Since 2010, the UN Global Compact has partnered with 13* of its Country Networks to run anti-corruption collective action (ACCA) initiatives at the local and regional level. These projects have brought together stakeholders from business, Government and civil society to multiply the impact of individual anti-corruption efforts.

These locally-led initiatives have used various tactics, such as education and training, integrity pacts, and the development of certification-based ACCA business coalitions to advance anti-corruption practices.

Some achievements from these efforts include:

• Network Indonesia has engaged over 350 companies, primarily from land-based sectors like palm oil plantations, in workshops and dialogues to combat corruption. The network has also engaged in policy dialogue with the local Government to advocate for a business environment that actively promotes anti-corruption measures.
• Network Brazil won two awards at the Basel Institute on Governance’s 2024 International Collective Action Awards. The network’s Collective Action on Agribusiness initiative has helped create more transparent market conditions in this sector in partnership with the Brazilian Ministry of Agriculture.
• The collaboration between Network Kenya, local companies, and the Kenyan Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission played a role in shaping governance standards, including the national integrity plan and the Anti-Bribery Act.The network also trained more than 300 companies on the pillars of corporate governance and strategic leadership, aligned with the principles of corporate citizenship and social accountability

In tandem, the UN Global Compact helped reestablish the B20 Integrity Compliance Task Force, and became a Network Partner supporting the drafting of the G20 policy recommendations, addressing ACCA and incentives for business integrity.

*Country Networks include: Bangladesh, Brazil, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Japan, Kenya, Malaysia & Brunei, Mexico, Nigeria, South Africa, Thailand, Ukraine

Corruption has a cross-cutting effect that impedes the achievement of sustainable development worldwide. It weakens democracy and the rule of law and hinders the economy while fueling insecurity and the neglect of human rights. It causes the distortion of markets and unfair competition, which means increased costs, missed business opportunities and legal and reputational risks for companies. Neither governments nor the private sector can tackle corruption alone.

That is why, in 2023, the UN Global Compact launched a call-to-action, in recognition of the 20-year anniversary of the UN Convention against Corruption (UNCAC), imploring Governments to strengthen and incentivize anti-corruption mechanisms. The call-to-action was signed by 500 companies from 91 countries, and presented at the Conference of the States Parties to the UNCAC.

In response to our call-to-action, 190 countries signed onto Resolution 10/12 which commits countries to providing incentives for the private sector to adopt integrity measures to prevent and combat corruption. By uniting the private sector, Governments, and civil society to collectively advance the anti-corruption agenda, we help address Sustainable Development Goals 16 (peace, justice and strong institutions) and 17 (partnerships).

Transformational governance is a principles-based approach that calls on businesses to be more accountable, ethical, inclusive, and transparent and to foster a culture of integrity that focuses not just on what is legal but what is right. Underpinned by SDG 16's tenets of peace, justice and strong institutions, it connects businesses to the communities they serve. In practice, this means integrating environmental, social, and governance standards holistically into business strategy and operations, ensuring sustainability is woven into the fabric of the organization rather than treated as a separate initiative. In 2021, the UN Global Compact published the SDG 16 Business Framework | Inspiring Transformational Governance to guide businesses in how to align their practices with the targets of SDG 16.

Building upon this, the UN Global Compact launched the Transformational Governance (TG) Think Lab in 2022. As part of the TG Think Lab and in response to the rise of Chief Legal Officers in advancing corporate sustainability, the UN Global Compact engaged the legal profession and related functions to share best practices in strengthening business action on transformational governance. This resulted in a Legal Outcomes document, and in the creation of a Legal Council in September 2024.

Participants of the TG Think Lab also produced a Corporate Toolkit, accessed 11,697 times since February 2024, to operationalize transformational governance. One element of the Toolkit is a self-assessment tool for companies to measure performance over time. The UN Global Compact has since delivered introductory workshops of the toolkit globally through 10 Country Networks, including Azerbaijan, Bolivia, Indian Ocean, Indonesia, Italy, Kenya, Nigeria, Turkey, USA, UK, with more slated for 2025.

The UN Global Compact launched a new Think Lab on Business Integrity in May 2024. Made up of 26 companies from across regions, and with the input of its partner organization UNODC, the initiative is working to update the Anti-Corruption Ethics and Compliance Programme for Business: A Practical Guide utilizing a transformational governance lens. This practical Guide will launch in 2025. As a next step, UNGC is scoping to supplement the aforementioned Guide with practical guidance on how companies can leverage technology and specifically AI to enhance their anti-corruption, ethics and compliance programmes.