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HomeEnvironmentImpactWorks Alliance Announced at FFD4 to Embed Sustainability into Business Decisions

ImpactWorks Alliance Announced at FFD4 to Embed Sustainability into Business Decisions

  • New partnership aims to close the implementation gap by turning sustainability commitments into credible, real-world action.

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), in collaboration with Social Value International (SVI), today announced the ImpactWorks Alliance at the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development (FFD4).

The new global initiative aims to bring organizations together that are committed to embedding sustainability into business decision-making and management systems, helping align profit with positive outcomes for people and planet.

The ImpactWorks Alliance will bring together businesses, policymakers, and standard-setters to accelerate the uptake of internationally recognized sustainability standards—particularly the forthcoming ISO/UNDP Management System Standards (MSS) for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) (ISO 53001) and the SDG Impact Standards. It provides practical guidance, visibility, and peer learning to help organizations move from sustainability commitments to implementation.

“The ImpactWorks Alliance is about action,” said Marcos Neto, Assistant Administrator and Director of UNDP’s Bureau for Policy and Programme Support (BPPS). “We are moving beyond high-level goals and reporting frameworks to support a deeper transformation—embedding sustainability into the way decisions are made, how systems function, and how institutions deliver impact.”

The ImpactWorks Alliance addresses a well-documented gap between sustainability reporting and real performance. Through applied use of management standards, the initiative aims to improve how organizations govern, operate and align with SDG priorities—strengthening the enabling environment for sustainable finance.

“This initiative reflects ISO’s commitment to delivering practical, consensus-based standards that help institutions achieve real-world impact,” said Javier García Díaz, ISO Vice President for Technical Management and Director General of UNE. “Millions of organizations world-wide use ISO standards to improve their performance and with this initiative we can accelerate the transition from sustainability intention to credible implementation.”

The launch event featured a high-level fireside chat with leaders from Mizuho Financial Group, Inc.; the Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean (CAF); Bureau Veritas; Ferrovial S.A.; the Asian Venture Philanthropy Network (AVPN); and Agence de Développement et de Supervision des Entreprises (ASN Senegal). Speakers shared examples of how sustainability standards are being integrated into operations, governance and investment strategies across sectors and regions.

By embedding sustainability standards directly into management systems, the Alliance offers a clear, streamlined pathway for organizations to operationalize their sustainability goals. This practical integration increases efficiency, reduces duplication, and supports more consistent, data-driven decision-making—helping businesses deliver meaningful impact while improving performance and resilience.

The Alliance now enters a global co-design phase (July–December 2025), where early participants will shape its learning agenda, engagement model, and implementation support offerings. The full operational launch is expected in early 2026, aligned with the release of ISO 53001.

Organizations interested in joining the co-design phase, beginning in July 2025, are invited to contact ?ebnem ?ener, Head of Private Finance for the SDGs at UNDP, at: sebnem.sener@undp.org.

More information about ISO is available at www.iso.org.

About ISO:

ISO (International Organization for Standardization) is an independent, non-governmental international organization with a membership of 170 national standards bodies. Through its global network, it facilitates the development of voluntary and market-relevant International Standards that support innovation and provide solutions to global challenges. ISO has published more than 25 000 International Standards and related documents covering almost every industry, from technology to food safety, to agriculture and healthcare.

About UNDP:

UNDP is the leading United Nations organization fighting to end the injustice of poverty, inequality and climate change. Working with our broad network of experts and partners in 170 countries, we help nations to build integrated, lasting solutions for people and the planet. Learn more at undp.org or follow at @UNDP.

About SVI:

Social Value International (SVI) is the global standard-setter for social value and impact management, with a network of practitioners, organizations and partners advancing the use of principles and frameworks that enhance accountability for impact.Ecovoie logo image 1

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