SDG Ambition Accelerator

Apply or nominate by May 3, 2023!

As part of the 2023 UN Global Compact SDG Pioneers program, UN Global Compact Network USA  is searching for professionals to recognize who are committed to advancing the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
Through their own company or by mobilizing other businesses, SDG Pioneers help advance one or more of the Sustainable Development Goals while also contributing to business success. Please note that companies must have submitted at least 1 CoP and be a signatory since 1 October 2022 to be eligible for this program.

This year, the UN Global Compact Network USA will award two SDG Pioneers. One to represent Small & Medium-sized Enterprise (<250 employees), and one to represent Large National & Multi National Companies.

UN Global Compact Network USA will award the two 2023 Global Compact Network USA SDG Pioneers at the local level on June 30, 2023. The selected individuals will then have the opportunity to participate in the final search of global SDG Pioneers to be recognized during the 2023 UN General Assembly in September in New York.

The application will be made public at 9:00AM ET on April 3, 2023 and will close on May 3, 2023 at 11:59PM ET.


The SDG Ambition Accelerator is an initiative that aims to challenge and support participating companies of the UN Global Compact in setting ambitious corporate targets and accelerating integration of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) into core business management. SDG Ambition enables companies to move beyond incremental progress and step-up transformative change – unlocking business value, building business resilience, and enabling long-term growth.

SDG Ambition empowers and equips participating companies of the UN Global Compact to develop and implement innovative business strategies that significantly increase their positive impact on the SDGs. Through the Global Compact Local Networks, participating companies assess current performance, identify risk areas, discover new opportunities across business units and functions and take ambitious business action towards achieving the SDGs.

Join the Network USA accelerator to be amongst the US cohort contributing to global SDG Ambition. There is no charge to join the Network USA accelerator if your company is a participant of the Network. The program will start in October 2022 and conclude in April 2023. You can apply on the main UN Global Compact website.

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

The UN Global Compact invites companies to join SDG Ambition. In order to take part, companies are required to beparticipants of the UN Global Compact and to meet the following criteria:

  • Currently engaged with a Global Compact Local Network in your region or willing to join (In-country programme)
  • Committed to strengthening corporate target setting and action to increase progress on the Sustainable Development Goals
  • Willing to appoint two representatives to participate in programme activities and events and an executive-level “Ambassador” to follow programme developments, provide support and participate in high-level events

WHAT YOU WILL LEARN

  • How to strategically prioritize actions that will accelerate your company’s contribution to the 2030 Agenda.
  • How to set targets aligned with absolute benchmarks that today may seem aspirational but are critical to spearhead the transformation of economies and societies.
  • How to hardwire SDG-related business goals and outcomes into core processes and management of business, to materially.

WHAT YOU WILL GAIN

  • An understanding of baseline impacts across the business in creating a comprehensive sustainability strategy.
  • The ability to achieve ambitious goals aimed at galvanizing business action with what is actually required to achieve the SDGs.
  • An overview of how to integrate and mainstream ambitious sustainability goals across business units by pioneering a performance integration approach that utilizes enabling technologies.
  • An opportunity to communicate and track progress over time aligned.