ABSTRACT
In December 2002, representatives from more than 100 companies, labour and non-governmental organisations (NGOs), government, and about 30 academics convened in Berlin for the second Learning Forum of the United Nations Global Compact initiative. The strategy devised by the Global Compact staff to move toward realisation of this goal involves five major elements operationalised through a network structure of companies, NGOs, governments and academics. The first element of the strategy is leadership, which requires signatory companies to get top-management commitment to the principles. A second is multi-stakeholder dialogue processes that can help companies and others involved in the Global Compact identify and solve problems together. The third strategy involves learning through various forums, such as the one convened in Berlin, which strengthens and reinforces dialogue by developing and disseminating knowledge and good practice related to the principles. The fourth mechanism involves encouraging networks of companies and other stakeholders to develop partnership projects and action related to the Global Compact and implementation of its principles, which can provide guidance and support for the Global Compact but at the national or regional level. Much of the work of making the Global Compact real will be done through evolving local networks, the fifth strategy (Global Compact Office 2002).
