United Nations Global Compact
Applications are open for the UN Global Compact Business & Human Rights Accelerator 2026/2027, a three month programme designed to help companies turn their existing commitments to human rights and labour rights into practical action. The programme supports businesses in identifying human rights risks across their operations and value chains and developing concrete plans to address those risks.
Organised through the United Nations Global Compact, the Accelerator brings together companies from different regions and industries for global workshops, regional and country level peer learning, on demand resources and guidance from Global Compact Country Networks. Participants apply human rights due diligence principles directly to their own business context and work toward developing a practical Action Plan.
The programme is intended for companies that already have a foundational understanding of human rights and labour rights and are ready to move from commitment to implementation. Companies must be participants of the UN Global Compact or be willing to join. They should also be prepared to dedicate representatives and leadership support to the programme.
The Business & Human Rights Accelerator helps companies establish or strengthen an ongoing human rights due diligence process. Participants begin by assessing their current position, understanding the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights and identifying areas where their business activities may create or contribute to human rights and labour rights impacts.
During the programme, companies examine their value chains, identify and prioritize their most significant human rights risks and develop actions to address the issues identified. Participants also learn about stakeholder engagement, remedy and grievance mechanisms and how to communicate about human rights impacts.
The programme includes global virtual workshops, on demand learning, local sessions and regional peer learning. Country Networks provide additional guidance and local context, while companies without a Country Network offering the programme can participate through the global track.
• Develop a practical Action Plan addressing the company’s most significant human rights and labour rights risks.
• Identify and prioritize human rights risks and impacts across the company’s value chain.
• Establish a clear starting point for strengthening corporate human rights responsibilities.
• Develop an ongoing human rights due diligence approach aligned with the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights.
• Improve readiness for evolving human rights due diligence requirements.
• Strengthen stakeholder engagement and approaches to remedy human rights impacts.
• Learn from companies and professionals working on similar challenges across different regions.
• Gain access to UN partners, experts and a global peer network.
• Receive guidance from relevant UN Global Compact Country Networks.
• Receive a certificate of completion recognizing participation in the Accelerator.
The Business & Human Rights Accelerator covers several areas related to responsible business conduct and human rights due diligence, including:
• Human rights and labour rights
• Human rights due diligence
• Value chain assessment
• Identification and prioritization of human rights risks
• Stakeholder engagement
• Remedy and grievance mechanisms
• Corporate responsibility and accountability
• Human rights action planning
• Regional and local peer learning
• Implementation of human rights commitments
The programme is designed for companies that meet the following requirements:
• The company must be a participant of the UN Global Compact or be willing to join.
• The company should currently engage with a Global Compact Country Network in its region or be willing to join one.
• The company should have a foundational understanding of human rights and labour rights.
• The company must be willing to identify its human rights risks and impacts.
• The company must be willing to scope a core area of its value chain for further attention.
• The company must commit to developing and submitting an Action Plan addressing identified and prioritized human rights risks.
• The company must commit to completing all mandatory programme requirements.
• The company must be able to appoint two working level representatives to participate in sessions and Accelerator activities.
• The company must appoint an additional executive level representative to follow programme developments, provide support and participate in high level events.
• The company must be committed to applying the programme outcomes across its strategy and operations.
Companies can participate through different tracks depending on their location.
The in country track is facilitated by participating UN Global Compact Country Networks and may be delivered in the local language and local time zone. This track provides companies with local perspectives, peer learning and support from their Country Network.
Regional tracks are also available. The Africa track brings together companies from across Africa, while other regional tracks serve companies in Asia and Latin America.
Companies located in countries without a relevant Country Network offering the Accelerator can apply through the global track, which is facilitated in English.
United Nations Global Compact
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