Zain Group announces the publication of its 11th consecutive annual sustainability report, entitled ‘A resilient journey across a challenging year’. In the report, Zain summarizes its sustainability-related activities during the year based on its new five-year Corporate Sustainability strategy that is grounded on the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), with the purpose being centered on and driven by empowering and establishing long lasting value for the communities it serves.
The 11th edition of the report showcases how Zain continues to improve and adapt its activities to align to international best practices and reporting that follows the GRI Standards Framework. Zain is also implementing the Sustainability Accounting Standard Board (SASB) framework for Telecommunications Services. Both standards are externally assured by Ernst & Young (Al Aiban, Al Osaimi and Partners) providing limited assurance.
“Throughout 2021, Zain remained unwavering in its determination to drive equitable systemic change in the communities in which it operates by providing access to meaningful connectivity, especially in the face of many socio-economic and environmental challenges, and lasting impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, which hindered development across the globe.
Nevertheless, 2021 was a significant year for progress with respect to Zain’s sustainability agenda, underscored by the many initiatives successfully implemented across our footprint, and highlighted by the upgraded A- score received from CDP indicating our regional leadership in addressing climate change.”
Bader Al-Kharafi, Vice-Chairman and Group CEO, Zain
“We are all aware of how tumultuous the last couple of years have been to live and work through. Being a customer-focused organization with the responsibility to maintain meaningful connectivity and productivity for 7,000 staff and 50 million customers in an inclusive and equitable manner, was a challenging situation to overcome. The contents of this report highlight how together we have managed that responsibility and supported our communities extremely well under the circumstances. We continue to learn and transition across all of our diverse sustainability activities and are delighted to be pioneering this area across the region.”
Jennifer Suleiman, Chief Sustainability Officer, Zain Group
Zain’s five-year Corporate Sustainability strategy formulated in 2020 is centered on four pillars: Climate Change; Social Business; Inclusion; and Generation Youth. It is based on the UN’s SDGs, aiming to establish purpose-driven activities anchored in meaningful connectivity to drive equitable systematic change. Qualitative and quantitative targets have been embedded to ensure measurable metrics are set to assess and track the progress of Zain’s sustainability-related activities. The vision is to reduce inequalities, safeguard the planet, foster innovation, and build prosperous communities.
