Target Gender Equality is a gender equality accelerator programme for participating companies of the UN Global Compact. Through facilitated performance analysis, capacity building workshops, peer-to-peer learning and multi-stakeholder dialogue at the country-level, Target Gender Equality will support companies engaged with the UN Global Compact in setting and reaching ambitious corporate targets for women’s representation and leadership, starting with the Board and Executive Management levels.

Companies participating in Target Gender Equality have the opportunity to deepen implementation of the Women’s Empowerment Principles. They will also strengthen their contribution to Sustainable Development Goal 5.5, which calls for equal women representation, participation, and leadership in business globally, as well as Sustainable Development Goal 8.5, which aims to achieve equal pay for work of equal value by 2030. Companies will:

·        Be equipped with the latest data and research supporting the business case for gender equality
·        Gain insights from UN partners and experts on how to accelerate progress on gender equality
·        Develop an action plan for putting their learnings into practice

Programme benefits:

  • Confidently set ambitious and realistic corporate targets for gender equality demonstrating commitment and action to your employees, investors and other stakeholders
  • Understand your current gender equality performance through the facilitated use of the Women’s Empowerment Principles Gender Gap Analysis Tool
  • Engage in accelerated learning opportunities specific to your country context
  • Build a network of peers, UN partners and experts to support your gender equality strategy and work collectively to tackle persistent barriers to gender equality
  • Showcase women in your company who are driving business success, sustainability and contributions to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Contact Fernanda Cervantes, Project Manager - Social Sustainability for further details.

INTERESTED IN PARTICIPATING?

The UN Global Compact Network UK is delighted to announce our participation in Target Gender Equality.

 

 

 

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

  • A business Participant or Signatory of the UN Global Compact
  • Currently engaged with the UN Global Compact Network UK or willing to join
  • Committed to strengthening corporate target setting and action to increase women’s representation and leadership in business
  • Willing to appoint two representatives to participate in programme activities and events and an executive-level “Ambassador” to follow programme developments, provide support and participate in high-level events

COST OF JOINING

£750+VAT for UK Network members. *(Some network members may be eligible for a discount)

TIMELINE

Company registration:
March to May 2024

Programme begins:
July 2024

Programme ends:
March 2025

You can check the full Target Gender Equality UK timeline here.

Target Gender Equality UK Previous Participants

We are delighted to have worked with the following UN Global Compact Network UK members in previous editions of the programme.

TGE Logos

You can access the recording of our Introduction to Target Gender Equality presentation here.

Tools/Resources

Women’s Empowerment Principles
The Women’s Empowerment Principles (WEPs) are a set of Principles established by the UN Global Compact and UN Women, offering guidance to business on how to promote gender equality and women’s empowerment in the workplace, marketplace and community. Sign the WEPs now and demonstrate your company’s commitment to gender equality.

WEPs Tool
Take the Women’s Empowerment Principles Gender Gap Analysis Tool (WEPs Tool) today to assess your company's strategic approach to gender equality and identify gaps and opportunities for continuous improvement.

Gender Equality: How Business Can Accelerate the Pace of Change
Access the new (and free) UN Global Compact Academy E-learning Course on Gender Equality to learn why gender equality and women’s empowerment is a prerequisite to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, how your company can contribute to the achievement of SDG 5, learn about concrete steps that your business can take to mainstream gender equality into strategy and operations, and more.

Access the new UN Global Compact Academy E-Learning Course on How to be a Male Ally on Gender Equality to learn the critical role men play in fighting gender bias and discrimination and how you can be a male ally towards gender equality for all.

Access the SDG Ambition Benchmarks on Gender Balance at all Levels of Management and Equal Pay for Work of Equal ValueThe UN Global Compact, in consultation with business leaders and partner organisations, has developed 12 SDG Ambition Benchmarks, to simplify the task and translate ambition into action. The benchmarks include clear pathways and sample actions for companies to take.

Access the Action Guide on Moving Gender Equality Forward Faster. No matter where you are on your gender equality journey, we can help. Our action guide will show you how you can make the biggest, fastest impact for 2030.

Stay Informed

Target Gender Equality Action Dialogue
In this high-level policy dialogue at UK Network’s Business and Human Rights Summit, Target Gender Equality UK participants looked back at the first edition of the programme in the UK, discussed forward-looking steps and ambitious corporate targets that they are setting to advance women’s representation and leadership in business, and fostered discussions and partnerships on gender equality with relevant stakeholders and expert guest speakers. You can access the recording of this event here.

Target Gender Equality, Target Ethnic Diversity
To commemorate the International Women’s Day and the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, the UK Network organised ‘Target Gender Equality, Target Ethnic Diversity’, a special panel discussion on intersectionality in business, during TARGET GENDER EQUALITY LIVE. You can watch the recording of this session here.

Interview: People, Markets, Society | Q&A with Ann Cairns, Global Chair, 30% Club
On 18th November 2020, the UK Network hosted a special Q&A event with Ann Cairns, Global Chair and UK Lead at the 30% Club and Executive Vice Chair at Mastercard, organised exclusively for Target Gender Equality UK participants. This report summarises the main points of discussion from the event. Click here to access the report.

Top 3 Tips for Women in Business (From Women in Business)
As part of the Target Gender Equality Lounge at Uniting Business LIVE in 2020, the UK Network organised a live session with guest speakers Kerry Phillip (Legal Director, Vodafone Business) and Kate Rowlinson (CEO, MediaCom). This event focussed on the best advice for women in business from successful businesswomen from Target Gender Equality-participating companies. You can watch the recording here.

Applying a gender lens to the COVID-19 crisis: evidence from the UK
Interested in learning more about what the evidence from the Target Gender Equality COVID-19 Quiz shows for UK-based companies? Read our article to find out and learn more about how your company can respond to the COVID-19 crisis in a gender-sensitive way.

Global Gender Gap Report 2023
The Global Gender Gap index benchmarks 146 countries, providing a tool for cross-country comparison and to prioritise the most effective policies needed to close gender gaps. In 2023, the global gender gap has been closed by 68.4%. At the current rate of progress, it will take 132 years to reach full parity. Access the full report here.