GLOBAL COMPACT NETWORK GEORGIA

GOVERNANCE STRUCTURE [2016-2020]

1. Mission
The Global Compact Network Georgia has the mission to promote the United Nations Global
Compacts 10 Principles in Georgia, as well as contribute to the implementation of the United
Nations broader development goals.
The mission:
Promote sustainable practices among local businesses
Contribute to the growth of the Global Compact initiative
Influence national policies on corporate sustainability
Mobilize business in support of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

2. Objectives
In order to achieve the above-stated mission, the Global Compact Network Georgia will:

Recruit more participants to the Global Compact;

Support participants in developing and submitting a Communication on Progress (COP)
and Communication on Engagement (COE);
Assist participants in implementing the UN Global Compacts Ten Principles and
undertaking partnerships;
Organise at least one annual activity focusing on one of the four issues areas of the
Global Compact Principles;
Organise at least two workshops annually for network participants one of the four issue
areas of Global Compact Principles and on drafting COP and COE;
Collaborate with the Foundation for the Global Compact to raise funds for the Networks
activities;
Manage the finances of the Local Network and produce an annual financial report;
Support participants in linking their activities to the Sustainable Development Goals.

3. Network Management
3.1 Network Secretariat

a) The Global Compact Network Georgias Secretariat is hosted at the non-governmental

organization, Civil Development Agency. Should there be a change of hosting institution,
it has to be immediately reported to the United Nations Global Compact Headquarters, which
will assess the situation and support the Network in moving forward.
3.2 Human Resources
a) The Global Compact Network Georgia Secretariat should have at a minimum 1 (one)
individual working on its daily operations who acts as the Contact Person to liaise with the
UN Global Compact Headquarters in New York. Moreover, the Network needs to nominate
one high-level business person to act as the Network Representative, to act on behalf of the
Network at the Annual Local Networks Forum and in the management of the Networks
brand.
3.3 Functions
a) Contact Person: coordinates the day-to-day work of the Global Compact Network and is
responsible for communicating with the UN Global Compact Headquarters. In addition, the
Contact Person is responsible for:
Managing and supporting the Networks participants;
Recruiting new members to the Network;
Representing and popularising Network among different stakeholders such as
Government, businesses, civil society, international organizations and CSR
international platforms.
Updating the Networks profile on the Knowledge Sharing System (KSS);
Reporting Local Network activities to the KSS in a timely manner;
Organizing annual UNGC events and workshops.
b) Network Representative: officially nominated by the Network to act on its behalf at the
Annual Local Networks Forum, authorized to sign the Memorandum of Understanding with
the UN Global Compact, and responsible for the management of the Networks brand. In
addition, the Network Representative is responsible for:
Recruiting new members to the Network
Organising annual UNGC events together with Network Contact Person;
Representing and popularising Network among different stakeholders such as
Government, businesses, civil society, international organizations and CSR
international platforms.

b.1) Mandate of the Network Representative: The Network Representative is nominated by

the Steering Committee and the mandate lasts for 2 years, unless otherwise specified.
4. Membership
Businesses, business associations, civil society and academia which are the participants of
Global Compact may join the Global Compact Network Georgia.
The membership of the network will be terminated with the termination of participants
membership status of Global Compact.
The business members of the network are responsible to uphold Global Compact ten principles
and make it as part of the strategy, culture and day-to-day operations of the company, and to
engaging in collaborative projects which advance the broader development goals of the United
Nations, particularly the Sustainable Development Goals. They shall annually submit
Communication on Progress to the UN Global Compact.
Non-business participants shall support the ten principles of the UN Global Compact with
respect to human rights, labor, environment and anti-corruption. With this commitment, they
shall express their intent to support the Global Compact advancing these principles, and make a
clear statement of this commitment to UNGC stakeholders and the general public.
The network participant shall participate in the events organized by the Network and promote
Global Compact 10 principles with their partners.
Network on the other hand is responsible to:
Support participants in developing and submitting a Communication on Progress (COP)
and Communication on Engagement (COE);
Assist participants in implementing the UN Global Compacts Ten Principles and
undertaking partnerships;
Organise at least one annual activity for participants focusing on one of the four issues
areas of the Global Compact Principles;
Organise at least two workshops annually for network participants one of the four issue
areas of Global Compact Principles and on drafting COP and COE.

