Zain, a leading provider of innovative technologies and digital lifestyle communications operating in seven markets across the Middle East and Africa, continues to be recognized for its leadership endeavors in the areas of Sustainability and Gender Diversity, in line with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Zain was presented with the Leadership in SDGs Award 2023; and Championship Award in Women Empowerment 2024 at the 9th Annual Global Good Governance Awards organized by Cambridge IFA, a UK-based think tank. The Awards celebrate individuals, governments, public and private sector institutions, and NGOs that exhibit governance and sustainability as their strategic priority.
Zain remains one of the most active organizations in the region with respect to delivering meaningful connectivity that leads to equitable systemic change through its Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) initiatives, with the company playing a crucial role in empowering the markets in which it operates to reap the benefits of digital transformation for the benefit of the communities it serves and beyond.
The recognition of these prestigious awards is testament not only to how much Zain believes in its purpose, but how relentless the company is ensuring its operations are a positive, inclusive force for good, with a commitment to continuing to instill these principles at the heart of the organization.
SUSTAINABILITY
Zain Group’s 2023 Sustainability Report (SR), marking its 13th annual sustainability report entitled ‘The Pathway to Value Creation’ reflects the company’s progress and efforts to address deficits and challenges across its footprint while providing Meaningful Connectivity that leads to Equitable Systemic Change through the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.
The report demonstrates how the company addresses its social, economic, environmental, and human rights related impacts and how Zain continues to execute on its five-year, 2025 corporate sustainability strategy aiming to deliver meaningful and sustainable value across Zain’s operating companies and beyond.
In 2023, Zain joined the United Nations (UN) Global Compact initiative, a voluntary leadership platform for the development, implementation, and disclosure of responsible business practices as well as committing to the Science-Based Targets Initiative (SBTi) emission.
Notably, the A- score that Zain maintained in the latest ‘CDP Score Report–Climate Change 2023’, positioned the company first in the region and among leaders globally with respect to climate action initiatives.
Gender Diversity (WE)
Zain has been actively working on narrowing the gender divide in leadership roles at the company. Under its Diversity, Equity and Inclusion women empowerment (WE) pillar, Zain Group has been a pioneering force for women empowerment regionally since 2017. This gender diversity initiative was created at a time when only 14.5% of Zain’s leadership comprised of women, and a target was set to increase this percentage of women leadership to 25% by 2025. Three Zain operations have already achieved their WE leadership targets in 2023, Zain Jordan at 27.3%, UAE based ZainTECH at 27.0%, and Zain Kuwait at 26.9%.
For some time now, women have represented the higher proportion of university graduates in the region, yet this does not translate into positions within the workforce, let alone senior positions. Hence, the issue of women’s empowerment is an important topic for Zain, which has embedded this issue into the DNA and heart of the company’s corporate strategy.
During 2023, women made up over 33% of Zain’s total recruitment, and the company recently revolutionized its staff-friendly Family Leave Policy clauses, reinforcing its position as one of the most impactful DEI organizations in the region, if not the world.
Source: https://www.zain.com/en/press-release/leadershipaward24