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We live in uncertain times. With conflict and instability affecting too many people in too many parts of the world, we face a new urgency and must challenge conventional approaches. While the primary responsibility for peace and security rests with governments, business can and should play a critical role.
A company’s decisions on investments, employment, community engagement, environmental protection, and security arrangements can help a community avoid, mitigate and overcome conflict. Businesses that operate across national and cultural lines can act as powerful conveners and bring diverse groups of people together. Companies can create relationships based on a shared sense of identity and purpose, overcoming differences that, in the wider society, may be more difficult to surmount.
For example, through the Business Action Pledge in Response to the Refugee Crisis, businesses that operate in countries producing, transiting, or receiving refugees publicly commit to take action. This includes addressing the refugee crisis through core business operations such as hiring practices and sourcing policies, the development of products and services appropriate for refugees, or strategic social investment for NGOs, the UN and multilateral agencies.
It is important to acknowledge, in some cases, business activity may exacerbate conflict or instability – even if their intentions are for the best. A business may seek to meet the needs of one group of stakeholders while inadvertently ignoring the needs of another, or they may undermine a government’s ability to provide essential services. This creates a complex set of operational, financial, and trust-related risks.
Yet companies can be successful agents of peace when they take steps to understand the complex issues in conflict-stricken regions and partner with local governments and other groups to achieve common goals. By minimizing the potential for negative impact, business can ensure the long-term sustainability of their operations and play an important part in supporting development and peace both locally and globally.
With the new Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), UN Member States have set an ambitious agenda to create a more peaceful and just world by 2030. At the UN Global Compact, we are translating these global goals into clear action items for the business community. With an explicit goal, SDG 16, to “promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development,” companies have an opportunity to play an active role in its implementation and achievement.
Through our Business for Peace platform, the UN Global Compact helps companies take action on SDG 16. We call on business not only to act responsibly and implement “do no harm” business models, but to make intentional contributions to peace in the communities in which they operate.
Achieving a more peaceful, sustainable world cannot be achieved by any one sector alone. Collaboration and partnerships—between business, civil society and government – are essential. Working in partnership for peace will lead to more integrated, systems-based solutions. To deliver the greatest impact, business must be included.
In preparing for this year’s Future of Peace Summit, let us be reminded of the words of Eleanor Roosevelt: “It isn’t enough to talk about peace. One must believe in it. And it isn’t enough to believe in it. One must work at it.” At the UN Global Compact, we are committed to doing just that. Our Business for Peace initiative encourages the peace community to engage business around the world. Only by joining forces and working together can we help deliver a future that is more sustainable, peaceful, and prosperous.
About the author: Lise Kingo is the Executive Director of the UN Global Compact and a recognized expert in corporate sustainability. She leads the world’s largest corporate sustainability initiative with more than 12,000 signatories from 170 countries that have committed to aligning strategies and operations with universal principles on human rights, labour, environment and anti-corruption, and taking actions that advance societal goals.
The views presented in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily represent the views of any other organization.
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A Critical Partner for the Future of Peace
World map painted on hands isolated on white
June 21, 2016
We live in uncertain times. With conflict and instability affecting too many people in too many parts of the world, we face a new urgency and must challenge conventional approaches. While the primary responsibility for peace and security rests with governments, business can and should play a critical role.
A company’s decisions on investments, employment, community engagement, environmental protection, and security arrangements can help a community avoid, mitigate and overcome conflict. Businesses that operate across national and cultural lines can act as powerful conveners and bring diverse groups of people together. Companies can create relationships based on a shared sense of identity and purpose, overcoming differences that, in the wider society, may be more difficult to surmount.
For example, through the Business Action Pledge in Response to the Refugee Crisis, businesses that operate in countries producing, transiting, or receiving refugees publicly commit to take action. This includes addressing the refugee crisis through core business operations such as hiring practices and sourcing policies, the development of products and services appropriate for refugees, or strategic social investment for NGOs, the UN and multilateral agencies.
It is important to acknowledge, in some cases, business activity may exacerbate conflict or instability – even if their intentions are for the best. A business may seek to meet the needs of one group of stakeholders while inadvertently ignoring the needs of another, or they may undermine a government’s ability to provide essential services. This creates a complex set of operational, financial, and trust-related risks.
Yet companies can be successful agents of peace when they take steps to understand the complex issues in conflict-stricken regions and partner with local governments and other groups to achieve common goals. By minimizing the potential for negative impact, business can ensure the long-term sustainability of their operations and play an important part in supporting development and peace both locally and globally.
With the new Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), UN Member States have set an ambitious agenda to create a more peaceful and just world by 2030. At the UN Global Compact, we are translating these global goals into clear action items for the business community. With an explicit goal, SDG 16, to “promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development,” companies have an opportunity to play an active role in its implementation and achievement.
Through our Business for Peace platform, the UN Global Compact helps companies take action on SDG 16. We call on business not only to act responsibly and implement “do no harm” business models, but to make intentional contributions to peace in the communities in which they operate.
Achieving a more peaceful, sustainable world cannot be achieved by any one sector alone. Collaboration and partnerships—between business, civil society and government – are essential. Working in partnership for peace will lead to more integrated, systems-based solutions. To deliver the greatest impact, business must be included.
In preparing for this year’s Future of Peace Summit, let us be reminded of the words of Eleanor Roosevelt: “It isn’t enough to talk about peace. One must believe in it. And it isn’t enough to believe in it. One must work at it.” At the UN Global Compact, we are committed to doing just that. Our Business for Peace initiative encourages the peace community to engage business around the world. Only by joining forces and working together can we help deliver a future that is more sustainable, peaceful, and prosperous.
About the author: Lise Kingo is the Executive Director of the UN Global Compact and a recognized expert in corporate sustainability. She leads the world’s largest corporate sustainability initiative with more than 12,000 signatories from 170 countries that have committed to aligning strategies and operations with universal principles on human rights, labour, environment and anti-corruption, and taking actions that advance societal goals.
The views presented in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily represent the views of any other organization.
