Ensure Just and Peaceful Societies for All

Governance is the systems and processes that ensure the overall effectiveness of an entity – whether a business, government or multilateral institution.

The United Nations Global Compact Network India has two separate programmatic interventions working with our participants & partners to better tackle SDG 16 as well as the "G"; in "ESG":

1. Anti-Corruption Programmes
2. Good Governance verticals

Core elements of good governance include transparency, integrity, lawfulness, sound policy, participation, accountability, responsiveness, and the absence of corruption and wrongdoing. Promoting good governance in all its aspects, including by ensuring the rule of law, improving the efficiency and accountability of the public as well as the private sector and tackling corruption, are essential elements of a framework within which economies can prosper. It is a multi-dimensional challenge, which requires efforts that are mutually reinforcing. For example, anti-corruption is essential to the rule of law because corruption negatively impacts state capacity, social inclusion, and management of natural resources. An effective ethics and compliance programme, which goes beyond mere compliance and aims to foster a culture of integrity, should include internal, external and collective measures.

In a journey which spans over a decade, UN GCNI has been a part of many Anti- Corruption Collective Action (AC CA) projects through various rounds of Siemens Integrity Initiative as well as UK Prosperity Fund India Programme of British High Commission. Collective action is necessary where a problem cannot be solved by individual actors. Companies are realizing that they cannot individually to tackle systemic corruption risks and the related challenges. It is either too costly or too risky for them, or it might provide an undue advantage to other business actors that are not playing the game in a fair, ethical way. Only if the public and private sectors collaborate can we overcome systemic barriers, change the status quo and build transparent systems that favour good performance.

Companies can engage with the UN Global Compact on the four critical governance verticals which are aligned to UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): Corporate, Urban, Environment and Health Governance. At the micro level, companies can enhance good governance by integrating corporate sustainability principles into their own operations and relationships, allowing for greater transparency, accountability and inclusiveness. At the macro level, companies can contribute to the development and implementation of international norms and standards, for instance, as part of their commitment to the UN Global Compact principles and SDGs.

By focusing on the ways companies can contribute to these verticals, at both the national and local levels, the UN Global Compact Network India is able harness the power of responsible business to respect and support the promotion of accountable and inclusive institutions and ensure just and peaceful societies for all.