Scholarship Overview
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Programme Overview
The Business & Human Rights Accelerator is a three-month intensive programme delivered by the UN Global Compact through its Academy platform. It equips companies with practical tools to implement human rights due diligence across their operations and supply chains. The programme moves participants from understanding and commitment to concrete action through structured workshops, peer learning, and expert guidance.
By programme completion, participating companies develop a practical Action Plan addressing their most salient human rights and labour rights risks, aligned with the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights and other international standards.
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What Participants Gain
The Accelerator delivers tangible outcomes for corporate sustainability practitioners:
- A practical Action Plan to address prioritized human rights and labour rights risks
- A clear starting point for your company’s human rights journey and responsibilities
- Prioritized risks and impacts across your value chain
- An ongoing due diligence approach aligned with UN Guiding Principles
- Readiness for evolving requirements on human rights due diligence
- Stronger stakeholder engagement and remedy mechanisms to address impacts on people
- A network of peers, UN partners, and experts for continued support
- A certificate of completion recognizing participation in the Accelerator
Programme Structure: Four Stages
Stage 1: Foundation and Assessment
Participants begin with a global opening introducing the UN Guiding Principles, complete an on-demand foundational course, and attend a localized welcome session facilitated by UN Global Compact Country Networks.
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Stage 2: Risk Focus and Action Planning
Three global virtual workshops cover: scoping the company value chain, identifying and prioritizing salient human rights impacts, developing specific actions with metrics, and understanding stakeholder engagement and impact communication.
Stage 3: Regional and In-Country Peer Learning
Participants attend in-country sessions and a regional peer-learning session addressing key regional priorities, remedy mechanisms, and grievance procedures.
Stage 4: Action Plan Completion
Participants engage in at least two local sessions to finalize their Action Plan and prepare for implementation. Country Networks may extend this phase with additional engagements.
Track Options for African and SADC Applicants
Companies from Zimbabwe and SADC countries have multiple participation pathways:
- Africa Track: Brings together companies from across the continent with collaborative regional sessions delivered by UN Global Compact Country Networks
- In-Country Track: Available if your country has an active Country Network running the Accelerator
- Global Track: Facilitated in English for companies without a local Country Network offering the programme
African Country Networks confirmed to offer the Accelerator include: Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa, Egypt, Ghana (implied through regional coverage), and others. Zimbabwe-based companies should verify current Country Network availability or apply to the Global Track.
Eligibility Requirements
To participate, companies must meet these criteria:
- Be a participant in the UN Global Compact or willing to join
- Be engaged with a Global Compact Country Network in your region or willing to join
- Have foundational understanding of human rights and labour rights
- Be ready to put knowledge into practice and turn commitments into action
- Willing to identify human rights risks and scope a core area of your value chain
- Committed to developing and submitting an Action Plan
- Committed to completing all mandatory programme requirements
- Able to appoint two working-level representatives to attend sessions and participate in activities
- Able to appoint one executive-level representative to follow developments, provide support, and participate in high-level events
- Commit to applying programme outcomes across company strategy and operations
Application Timeline
| Applications Open | 8 September 2026 |
| Application Deadline | 30 November 2026 |
| Accelerator Begins | February 2027 |
Exact start dates vary by Country Network. Space is limited and early application is advised.
Information Session
A virtual live Q&A session will be held on 22 October 2026 to explain programme workings, learning outcomes, and answer questions:
- Session 1: 22 October 2026, 9:00 a.m. CET
- Session 2: 22 October 2026, 10:00 a.m. ET
How to Apply
Applications are submitted through the UN Global Compact website. Companies not currently UN Global Compact participants must first join the initiative. For questions, contact bhraccelerator@unglobalcompact.org.
Important Notes for African Applicants
This is a corporate capacity-building programme, not an individual scholarship. It requires organizational commitment and multiple staff members’ participation. The certificate of completion recognizes corporate participation, not individual academic qualification. Companies should assess readiness to dedicate staff time across the four-month period and implement resulting Action Plans.
Official scholarship page: https://unglobalcompact.org/take-action/business-and-human-rights
You apply directly with the provider. We never charge for applications or ask for payment details. How we verify scholarships
