(Santiago) – Global Compact Local Networks in Latin America and the Caribbean have agreed to develop an assessment of the private-sector contribution to development, to be presented at the 2010 Global Compact Leaders Summit in New York. This was among the outcomes of the Global Compact Regional Meeting for Local Networks in Latin America and the Caribbean, held in Santiago/Chile this week.

Bringing together network representatives from eleven countries (Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, the Dominican Republic, Uruguay and Venezuela), the meeting focused on knowledge-sharing related to network strategy and activities. Issues addressed included the the networks’ role in facilitating the Global Compact’s integrity measures and the Communication on Progress. Networks agreed to continue their close collaboration, for example by holding a Global Compact session at next year’s Ethos Institute Annual Conference in Brazil and by creating a network exchange program facilitated by the newly established Regional Support Center in Bogota/Colombia.

During a working-level session with external speakers, Jean Maninant, the International Labour Organization’s Regional Director for Latin America and the Caribbean, encouraged networks to promote the ILO initiative “ The Sustainable Enterprise”, which seeks to provide guidance for the attainment of full and productive employment and decent Work for all. Javier Irarrazaval, President of the Forum Empresa, a regional corporate responsibility organization, proposed to seek further alignment with Global Compact Local Networks. Currently, five Global Compact Local Networks are facilitated or supported by national members of Forum Empresa.

The regional meeting, which took place at the ILO office in Chile, was organized by the Global Compact Local Network Chile with the support of the Regional Support Center for Latin America and the Caribbean and the UN Global Compact Office.

Agenda

List of Participants

Contact

Soren Petersen
gro.nunull@snesretep