A New Way to Communicate your Progress is Coming 2023

We are excited to announce the launch of a new Communication on Progress (CoP) platform in 2023. The enhanced Communication on Progress offers many benefits to participants.

With the introduction of the new Communication on Progress, we will transition from a narrative format to a standardized questionnaire supported by a digital platform. All participants must disclose their progress using the new Communication on Progress system beginning in 2023. Prepare now by reviewing the new CoP Guidebook, designed to help you complete the questionnaire portion of the CoP.

Why the new CoP is better

The new Communication on Progress will result in improved data that drives sustainability progress and enables participating companies like yours to:

Build credibility and brand value by showing their commitment to the Ten Principles and the Sustainable Development Goals.

Measure and demonstrate progress to stakeholders on the Ten Principles and the Sustainable Development Goals in a consistent and harmonized way.

Receive insight, learn, and continuously improve performance by identifying gaps, accessing guidance, and setting sustainability goals.

Compare progress against peers with access to one of the largest sources of free, public and comparable corporate sustainability data.

We will also introduce a universal submission period from 1 March through 30 June each year starting in 2023.

‍What’s in the Guidebook

●        Information on calculation methodologies and rationale

●        Linkages to relevant sustainability reporting standards

●        Glossary of terms used in the CoP questionnaire

●        Answers to frequently asked questions

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About the Enhanced Communication on Progress

1.       What is the enhanced Communication on Progress (CoP)?

To add value to business participants and align with the latest reporting trends, the CoP has been enhanced to strengthen transparency and help companies improve performance on the Ten Principles. To this end, the enhanced CoP now consists of two requirements: A CEO statement of continued support and a new standardized CoP questionnaire. The CEO statement is a standardized template, electronically signed, and signals a participant's commitment to the Ten Principles of the UN Global Compact at the highest level. The CoP questionnaire spans five topic areas and is designed to help participating companies monitor and guide progress against the Ten Principles. The CEO statement and questionnaire will need to be completed annually via the new CoP digital platform.

2.       When can I report with the enhanced CoP?

The Universal Submission Period will be from 1 March to 30 June annually. Business participants must report and submit their CoP during this period to retain their “active” Global Compact status. See the new CoP policy for details.

3.       What resources are available to help me prepare?

We encourage participating companies to become familiar with the enhanced CoP questionnaire by reviewing the questionnaire template and CoP Guidebook. The Guidebook contains information and rationale for each question, a data checklist to help prepare and organize company data before reporting, and a glossary that defines terms used throughout the questionnaire. Business participants can also access recordings of this summer’s information sessions that review the CoP policy, requirements, and section deep dives for additional information.

4.       Where will I report the enhanced CoP?

Participants are required to complete and submit their CoP digitally through the new CoP platform, available through their participant dashboard. The platform will be accessible to participants on 1 March 2023.