Global Compact CityScan

The Cities Programme, the urban arm of the United Nations Global Compact, has developed a diagnostic and reporting tool termed the ‘Global Compact CityScan’. This has been done to support cities and regions who are playing an increasingly important role in tackling critical global issues. In the first stage of its development, the CityScan has been trialled in 20 countries (2014-15).

As well as the need for leadership and transparent governance, city and regional governments are required to be agile, responsive, connected and informed. They are working in complex environments and need to engage and balance the needs and interests of many parties such as citizens, civil society and the business community. However, given the bureaucratic structure of city and regional governments, working holistically, whilst essential, presents a challenge for many.

In terms of Global Compact participation, many issue areas – and city strategies – directly correlate with the Ten Principles of the UN Global Compact across the areas of human rights, labour, the environment and anti-corruption. However, given the cross-cutting nature of the principles in the urban environment, identifying and reporting on issues and strategies is not a simple exercise.

 

The CityScan is based on an in-depth survey which requires contribution from across a municipal government. It takes a number of weeks to collate and input data. The CityScan provides:

• The opportunity for cities to identify their region’s challenges and their priorities, plans and initiatives that address these challenges.
• A holistic perspective of the environment in which the city government operates and enables a whole of city government view of strategy and action.
• A valuable platform from which to plan, set goals, monitor progress and recognise achievement – through the lens of the Ten Principles of the UN Global Compact in the urban context.

 

There are five sections in the CityScan to complete:

 

Section 1 – About your city/region

This section asks you to provide general information about a city/region.

 

Section 2 – Challenges and Actions

This section is the major part of the CityScan. It seeks information about the challenges that a city faces and the policies, objectives and initiatives of the city’s government aimed at addressing areas of need. This section also provides the opportunity to highlight areas of good practice.

The questions are grouped in three broad categories each with a number of related issue/topic areas: City Development, City Sustainability, City Governance

 

     1. City Development

The City Development category identifies challenges and actions around:

• Social inclusion and equality
• Education
• Health and wellbeing
• Social care services
• Food security
• Access to adequate housing
• Access to mobility and public transport
• Community and cultural identity
• Access to employment
• Fair work
• Public safety and security
• Sustainable economic development

 

     2. City Sustainability

The City Sustainability category identifies challenges and actions around:

• Environmental sustainability
• Water management
• Energy security
• Waste management and reduction
• Climate change mitigation
• Climate change adaptation
• Inter-generational equity
• Resilience

 

     3. City Governance

The City Governance category identifies challenges and actions around:

• Anti-corruption
• Leadership
• Transparency
• Accountability
• Community participation
• Resources and leadership

 

Section 3 – Plans

Cities can upload specific plans and other documents that demonstrate their planning and initiatives relating to the identified areas. For example, a city may choose to upload their Sustainability Plan, Local Economic Development Strategy or Cultural Vibrancy Plan.

 

Section 4 – CSR, the Global Compact and Business Sector

This section seeks information and opinions about a participating city’s engagement with the Global Compact and the Cities Programme, the city’s business community, and the city’s actions to influence Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).

 

The Global Compact Cities Programme

The Global Compact Cities Programme, or Cities Programme, is the urban arm of the United Nations Global Compact. Its International Secretariat is based in Melbourne, Australia and is hosted by RMIT University. Its Executive is comprised of the Cities Programme Director and Deputy Director and the Head of Local Networks from the Global Compact Office New York.

To advance the Ten Principles of the UN Global Compact in the areas of human rights, labour, the environment and anti-corruption we work with cities and regions and partners to progress the Sustainable Development Goals, social equity and justice, environmental sustainability and good governance in the urban environment.

The Cities Programme works to advance the Global Compact and the Ten Principles in cities and regions through:

• Networking to transfer knowledge and practice.
• Creating new knowledge to underpin the progress of cities and regions.
• Enabling effective action through capacity building and cross-sectoral collaboration.
• Supporting planning, monitoring and reporting activities.
• Communicating the achievements of cities and regions.

 

The Ten Principles

The Ten Principles of the UN Global Compact are derived from a set of universal declarations including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Labour Organization’s Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work, the Rio Declaration on Environment and Development, and the UN Convention Against Corruption.

The UN Global Compact asks companies to embrace, support and enact, within their sphere of influence a set of core values in the areas of human rights, labour standards, the environment and anti-corruption:

 

Human Rights

Principle 1:        Businesses should  support  and  respect  the  protection  of  internationally  proclaimed human rights; and

Principle 2:        make sure that they are not complicit in human rights abuses.

 

Labour

Principle 3:        Businesses should uphold the freedom of association and effective recognition of the right to collective   bargaining;

Principle 4:        the elimination of all forms of forced and compulsory labour;

Principle 5:        the effective abolition of child labour; and

Principle 6:        the elimination of discrimination in respect of employment and occupation.

 

Environment

Principle 7:        Businesses should support a precautionary approach to environmental challenges;

Principle 8:        undertake initiatives to promote greater environmental responsibility; and  

Principle 9:        encourage the development and diffusion of environmentally friendly technologies.

 

Anti-Corruption

Principle 10:      Businesses should work against corruption in all its forms, including extortion and bribery.

 

For further information, please see: www.citiesprogramme.org and access the diagnostic at http://citiesprogramme.com/archives/resource/city-scan-diagnostic