Voluntary National Review 2024 - Global Compact Network SA

WELCOME TO THE VNR

Be part of the Private Sector Contribution to the South African Voluntary National Review 2024.

The Global Compact Network South Africa (GCNSA) is actively facilitating the private sector’s review of actions aimed at achieving the 2030 Agenda and the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This review serves as a significant contribution to South Africa’s National Report for the United Nations High-Level Political Forum in July 2024, marking the country’s second Voluntary National Review (VNR).

What do I need?

The following tools and documents will support you in your participation process.

VNR Synopsis & Briefing

VNR Priority Round Table Guide

Private Sector Voluntary National Review 2024 Industry and Sector Segmentation

The VNR Business Case

Across sectors, stakeholders are increasingly calling for sustainability. Businesses that align their strategies to sustainable outcomes are performing best, and organisations that authentically value sustainability are attracting and retaining top talent better than companies that don’t.

We asked early participants what they valued about being a part of the Voluntary National Review, and they prioritised the following business case benefits:

Connect to create new collaborative partnerships across industries and sectors. Open up new business opportunities.

Collaborate to tap into SDG opportunity that economists estimate is worth USD12 trillion. Sustainability is attractive to customers.

Build trust in our South African economy: inspire local and global investors, communicate that we are good to do business with.

Provide insights and your SDG data to inform trends that can scale SDG Action in South Africa, creating a national dialogue.

Contribute to a strong South African narrative that informs the National Development Plan and public sector SDG strategies.

Be part of a strong private sector collaborative voice that creates a unified sustainability platform for business.

Reflect collectively on SDG journeys, share best practice, peer-learn, and surface priority areas. Tell your success stories.

Join our VNR Process

Our first Voluntary National Review of action to deliver the Sustainable Development Goals was in 2019. Be part of the private sector input into the
South African President’s Report to the UN High Level Political Forum in 2024.

What Leaders Have to Say

The VNR Plan

Invitations are now open. Round tables and insights sessions will start from the beginning of July.

The VNR Roles

VNR Strategic Partner

Is a VNR Participant
Shares Research & Data
Communicates Frameworks
Provides Insight
Shapes Round Table Agendas

VNR Industry Champion

Is a VNR Participant
Industry Round Table Leader
121 Industry Interview
Industry Quotation

VNR Priority Champion

Is a VNR Participant
Topic Round Table Leader
121 Priority Interview
Priority Topic Quotation

VNR Participant

Completes Insights Survey
SDG Success Story
Round Table Participation

Mandate for Private Sector Participation in
Driving Sustainable Change

The Global Compact Network South Africa is partnering with the Department of Planning, Monitoring, and Evaluation (DPME) to support the Presidency in effectively communicating South Africa’s progress in delivering the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) that drive transformative change outlined in the 2030 Agenda. The report, scheduled to be delivered to the United Nations in New York in September 2024, encompasses the public sector, civil society and the private sector. The GCNSA takes responsibility for reporting on the private sector.

CONNECT

Connect with industry, experts peers enabling networks across organisations and sectors, unifying South African action.

LEARN

Gain the knowledge and skills to make progress and deliver impact by showcasing South African best practice approaches.

COMMUNICATE

Build trust and credibility by communicating your progress towards South African sustainability goals and targets.

LEAD

Show bold leadership and inspire others. Enable opportunity for leadership to surface and flourish, share your expertise.

This presents an opportunity to create a unified platform that brings businesses together, fostering solidarity and aligning private sector actions with the National Development Plan, other public sector plans, as well as civil society and community initiatives.

Download the VNR 2019 Participation Briefing PDF

The VNR Participant Briefing

We have consulted with the National Planning Commission to define a VNR reporting methodology, which we have baselined our private sector VNR Synopsis on. This VNR Synopsis will then guide the structure of the full report. The final private sector VNR report may be adjusted based upon the insights emerging from the analysis.

VNR Support & Points of Contact

VNR Registration Form:

https://tinyurl.com/3nw2vk8c

VNR Support Email Address:

VNR2024@globalcompactsa.org.za

VNR Contact Number:

011 771 4142

VNR Role Players

Dr. Achieng Ojwang

GCNSA Executive Director

achiengo@globalcompactsa.org.za

Rethabile Mbokodi

VNR Silver & GCNSA Membership Enquiries

rethabilem@globalcompactsa.org.za

Chloe Cormack

VNR Project Manager

chloe@empanda.co.za

Sifiso Nkosi

VNR Social Media Engagement

sifison@globalcompactsa.org.za

Note that Empanda, a participant of the GCNSA, is acting as the private sector VNR Facilitator.

VNR Resources

Blueprint for Business Leadership on the SDGs

The United Nations Global Compact Website

The South African National Development Plan 2030

GCNSA Programme of Events

VOLUNTARY NATIONAL REVIEW 2024 HANDBOOKS AND INSIGHTS

Private Sector VNR Report 2024

Strategic Partners

Latest VNR News

Private Sector Contribution to the Voluntary National Review 2024 Begins

#SAVNR2024

Private Sector Contribution to the Voluntary National Review 2024 Begins

The Global Compact Network South Africa recently hosted a private sector info session on the Voluntary National Review on the SDGs.This was the first in a series of engagements that will identify the private sector’s

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are answers to some of the questions that prospective participants are asking. If you have any further questions, then please do let us know.

