Reflecting on Our First Year with the UN Global Compact: Narratives’ journey to building a more responsible future

the world’s largest corporate sustainability initiative, with more than 25,000 participants across 167 countries. The UN Global Compact’s mission is to foster a worldwide movement of responsible businesses that integrate ten universal principles covering human rights, labour, the environment, and anti-corruption into their strategies. It encourages companies to take concrete actions that support broader societal objectives, including the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), with a focus on collaboration and innovation. These Ten Principles are rooted in international frameworks, such as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Labor Organization (ILO) Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work, the Rio Declaration on Environment and Development, and the UN Convention against Corruption.

This step reflects Narratives’ commitment not only to participate in global sustainability efforts, but to actively pursue responsible and ethical practices across all areas of our work. It was a way to hold ourselves accountable, measure the impact of our work, and ensure that our values were reflected in every project and decision.

Our work is guided by the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) and grounded in values of respect, responsibility, reciprocity, reverence, holism, interrelatedness, and cooperation. These values shape how we listen, engage, and design solutions in collaboration with communities. We also integrate best practice principles from the International Association for Impact Assessment (IAIA), ensuring our work is rigorous, thoughtful, and adaptive. As a trauma-informed organization, we incorporate trauma management measures into project planning in response to the emotional realities of community engagement.

In our first year as a UNGC participant, we completed both the Communication on Progress (CoP) and the UN Global Compact questionnaire for the reporting period of April 2024 to March 2025. These tools helped us evaluate our performance across four key areas: governance, human rights and labour, environment, and anti-corruption.

This year’s Report highlighted our dedication to human rights, environmental responsibility, and inclusive workplace practices. Key achievements included:

Internally, our team reaffirmed a culture of connection, growth and purpose; values that align with the UN Global Compact’s vision for sustainable, equitable workplaces..  When asked what they were most proud of, staff consistently highlighted meaningful, community-driven work and a workplace culture rooted in collaboration and integrity. These projects advance multiple SDGs, including Climate Action (SDG 13), Reduced Inequalities (SDG 10), and Sustainable Cities and Communities (SDG 11).

As part of our ongoing commitment to responsible governance, sustainability, and reconciliation, Narratives has established long-term goals that guide our future impact. In 2024, [CS1] Narratives leadership undertook strategic planning for 2024–2027, creating an organizational action plan focused on peacebuilding, truth and reconciliation, and sustainable, boundary-pushing initiatives. The plan establishes long-term objectives while drawing from narratives and experiences that will guide the organization over the next decade. As we look ahead, we have established sustainability targets to guide our progress:

These targets are designed to be actionable, measurable, and aligned with both global and local priorities, ensuring that our work continues to contribute meaningfully to the SDGs and the four core principles of governance, human rights and labour, environment and anti-corruption.

Our first year as a UNGC signatory has been a period of learning, reflection, and growth. It was about building a foundation by aligning our operations with the Ten Principles and integrating the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) into our everyday work. Narratives has demonstrated that sustainability, reconciliation, and equity are ongoing, relational processes. By combining community input, staff reflections, and rigorous project data, we are building resilient communities, supporting equity, advancing climate action, and ensuring that our internal practices reflect the values we uphold externally.

This first-year report reflects our commitment to continuous learning and improvement. Also, it reinforces that the work of the UNGC is not just about compliance, but about meaningful, measurable impact. Narratives will continue to push forward, working in collaboration with communities, partners, and staff to ensure that our values are translated into practice and that we contribute to a more just, equitable, and sustainable world for all.

Narratives remains committed to advancing equity, reconciliation, sustainability, and climate resilience within our organization and alongside the communities we serve. As we move into our second year, we do so with gratitude, humility, and a renewed sense of purpose in helping to build a more just, sustainable future for all.