Governance

The UN Global Compact Office (New York) sits above the UNGC framework. This is supported by the four core thematic domains which comprise the Ten Principles: Human Rights, Anti-Corruption, Labour and Environment.

Connected to these Principles, and therefore to the UN Global Compact itself, are multiple and various programs or initiatives auspiced or co-convened by the UN Global Compact with a global mandate and reach. These programs include the Global Cities Programme, the Principles for Social Investment, the Principles for Responsible Management Education, the Principles for Responsible Investment and so on. Each has its own Secretariat that administers the program/ initiative and delivers value to specific members, signatories or interested parties who participate in that programme. As an example, those organiations who generally belong to the Principles of Responsible Management Education are general academic organisations or institutions of learning. In the case of the Global Cities Programme membership is a little more diverse, but still specific, and includes Local Government Authorities or Local Government Councils. 

Within specific countries and regions are the Local Area Networks that support signatories to the UN Global Compact as a whole (including all of the programs and initiatives auspiced, co-convened and collaborated in by the Global Compact). In the case of Australia, the United Nations Global Compact Network Australia is that Local Area Network. In order for it to operate, under the banner of the UNGC, the Australian Local Network Representative signs an agreement with the Global Compact Office in New York providing a series of undertakings that the newly established Local Area Network needs to comply with. As a consequence, the Local Network Representative is required to provide regular reports to New York on the activities of the Local Area Network, compliance, breaches of committments and general knowledge sharing. The Local Network Representative  

To the side of the framework sit other partners and stakeholders – for the purposes of this example, those partners and stakeholders could include Governments, the UN Global Compact Foundation, other United Nations Agencies (such as UNDP, UNEP, UNESCAP) and organisations such as the ADB or the ILO.