What is the United Nations Global Compact?

The UN Global Compact is the world’s largest corporate sustainability initiative with 13,000 corporate participants and other stakeholders across 170 countries with two objectives: “Mainstream the ten principles in business activities around the world” and “Catalyse actions in support of broader UN goals, such as the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)”. You can find out more at the website: https://www.unglobalcompact.org

What is the Global Compact Network South Africa (GCNSA)?

What is the 2030 Agenda?

The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development was launched by a UN Summit in New York on 25-27 September 2015 and is aimed at ending poverty in all its forms. The UN 2030 Agenda envisages “a world of universal respect for human rights and human dignity, the rule of law, justice, equality and non-discrimination”. You can find out more at the website: https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/post2015/transformingourworld

What are the 17 Sustainable Development Goals?

Achieving all 169 targets would signal accomplishing all 17 goals. The SDGs cover social and economic development issues including poverty, hunger, health, education, global warming, gender equality, water, sanitation, energy, urbanization, environment and social justice. You can find out more at the website: https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/?menu=1300

What are the Ten Principles of the United Nations Global Compact?

The Ten Principles of the UN Global Compact. Corporate sustainability starts with a company’s value system and a principles-based approach to doing business. This means operating in ways that, at a minimum, meet fundamental responsibilities in the areas of human rights, labour, environment and anti-corruption. You can find out more at the website: https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/post2015/transformingourworld

Who is participating in the process?

The DPME approved that the GCN SA would be the private sector faciltitator of the VNR process in December 2019. In January 2019, the inaugural VNR Champions Round Table was convened to mobilise and process. This round table was attended by the following organisations: ABB Group, ABSA, Anglo American, AngloGold Ashanti, the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI), JSE, Narrative Labs, the National Business Initiative (NBI), Old Mutual, SAPPI, Sasol, Scatec Solar, Shared Value Africa Initiative, UN Human Rights Commission, and the UNFPA. Since then, further organisations have committed to participation. For information about the GCN SA membership, please visit our website: https://globalcompactsa.org.za/

Who do I contact for more information?

Please contact Dr Achieng Ojwang, Executive Director of the GCN SA for further information about the VNR: achiengo@globalcompactsa.org.za

Who do I contact for more information?

Please contact Dr Achieng Ojwang, Executive Director of the GCN SA for further information about the VNR: achiengo@165.22.80.114

What is a Voluntary National Review (VNR)?

The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development encourages member states to conduct regular and inclusive reviews of progress, which are country-led and country-driven. These national reviews serve as a basis for the regular reviews at the UN Economic and Social Council. Reviews are voluntary, state-led, undertaken by both developed and developing countries, and involve multiple stakeholders. It will be the first time that South Africa has undertaken a Voluntary National Review.

Does participation in the South African VNR have a cost?

There is a participation cost of R50,000 in order to fund the cost of reporting and the production of individual and consolidated outputs. The fee also includes the cost of events and webinars. Bigger organisations are offering to sponsor smaller businesses that form part of their ecosystem, to ensure well rounded participation of companies of different sizes. Additionally, further avenues of funding are being investigated. There are options for organisations to contribute subject matter expertise, tools and other services.

What does my business get for participating?

Participation in the reporting process will give your organisation access to the VNR collaboration platform and process which will deliver an individual report, as well as input to the consolidated VNR report. CEO and leader quotations will be utilised in awareness communications about the South African transformation work associated with the 2030 Agenda. Additionally, each participant will input to and receive a 3-minute UN Global Compact branded case study about the positive impact it is making. These will be hosted on the GCN SA website and can be shared on social media and company websites. The fee also includes 3 key events during the process, and access to webinars and virtual forums that arise as a part of the 2030 Agenda. Most importantly, participation is the opportunity to collaborate with key private and public sector stakeholders on priorities for the South African National Development Plan and other initiatives designed to transform and innovate South Africa. These agendas are critical to showcasing South Africa as a country with a prioritised plan for overcoming the challenges of today to ensure growth and a better future.

Why should our business sponsor participation of a smaller business?

South Africa is unique in a global context because of its commitment to broad-based black economic empowerment (BBBEE). Stakeholders in the domestic and international community are largely unaware of the work being done in the private sector to accelerate transformation due to poor reporting and compliance. The VNR process is designed to tell a story, rather than report on numbers, and is an opportunity to demonstrate how larger organisations are investing in suppliers, economic development and socio-economic initiatives. Champion participants have indicated that there is a strong case for making the positive contributions of South African business more transparent. By including companies from your business ecosystem, further richer case studies can be exposed, demonstrating the dynamics of transformation, providing role model examples for positive change.

Can my business play a role in facilitating or adding value to the process?

There are many organisations that have capabilities, processes and tools that can accelerate sustainable development in other businesses, making transformation and sustainability easier for new adopters. Additionally, there are many organisations that offer services in the sustainability space. The VNR is an opportunity to highlight and share existing capabilities and service offerings, creating a marketplace. If your organisation would like to contribute that would enrich the process, please let us know.

How has the reporting process been designed?

The baselined reporting process was designed based on the vision of the DPME for a best practice reporting methodology that is inclusive of all sectors and stakeholders. Best practice global reports were analysed into a prototype methodology which is currently under testing with Champion participants who are piloting the process to ensure it is practical, effective and in line with the objectives and aim of the VNR initiative.