The UN Global Compact and its Local Networks - 12 March 2009

On Friday the 12th of March 2010, Mr. Edo Stork, Deputy Resident Representative of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Country Office for Trinidad and Tobago, Suriname, Aruba, and Netherlands Antilles, and the United Nations Volunteer (UNV) Programme Officer, Dr. Jens-Ulrich Poppen, took part in the presentation about the United Nations Global Compact held at Marriott hotel, Port of Spain. This meeting, convened by the Trinidad &Tobago Manufacturers Association (TTMA), was attended by representatives from the Association itself, by some other companies (both multinational and national) and also by an NGO.

The topic of the session was the role of UN Global Compact, an important initiative focused on principles in the area of human rights, labour, anti-corruption and aimed at encouraging business to adopt sustainable and socially responsible activities.

During the meeting the usefulness of local networks and the importance of having an emerging local network in Trinidad and Tobago, were taken into account too.

 The presentation opened with a speech by Nicholas Mouttet, from TTMA. He spoke about current TTMA CSR initiatives that focus on sustainability, a clear difference with the past, when the association was more focused on philanthropic activities without a sustainable approach. Then, he reminded of the close cooperation started with UNDP as regards socially responsible practices, up to the signing of the Global Compact in 2006. Finally, Mr.Mouttet talked about the areas on which currently TTMA is focusing its attention in order to adhere to Global Compact principles and to encourage other companies to behave responsibly.

The following speaker was Mr. Stork from UNDP.  First of all, he stressed the importance of Global Compact, especially for its catalyst action in support of UN objectives, including the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). He also outlined linkages of the MDGs to national development goals such as T&T’s Vision 2020. 

 With regard to Global Compact local networks, he explained of the facilitating role they can play to promote and develop CSR initiatives.  He also reported that most of the steps with regards to the launching of a Trinidad and Tobago local network, have already been completed and described how a company can join a local network and what benefits these network can bring to companies, in terms of creating more business and more employment.

He concluded his speech listing some current UNDP initiatives on CSR and underlined UNDP’s keen interest to develop more projects together with the private sector. 

During the Q&A session, the participants asked some questions to clarify some points and possible restrictions or prerequisites, as regards the participation of companies in the local network.

Other feedback from the companies were about various issues: for example how to get the government more involved, especially in term of support to these initiatives; how to increase attention towards environmental issues. Someone stressed also the importance of pioneering these activities, giving a good example to others, as well as of carrying out socially responsible actions to fight against scarcity of resources and economic challenges.