Communication of Progress (CoP)
As a business* participant of the UN Global Compact, it is mandatory for your organisation, along with all participating organisations globally, to annually release a public report known as the Communication on Progress (CoP). This report will be made publicly accessible on the UN Global Compact website. This provides an excellent opportunity for your company to communicate its efforts in supporting and upholding the Ten Principles of the UN Global Compact and advancing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
*Non-Business participants are only required to submit a Communication of Engagements (CoE) biannually. This can be done via the UNGC Dashboard.
A new way to communicate progress
on the Ten Principles is here
In 2023, a new CoP was introduced to facilitate participants to understand, measure, track, and disclose their performance on the Ten Principles of the UN Global Compact. The updated framework shifts from a narrative format to a standardised questionnaire supported by a digital platform. All business participants are required to disclose their progress using the new CoP system beginning in 2023. For relevant information and documents, please refer below.
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The enhanced CoP enables participating companies of the UN Global Compact to:
Measure and demonstrate progress to stakeholders and the public on the Ten Principles and the Sustainable Development Goals in a consistent and harmonised way.
Build credibility and brand value by showing their commitment to the Ten Principles and the Sustainable Development Goals.
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Receive insight, learn and continuously improve performance by identifying gaps, accessing guidance and setting sustainability goals.
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Compare performance against peers with access to one of the largest sources of free, public and comparable corporate sustainability data.
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The enhanced CoP consists of two elements* that must be submitted through the CoP digital platform:
[1]
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CEO Statement of Continued Support, publicly expressing your company’s ongoing commitment to the Ten Principles of the UN Global Compact at the highest level. The statement is a standardised template that is signed electronically.
[2]
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CoP Questionnaire, reporting on corporate action and performance related to the Ten Principles of the UN Global Compact and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
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*For the 2024 reporting year, a sustainability report uploaded through the digital platform can be submitted in lieu of the CoP Questionnaire.
(Available in multiple languages)
The reporting period for the mandatory 2024 CoP begins on 1 April until 31 July 2024. Organisations that do not submit their CoP within this window will be labelled as “Non-Communicating” – which limits their access to tools and resources of UNGC.
There will be no grace period and extensions for participants. If a non-communicating participant fails to submit a CoP within six months of becoming non-communicating (by 31 December of each year), they will automatically be delisted.
Questionnaire Deep Dives
CoP course from the UNGC Academy
Still need help? Check out the Help Scout FAQ tool or
reach out to the CoP team at cop-support@unglobalcompact.org.