SDG Pioneers FAQs

As part of the UN Global Compact's Making Global Goals Local Business campaign, each year the UN Global Compact recognizes a class of SDG Pioneers — business leaders working at any level of their company who are using business as a force for good to advance the 17 SDGs. Through their own company or by mobilizing other businesses, they are helping to reach one or more of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) while also contributing to business success.

In 2020 Local Networks including, spanning all continents will be hosting country-level SDG Pioneers campaign to identify business leaders who will then be contenders for the global round to be recognized at the Leaders Summit in June 2021.

In September 2015, all 193 Member states of the United Nations adopted a plan for achieving a better future for all – laying out a path over the next 15 years to end extreme poverty, fight inequality and injustice, and protect our planet. At the heart of the "Agenda 2030" are 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and 169 related targets that address the most important economic, social, environmental and governance challenges of our time. To learn more about how companies are taking steps to contribute to achieving the SDGs visit the UN Global Compact website.

Professionals who are working at any level of a UN Global Compact Participant or Signatory company are eligible to apply or be nominated. To check whether an organization is a UN Global Compact Participant or Signatory company, please search the participant list online. If your company has yet to select its engagement tier, please see here for more information and to select your engagement tier.

For the 2020 SDG Pioneers, we only consider companies who were participants of the UN Global Compact on 30 June 2020 and have submitted at least 1 Communication on Progress (CoP). If your company joined after the date, please consider applying for the 2021 SDG Pioneers programme.

The UN Global Compact reserves the right to remove the SDG Pioneer recognition if the company and/or individual is later deemed to be a reputational risk to the SDG Pioneer campaign and/or the UN Global Compact initiative.

You are only eligible to apply or be nominated if you are either employed by the company (or its subsidiary).

Only individuals from a UN Global Compact Participant or Signatory company will be eligible to apply or be nominated. If your company is not yet participating in the UN Global Compact, please visit the UN Global Compact website to learn more about how to join.

No, the SDG Pioneers campaign highlights the work of individuals, not organizations.

Nationality does not matter as long as the nominee or applicant works for a Kenyan company with headquarters in Kenya or a Kenyan subsidiary of a global company.

The nomination deadline is October 15th, 2020.

Please complete the online submission form, which is available here. To nominate someone, Click Here.

You can nominate yourself or a colleague at your company, or someone you know from another UN Global Compact participating company. That individual will then be contacted to ensure their willingness to be considered and the accuracy of the submitted information.

SDG Pioneers will be informed of their selection by early August. Due to the volume of nominations received, we may be unable to contact nominees who are not selected.

The SDG Pioneers will receive visibility and be recognized for the great work that they have done to advance the Sustainable Development Goals. 2020 SDG Pioneers selected in August will be recognized at the UN General Assembly.