Celebrating Achievements and Recognizing Excellence in Sustainable Business Practices

Today the United Nations Global Compact SDG Ambition Accelerator Programme, a groundbreaking initiative promoting sustainable business practices, officially concluded with an award ceremony at the UN Plaza in Almaty. Best practices were presented by Jusan Bank, Satbayev University, OnlineKazFinance, RSK Bank and others.

The SDG Ambition Accelerator is a six-month educational initiative, designed by UN experts and partners, to expedite the integration of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals into the strategic and operational facets of businesses. From October 2023 to March 2024, a dedicated training was organized for Central Asian countries, providing support for representatives from 40 companies in Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Kyrgyzstan.

UN Resident Coordinator in Kazakhstan, Michaela Friberg-Storey, noted: "With the recent launch of the Business and Human Rights Accelerator in February and the upcoming Climate Ambition Accelerator in May, it is evident that the local business community's interest in these initiatives is growing—a clear indicator of its alignment with the international agenda. Business plays a pivotal role as a key stakeholder in achieving the sustainable development goals."

The UN has moved away from donation-based partnerships to building more strategic business relationships. The Accelerator Programme has proven to be an effective tool in stimulating growth, creating job opportunities, and fostering innovation to address social challenges. It has also played a pivotal role in actively engaging businesses in the fight against climate change. Today 62 companies from Kazakhstan are members of the UN Global Compact.

The United Nations Global Compact is the world's largest corporate sustainability initiative. Founded in 2000, the UN Global Compact calls on companies to align their strategies and operations with the Ten Universal Principles on Human Rights, Labor, Environment, and Anti-Corruption, and to promote the Sustainable Development Goals. Today, the Global Compact unites more than 21,000 businesses and organizations worldwide.