First UN Global Compact National Advisory Council convenes in Damascus

The endorsement of the private sector in Syria to the Global Compact has been beyond expectation- more than 15 private sector and non-governmental organizations have signed up to the GC, and 25 development project Concept Notes were formulated and will be used for mobilizing resources from the private sector.

The first UNGC Advisory Council has been formulated and held its first meeting over an executive business lunch this past mid-October, with the participation of 20 leaders from the Syrian private sector, international corporate representatives, local and international civil society organizations, UNDP, the Syrian Government, media and education sectors. The council’s first meeting defined the discussion points responding to national-priority objectives and electing committees champions. The work themes were set for the social, economic, private, local and international affairs.

The council also stressed the significance of this project in Syria and explained the impact it has on enhancing crosssectoral development partnerships and corporate citizenship. Talal Abu Ghazaleh and the audience commended UNDP’s role. They also stressed that social corporate responsibility is “not a charity but a duty. It is the full-fledged society’s right and the corporations.” The UNGC Office in New York had called the Syrian experience a “leadership case,” and the country’s local network was ranked “highest in growth ratio.”