In September 2006, the Barcelona Center for the Support of the Global Compact (Barcelona Center) hosted the first Global Compact Progress and Value Workshop. Another session was recently held in February 2007. Attended by participants from around the world, the workshops brought together Global Compact Network focal points and representatives from business, corporate citizenship organizations and UN agencies. Future workshops are being planned in Bangkok, Buenos Aries, Bratislava, Beijing and Monterrey during 2007.

The Progress and Values workshops are designed to provide tools, knowledge and inspiration to assist Local Network representatives to be effective mentors to other members in their networks. The training is focused on enabling participants to assist one another in internalizing the ten principles, making an active contribution to UN development goals and preparing Communications on Progress (COPs). As part of the workshop, select private sector representatives share their companies' comprehensive approaches for and experiences with implementing Global Compact principles. In addition, the workshop offers a framework for analysis based on the Global Compact performance model and a detailed look at reporting on progress.
 
The workshops will explore pratical questions related to companies' motivations for enacting their commitment to the Global Compact; tensions between market forces, public policy and company values; stakeholder relations; and obstacles faced by SMEs. 
 
For more information, please contact Jeff Senne (senne@un.org).