The United Nations Global Compact Business & Human Rights Accelerator 2026 is a six-month programme designed to help companies move from commitment to action on human rights and labour rights. It enables businesses to build a strong human rights due diligence process, align with international standards, and integrate social sustainability across their operations and supply chains.
About the Programme
Businesses affect human rights every day, from employees and contract workers to supply chain partners, local communities, and customers. This accelerator empowers participating companies to identify, assess, and address these impacts while building a long-term culture of respect for internationally recognized human rights.
Through live sessions, peer-to-peer learning, expert guidance, and an action plan framework, the accelerator supports companies in embedding human rights practices into core business strategies.
What Participants Will Learn
- How to identify responsibilities in line with the International Bill of Human Rights and ILO Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work.
- How to establish an ongoing human rights due diligence process.
- How to prepare for evolving global human rights due diligence legislation.
- How to report and communicate on human rights performance, including through the UN Global Compact Communication on Progress.
- How to link human rights work to wider social sustainability initiatives.
Benefits for Companies
- Clear understanding of where your company stands on human rights.
- Assessment of actual and potential human rights risks and how to prioritize them.
- Knowledge to mitigate impacts through grievance mechanisms and remedy processes.
- Strategies to engage stakeholders on operational impacts.
- A practical action plan to advance human rights internally and externally.
- Networking with peers, UN partners, and global experts.
- A certificate of programme completion.
Who Can Participate
To join, your company must be a participant in the UN Global Compact or be willing to sign up. In addition, your business should:
- Be engaged with or ready to join a Global Compact Country Network.
- Be willing to identify human rights risks and impacts in a key area of the value chain.
- Commit to developing an Action Plan addressing identified risks.
- Appoint two working-level representatives and one executive-level representative to take part.
- Commit to completing the programme and embedding learnings across the organization.
Also Read: Google Software Engineering Internship 2026 for PhD Students (Fully Funded)
Tracks Available
The programme offers in-country, regional, and global tracks, including:
- Africa Track
- Asia Track
- Latin America Track
- Global Track (English) for countries without a local programme
Each track provides live and on-demand sessions, expert support, workshops, and peer networking opportunities.
Important Dates
- Information Session: October 30, 2025 (virtual Q&A sessions available)
- Application Deadline: December 19, 2025
- Limited spaces available; early application is encouraged.
How to Apply
Companies can apply through their Global Compact Country Network or the global track if no local programme is available. After submitting your registration, your Country Network representative will confirm participation. For technical support, contact bhraccelerator@unglobalcompact.org.
This is your opportunity to integrate human rights into your business model and join a global community working to protect dignity and equity in the workplace and beyond.
