Call for Applications: UN Global Compact Business & Human Rights Accelerator 2027

The United Nations Global Compact (UN Global Compact) has opened applications for the 2027 Business & Human Rights Accelerator.

This is a three-month programme designed to help companies translate their human rights and labour rights commitments into practical action.

The programme is open to companies across industries and regions and will provide participants with guidance, peer-learning opportunities, workshops and practical resources to strengthen human rights due diligence across their operations and value chains.

The 2027 Accelerator will begin in February 2027, with applications open until November 30, 2026.

About the Programme

The Business & Human Rights Accelerator supports companies in identifying and addressing their most significant human rights and labour rights risks.

Participants will apply human rights due diligence to their own business context, examine their value chains, identify and prioritise key human rights impacts, and develop a practical Action Plan for addressing the risks identified.

The programme is aligned with the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights and other internationally recognised standards.

By the end of the Accelerator, participating companies are expected to have a clearer understanding of their human rights responsibilities, prioritised risks across their value chains and a practical plan for taking action.

What Participants Will Gain

Successful participants will have access to:

• A practical Action Plan addressing their most significant human rights and labour rights risks;
• Guidance on establishing an ongoing human rights due diligence process;
• Tools for identifying and prioritising risks across the company’s value chain;
• Support for stakeholder engagement and remedy mechanisms;
• Insights into emerging human rights due diligence requirements;
• Peer-learning opportunities with businesses, UN partners and experts; and
• A certificate of completion recognising participation in the Accelerator.

Who Can Apply?

The programme is designed for companies that already have a foundational understanding of human rights and labour rights and are ready to translate their commitments into concrete action.

To participate, companies must:

• Be participants of the UN Global Compact or be willing to join;
• Be engaged with a Global Compact Country Network in their region or be willing to join one;
• Be willing to identify their human rights risks and impacts and examine a core area of their value chain;
• Commit to developing and submitting an Action Plan addressing identified and prioritised risks;
• Commit to completing all mandatory programme requirements;
• Appoint two working-level representatives to participate in the programme; and
• Appoint an additional executive-level representative to follow programme developments, provide support and participate in high-level events.

Programme Tracks

Participants can take part through an in-country, regional or global track, depending on their location and the availability of a UN Global Compact Country Network.

The Africa Track will bring together companies from across the continent for regional peer-learning and collaborative sessions. Nigeria is among the countries listed as having a participating Country Network offering the Accelerator.

Companies in countries where the Accelerator is offered through a local Country Network can participate through the in-country track. Companies without access to an eligible Country Network may apply for the global track, which is facilitated in English.

Programme Timeline

Applications open: September 8, 2026

Application deadline: November 30, 2026

Programme begins: February 2027

The UN Global Compact advises applicants to check with their relevant Country Network for exact programme dates and local arrangements.

Information Session

The UN Global Compact will hold a virtual live Q&A session on October 22, 2026, providing prospective participants with an opportunity to learn more about the programme, its structure and expected outcomes.

How to Apply

Interested companies should review the eligibility requirements and apply through the official UN Global Compact Business & Human Rights Accelerator application process.

Companies that are not yet participants of the UN Global Compact may need to complete the organisation’s participation process before taking part in the Accelerator.

The programme is particularly relevant to professionals and corporate teams working in areas such as sustainability, human rights, ESG, compliance, procurement, legal, HR, DEI and corporate social responsibility.

Application deadline: November 30, 2026.

Official application and programme details: UN Global Compact Business & Human Rights Accelerator