The UN GCD is not only one of the first and largest local networks of the UN Global Compact, but also the largest sustainability network in Germany, including more than 1,100 participants – approx. 1,000 from German businesses and 60 from civil society, academia and politics.
The UN GCD, previously known as German Global Compact Network (DGCN), responded to the global initiative’s call for local networks to become legally independent. The German federal government welcomed this step. Anosha Wahidi, Head of Division at the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) explains: “The German government has supported the UN Global Compact Network Germany since the beginning as it is an important network for promoting corporate responsibility in Germany and along global supply chains. (…). Against this background, we welcome the establishment of the association as an important step towards creating the institutional conditions for its continued work. ”
The network calls for all German participants to join the newly founded association. For organizations and companies that already pay participation fees to the UN Global Compact, membership is free of charge.
Existing structures and processes have been largely incorporated into the association’s statutes, and the range of services, such as various dialog formats, will continue to be available for members, says network manager Sophie Bense.
