UN Global Compact Network Germany

With the aim of initiating change processes in companies and strategically anchoring sustainability, the UN GCG focuses on the topics of human rights & labour standards, environment, anti-corruption as well as reporting and the SDGs.

Interview with Marcel Engel (exclusively in German); Source: 3sat, makro

The UN Global Compact Network Germany supports companies and organizations in aligning their strategies and activities with sustainability goals and the vision of the UN Global Compact. The UN GCG was created in the year 2000 on the initiative of German companies as one of the first national platforms. Its tasks and obligations as an official local Network are defined in a Memorandum of Understanding with the UN Global Compact; it may only bear the name of the UN Global Compact Network Germany as long as it carries out these tasks and fulfils these obligations. 

The UN GCG brings together all German signatories of the UN Global Compact. The network comprises more than 1,200 German companies and organizations from civil society, science, and the public sector and serves to provide information on issues of corporate responsibility, exchange ideas, and develop joint practical solutions. 

 

Watch the interview

Organisational structure and funding

The bodies of the GCN Germany are the Participants’ Assembly, the Steering Committee, the Secretariat (‘Focal Point’) and the Global Compact Network Germany Foundation. The Steering Committee controls the activities of the Network strategically, following the general opinions of the participants and proposals and ideas from the New York office. The Secretariat manages the implementation of the strategic objectives. It acts on behalf of and in coordination with the German Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and the German Foreign Office (AA) of the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH.

The work of the Network is funded by grants from the Federal Government and by an increasing proportion of funds of the GCN Germany Foundation. The Foundation was launched in 2009 by business members of the GCN, enabling them to also participate financially in the activities of the Network.

Team

Marcel Engel - Executive Director
Sophie Bense - Network Management, Reporting & SDGs
Julia Kranner - Network Management
Louisa Gille - Communications & Gender Programme
Richard Hülsmann - Human Rights & Labour
Sarah Hechler - Human Rights & Labour
Daniel Mazuré - Climate & Environment
Alexander Kraemer - Outreach & Engagement
Paula Kuls - Environment & Climate
Claudia Sanen - Anti-Corruption | Alliance for Integrity

Interns Raphael Sauer & Pau Luoning Garcia Chen

Members of the board

Thorsten Pinkepank - BASF SE
Johanna Wild - Drees & Sommer SE
Merle Schmidt-Brunn - Hamburger Hochbahn AG
Maria Schaad - Merck KGaA
Dr. Katie Boehme - NTT Data Deutschland
Stephanie Raabe - SAP SE
Dr. Olivia Henke - Stiftung Allianz für Entwicklung und Klima
Christoph Kowalewski - Transparency International Deutschland e. V.
Reinhard Junker - Bundesministerium für wirtschaftliche Zusammenarbeit und Entwicklung
Markus Haas - Auswärtiges Amt

Advising Members

Angelika Pohlenz - UN GCG Foundation
Katharina Riese - TÜV Rheinland
Heiko Schwiderowski - Association of German Chambers of Industry and Commerce (DIHK)
Elke Siehl - GIZ GmbH
Michael Windfuhr - Deutsches Institut für Menschenrechte
Martin von Broock - Wittenberg-Center for Global Ethics
Elisabeth Fröhlich - PRME / CBS International Business School
Dr. Katrin Vitols - Deutscher Gewerkschaftsbund (DGB)
Marcel Engel - Head of office, UN GCD (ex-officio)