Introduction

The Global Compact's governance framework, including the integrity measures, has evolved significantly during the initiative's ten years of operations. Much of this evolution is due to the multistakeholder nature of the Global Compact and the initiative's character as a public–private platform with both global and local components. Shifting stakeholder expectations and the rapid growth of the Global Compact throughout the years have further contributed.

The journey to the current governance framework has been marked by a series of milestones, including:

• The emergence of Global Compact Local Networks (GCLNs) around the world, with their own evolving governance and relationship with the Global Compact Office

• The establishment of the Global Compact Advisory Council (GCAC) in January 2003

• The introduction of the Global Compact's integrity measures

• The introduction of the current governance framework in the third quarter of 2005 following a one-year governance review

• The formalization of the role of donor governments in the framework.

Global Compact governance continues to evolve as the entities that are part of this framework grow further in their roles. Two important elements of this narrative merit their own chapter: GCLNs, including their governance (chapter 18), and the initiative's key integrity measure – the Communication on Progress (COP) (chapter 15) requiring participants to disclose progress made in the implementation of the Global Compact's Principles annually to their own stakeholders.