5. Reporting & Accountability

The Network will regularly report its activities on the KSS. In addition, it will produce one
Annual Activity Plan, one Annual Activity Report and one Financial Report, all to be uploaded
to the KSS, under the Reports section by 31 January of the following year.
6. Steering Committee
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Members of the Steering Committee should:

a) Have a deep understanding of the UN Global Compact and its Ten Principles;
b) Have the respect and confidence of their peers and constituencies;
c) Be committed and dedicate time to actively participate in the activities of the Steering
Committee
6.1 Composition
a) The Steering Committee shall be business-led, but multi-stakeholder in its nature. It is
composed of 9 (nine) organizations coming from business, civil society and academia. The
ratio of business participants to other stakeholders should be at least 5 (five) out of the total
number of members.
b) Members of the Steering Committee will not receive monetary compensation from the
Network.
6.2 Length of Term
Term should be two years.
6.3 Election
a) The election of the Steering Committee shall happen every two years. Steering Committee
members shall be elected by Network General Meeting.
b) Only four out of nine members are changed per election term, to guarantee continuity of the
work and support to the Network. After two year term, member can choose to leave the
Committee. If more than five members are willing to continue their activity, Network
General Meeting will vote on each candidate; candidates with the lowest number of votes
will leave the Committee.
c) Each participant of Network General Meeting shall have one vote. Voting shall take place by
written ballot.
d) Nominations of candidates have to be communicated to the Networks Contact Person no
later than two weeks before the elections. The Contact Person will circulate all nominees to
the Steering Committee members one week before elections.
e) The names of the organisations and their representatives at the current Steering Committee
are listed in Annex I of this Governance Structure.
6.4 Functions
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a) The Steering Committee should appoint one Chairperson.

b) The Steering Committee shall meet at least four times a year.
c) At least five members of the Steering Committee must be present for a General Meeting to
take place.
d) The Steering Committee shall have the power to remove any member of the Committee for
good and proper reason.
e) The Steering Committee may appoint any other member of the Network as a Committee
member to fill a vacancy, provided that the maximum prescribed is not exceeded.
f) The Networks Contact Person will act as the Secretary of the Steering Committee.
6.5 Duties
a) The duties of the Chairperson shall be to:
Chair meetings of the Steering Committee;
Represent the Steering Committee at functions/meetings; and
Act as the spokesperson of the Steering Committee when necessary.
b) The duties of the Secretary shall be to:
Maintain a Global Compact participant and Steering Committee membership list
Prepare in consultation with the Chairperson the agenda for meetings of the Committee
and meetings with the Networks participants
Take and present minutes of all meetings; and
Collect and circulate any relevant information within the Committee.
6.6 General Assembly Annual Meeting
a) The Steering Committee shall hold one annual meeting in the month of December.
b) All members shall be given at least two weeks notice of the annual meeting and shall be
entitled to attend and vote.
c) The business of the Annual Meeting shall include:
receiving a report from the Chairperson on the Networks activities over the year
receiving a report from the Contact Person on the finances of the Network
considering any other matter as may be decided.
d) At least five out of nine members must be present for the Annual Meeting to take place.
7. Network General Meetings

a) There shall be at least 2 (two) Network General Meetings each year.

One meeting to share management decisions, Networks fast facts, elections etc; and
One meeting or activity that focuses on the UN Global Compacts ten principles.

b) All Global Compact Network participants shall be invited to attend the Network General
Meetings.
c) Decision-making
Each member of the Network shall have one vote during the General Meeting.
A quorum of at least 50 % out of all members is necessary to make decisions during such
meetings.
Decisions at the General Meeting are made through open and transparent voting.
Amendments to the Governance Principles require 75% of votes.
8. Alterations to the Governance Structure
Any changes to this Governance Structure must be agreed by at least two-thirds of those
members present and voting at any General Meeting. Any changes to this Governance Structure
shall be communicated to the UNGCHQ and the new Governance Structure uploaded to the
KSS.

9. Adoption of the Governance Structure

This Governance Structure was adopted on April 1, 2016 and shall be in effect until December
31, 2020, unless otherwise specified.

Valeri Chekheria
Network Representative
Global Compact Network Georgia

Salome Zurabishvili
Contact Person
Global Compact Network Georgia
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ANNEX I
Members of the Steering Committee:
Adjara Group Hospitality
Mr. Valeri Chekheria Chief Executive Officer
BP Exploration - Caspian Sea Ltd, Georgia
Ms. Rusudan Medzmariashvili Social Responsibility Manager
Ltd. Georgian Business Zone
Ms. Nino Zambakhidze Managing Director
JSC MFO Crystal
Mr. Malkhaz Dzadzua Chief Executive Officer
The FINANCIAL, Intelligence Group Ltd.
Mr. Zviad Pochkhua Editor-in-Chief, Director
Civil Development Agency
Mr. Zviad Devdariani Executive Director
American Chamber of Commerce in Georgia
Mr. George Welton Executive Director
Transparency International Georgia
Ms. Eka Gigauri - Executive Director
Georgian-American University
Mr. R. Michael Cowgill President and Co-founder

Representative of the Network:

Mr. Valeri Chekheria
Contact Person of the Network:
Ms. Salome Zurabishvili
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