Program Overview

Since 2020, our SDG Ambition Accelerator has helped over 80 U.S. companies move beyond incremental progress and set bold, forward-looking targets aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). As part of efforts to evolve and strengthen programming ahead of the 2030 milestone, we will conclude SDG Ambition in 2026. Recognizing its strong impact and continued demand in the U.S., we will build on its foundation to introduce a new offering: the Sustainability Integration Program.

This nine-week program retains the core methodology and tools of SDG Ambition while better aligning with companies’ current priorities and the rapidly evolving U.S. sustainability landscape. Designed for companies ready to fully integrate sustainability into their strategies and governance, it provides a practical, systems-thinking framework to embed ambitious targets into core business operations and long-term planning - positioning companies for success well beyond 2030.

Network USA aims to engage at least 10 companies in the 2026 cohort, with each company selecting two participants. Companies are encouraged to nominate cross-functional teams. Past cohorts have included professionals from departments such as sustainability, human rights, supplier relations, procurement, engineering, and corporate strategy. The program tends to be most valuable for junior to mid-level managers who are well-positioned to drive initiatives forward and contribute meaningful operational insights. This program is open to companies at all stages of their sustainability journeys but is ideal for organizations that are at an early-to -intermediate stage.  

To learn more, join our upcoming information session on Wednesday, October 1, 2025 at 1 pm ET.

Program Benefits

• Strategic Integration: This program helps companies weave sustainability into core business goals, governance structures, and operational decision-making by using a systems-thinking framework.
• Peer Learning and Collaboration: Through interactive workshops and cohort-based discussions, participants exchange ideas, challenges, and strategies with peers across industries.
• Impactful Goal Setting: This program supports companies in identifying key sustainability priorities and translating them into bold, measurable targets that drive long-term value creation.‍
• Support for Reporting and Compliance: Participants gain clarity on aligning their goals with major sustainability reporting frameworks and emerging regulatory requirements.

What You Will Gain

• Learn to set bold sustainability ambitions that align with global priorities and inspire real change across your organization.
• Translate those ambitions into credible targets that accelerate progress, strengthen reporting, and ensure readiness for evolving disclosure requirements.
• Benchmark your performance using SDG-aligned indicators, while seamlessly connecting to leading frameworks and standards.‍
• Drive innovation, build resilience, and future-proof your business to create long-term value.

Eligibility Criteria

To take part in the Sustainability Integration Program, companies are required to be participants of the United Nations Global Compact Network USA in good standing and to meet the following criteria:

• Be active and have submitted their most recent Communication on Progress (CoP)
• Committed to strengthening corporate sustainability target setting
• Willing to appoint two representatives who can commit to a nine-week period to participate in program activities and events and an executive level “Ambassador” to follow program developments, provide support and participate in high-level events
• Attend one in-person sessions in New York City in April 2026

Timeline

Applications for the Sustainability Integration Program will open on October 15, 2025, and close on January 15, 2026. The program will begin in early March 2026 and continue through the end of April 2026. If you are interested in joining the 2026 cohort, please contact us.

‍