UN Global Compact Business & Human Rights Accelerator Program 2026/2027

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Applications are open for UN Global Compact Business & Human Rights Accelerator Program 2026/2027. The Business & Human Rights Accelerator is a three-month programme designed to help companies turn their commitment to human rights and labour rights into action.

Through global workshops, regional and in-country peer learning, on-demand resources and guidance from Global Compact Country Networks, participants apply human rights due diligence to their own business context.

The Accelerator helps companies scope their value chain, identify and prioritize their most salient human rights and labour rights risks and define actions to address them in line with the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights and other international standards.

By the end of the programme, companies will have a practical Action Plan to take forward within their business — moving from understanding and commitment to concrete action.

UN Global Compact Business & Human Rights Accelerator BENEFITS

The Business & Human Rights Accelerator is a three-month programme designed to help companies turn their commitment to human rights and labour rights into action. Through global workshops, regional and in-country peer learning, on-demand resources and guidance from Global Compact Country Networks, participants apply human rights due diligence to their own business context.
The Accelerator helps companies scope their value chain, identify and prioritize their most salient human rights and labour rights risks and define actions to address them in line with the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights and other international standards.
By the end of the programme, companies will have a practical Action Plan to take forward within their business — moving from understanding and commitment to concrete action.
Develop a practical Action Plan to address your company’s most salient human rights and labour rights risks and define clear next steps for action.
Put human rights due diligence into practice with expert guidance grounded in the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights and other international standards.
Apply practical tools and resources to scope your value chain, assess and prioritize risks, engage stakeholders, strengthen remedy and track progress.
Learn from peers and leading experts through global workshops, regional and in-country peer learning, and exchange with companies facing similar challenges.
Strengthen your readiness for evolving requirements by aligning your approach with international standards and emerging human rights due diligence expectations.
Receive a certificate recognizing successful completion of the Business & Human Rights Accelerator.

Tracks

In-Country Track: In-country tracks are facilitated by UN Global Compact Country Networks in the local language and local time zone. Participants gain a unique local perspective, participate in peer-learning and benefit from the one-on-one support of their Country Network.

In addition to the in-country tracks, there will be several regional tracks.

Africa Track: The Africa track will bring together companies from across the continent and offer the same curriculum as the in-country track with unique collaborative regional sessions delivered by UN Global Compact Country Networks.
Asia Track: The Asia track will bring together companies from across the continent and offer the same curriculum as the in-country track with unique collaborative regional sessions delivered by UN Global Compact Country Networks.
Latin America Track: The Latin America Track will bring together companies from across the continent and offer the same curriculum as the in-country track with unique collaborative regional sessions delivered by UN Global Compact Country Networks.
Global Track: Facilitated in English, the global track is available for companies that do not have a Country Network running the Business & Human Rights Accelerator. It will offer the same curriculum as the in-country track. Space is limited. Please apply early.

Participating companies of the UN Global Compact based in the countries below have the opportunity to sign up to the in-country track through their Global Compact Country Network. If your company is not located in one of the countries below, you can still apply to the global track.

Eligibility Criteria for UN Global Compact Business & Human Rights Accelerator

The Accelerator is designed for companies with a foundational understanding of human rights and labour rights that are ready to put this knowledge into practice. It supports companies in turning existing commitments into a practical plan of action and taking the next step in advancing human rights due diligence. To take part in this programme, companies are required to be participants of the UN Global Compact or willing to join. Your company should also be:

Currently engaged with a Global Compact Country Network in your region or willing to join
Willing to identify its human rights risks and impacts and scope a core area of your value chain for further focus
Committed to developing and submitting an Action Plan to help address the human rights risks identified and prioritized
Committed to completing all of the mandatory programme requirements
Able to appoint two working-level representatives to attend sessions and participate in Accelerator activities and an additional executive-level representative to follow programme developments, provide support and participate in high-level events
Commit to applying the programme outcomes across the company’s strategy and operations