries around the world and advance sustainable development globally, there are still significant legal barriers to women's economic empowerment. To realistically achieve the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030, governments are encouraged to remove legal barriers restricting women’s participation in the global economy and to unlock the full potential of women and girls around the world. This webinar introduces the findings of the World Bank’s Women, Business and the Law 2016 report which found that approximately 90% of 173 countries have at least one legal barrier restricting economic opportunities for women. The discussion highlights the business opportunity and imperative to promote good governance and the equal rights of women and men required to create an enabling environment for inclusive and sustainable business growth.

Principle 3 of the Women’s Empowerment Principles encourages companies to ensure the health, including sexual and reproductive health, of all workers. Investing in women’s health not only benefits employees and surrounding communities, but it can also have a positive social and economic effect on the private sector. In ensuring that workers have safe working conditions and available health services, companies establish healthier staff, better relationships, and in many cases higher Return-on-investment (ROI). This webinar highlights the benefits of investing in women's health, real life examples from Levi Strauss & Company and Merck, and strategies that businesses can implement to respect and support women’s health.

The HRCA Quick Check comprises approximately 10% of all the questions contained in the entire HRCA database and relates to some of the most essential human rights issues a company must consider in relation to its activities

Highlights the linkages between human rights and anti-corruption compliance and how companies can benefit from integrating these considerations in their compliance programs. Adverse human rights impacts and corruption pose similar risks to companies, including the danger of reputational and financial exposure. Effectively managing these risks presents companies with common challenges such as detecting misconduct in the business organization and supply chains, and necessitates due diligence on business partners such as contracted agents and suppliers. Indeed successful implementation of human rights and anti-corruption compliance can contribute to corporate sustainability and profitability.

This practice note provides guidance for companies, especially those operating in emerging markets, on how best to plan and manage significant job losses.

Demonstrates how companies can help to advance the SDGs by operating responsibly in alignment with universal principles and finding opportunities to innovate to address societal challenges. Through a commitment to the UN Global Compact, companies are taking the first step to contribute to achieving the SDGs and have access to a range of tools to scale up their efforts.

Empowering women to participate in full and productive employment is essential to expand economic growth, promote social and sustainable development and enhance business performance. However, the positive impacts of women-focused employment practices on firms, communities and the economy are often under appreciated. Co-hosted by the UN Global Compact, the International Finance Corporation, and the International Labour Organization, this webinar presents the latest research on the business case for gender diversity in the workplace. The discussions highlight the key challenges and opportunities for advancing women’s employment and retention and present key engagement opportunities to further promote gender equality including the Women's Empowerment Principles and WINvest.