You are holding a collection of the best sustainable business practices implemented by diverse groups of stakeholders. By those who wanted to do more, to achieve more, to help others more. Those who decided not to stop in the face of a challenge, but to accept it and do their best to overcome it with dignity.
For our 5th Partnership for Sustainability Award, we gathered approximately 100 inspiring cases. Many of them were implemented by Ukrainian companies. Ukrainians and Ukrainian businesses show incredible resilience. In the midst of war, Ukrainian companies are following the 10 Principles of the UN Global Compact, working on sustainable development and implementing forward-looking projects in the most difficult times. I firmly believe that all this will bring us closer to a prosperous future.
In the 9th year of war and after 18 months of the full-scale Russian invasion, responsible Ukrainian companies have made helping society and Ukraine’s defenders part of their everyday activities. There is no better contribution to peace than fighting aggressors and achieving justice in situations of extreme disregard for human rights. All of Ukrainian society and all international partners can be proud of Ukrainian companies for what they are doing in this area.
The idea behind the Partnership for Sustainability Award is a strong and reliable partnership. Nowadays, fruitful interaction between stakeholders is of great value. A partnership is a cooperative process to achieve a great goal together. A partnership is about helping each other through difficult times. You can only achieve more if you are surrounded by strong challenging partners. Also, only together can we achieve and maintain peace.
Other parts of these cases were implemented by companies from the EU and the UK. Many of them are aimed at supporting Ukraine in a difficult time of war started by Russia. Over the past nearly two years, we have seen many companies from around the world come together to stand with Ukraine. On behalf of all Ukrainians, I express my deepest gratitude for your help and friendship.
Different actors from different countries, united for truth, dignity, human rights and democracy, deserve to be recognized. Congratulations to all participants and, of course, to the winners. Thank you for your faithful commitment to making our common home sustainable and peaceful.
Executive Director of the UN Global Compact Network Ukraine
Tetiana Sakharuk