Page 33 - SAMENA Trends - June-July 2020

REGIONAL & MEMBERS UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

Action in motion region. including SoHo (small and home offices)
Internal and external stakeholders alike are 4. With respect to the people at Zain, who and SMEs segments. Furthermore, the
at heart of Zain’s sustainability activities. are the heart of the organization, the company is moving forward in its plans
Throughout 2019, some of the significant company further enhanced its Gender to set up a centralized ICT and Digital
developments undertaken by Zain and its Diversity and Inclusion program building professional services hub that serves
operations include: its Women Empowerment initiative Zain’s operations and other business
1. Regarding the universally important aiming to develop and increase female entities across Zain’s footprint and
issue of climate change, Zain became leadership. Furthermore, Zain launched beyond. This hub will provide Cloud
a member of the GSMA Climate Action its WE ABLE program to promote and Cybersecurity services, IoT, Big
Task Force with the objective to play a diversity and inclusion in the workplace Data and Analytics as well as a wider
more strategic role in addressing the aiming to become Disability Inclusive spectrum of new technologies covering
company’s environmental footprint. by 2022 and became a signatory to areas related to Artificial Intelligence,
By becoming a member of the Carbon the International Labor Organization Blockchain and Drone solutions to
Disclosure Project, which provides a (ILO) Global Business and Disability name a few. It is through these key
reporting framework and guidance Network Charter. Zain firmly believes it steps that exemplify the efforts that the
to address climate change, Zain also is important that the contributions that connectivity Zain provides takes a life of
installed 849 outdoor (base station/ people with disabilities can make in its own, and embodies the true meaning
power) solutions and 91 small shelters our workforce and in society in general of Meaningful Connectivity, further
across its operations to reduce carbon are given ample opportunity to be accelerating much needed systemic
dioxide emissions, while deploying 25 recognized. change.
solar and hybrid base solutions. These 5. Moreover, Zain’s Youth (ZY) 8. The company also scaled its Zain
actions symbolize a firm step by Zain in Empowerment Program plays an Group API, growing it exponentially in
the fight against climate change. instrumental role in empowering youth products offered and customer usage
2. Zain continued to solidify its supply in the region. Initiatives launched in Kuwait, Jordan and Saudi Arabia and
chain process through implementing under ZY include Generation Z; a year- expanding it during the year to Bahrain,
initiatives such as the Supplier long graduate program in Kuwait that Iraq and Oman. The social ambition
Assessment Questionnaire; joining up to enhances digital and behavioral skills is to open some of Zain’s assets to
the Supplier Code of Conduct; alignment preparing them for future employment emerging developers both regionally
to international best practices through and contributing to society at large; and internationally with the aim of
Zain’s ESMP Guidelines; and supporting Zainiac, an internal e-platform that aims creating new opportunities for young
two audit visits per year on selected to encourage intrapreneurship within the entrepreneurs to partner with Zain. This
suppliers on social and environmental organization and thereafter support in will allow the company to provide their
criteria. the incubation process and developing services to our customers therefore
3. From an economic perspective, the the business idea, noting the initiative expanding their reach ultimately
company has expanded its life- has received over 700 unique ideas; and creating shared value for both the
enhancing digital financial services Reverse Mentoring, aiming to improve company and the entrepreneurs. One
available in Jordan and Iraq under the diversity and inclusion by reducing gaps relevant example that had multiple
Zain Cash brand, to now include Saudi between younger and senior employees, benefits, is Zain’s launch of the Zain
Arabia, under the brand name Tamam, whereby youth act as a sounding board Kids application offering educational
an end-to-end digital microlending for new product launches and initiatives, games and videos that can be managed
platform offering micro-loans to better understanding one another’s by parents.
vulnerable communities in the Kingdom. perspectives. 9. Safeguarding future generations
52% of men, and 35% of women possess 6. Engaging with its teams across the and mitigating negative impacts of
a bank account in the Kingdom, though region, Zain organized several forums broadband connectivity is an especially
among the unbanked population, 86% to align departmental strategies important part of Zain’s sustainability
men and 75% of women own a mobile and objectives with the main aim of agenda, and the company reinforced
phone. Moreover, Zain Kuwait and sharing best practices and scaling the its commitment to protecting children,
Boubyan Bank announced plans for the opportunities of Meaningful Connectivity publishing a report titled “Child Online
development of the first digital platform that empower the communities Zain Safety: Minimizing the Risk of Violence,
for Islamic banking services, marking serves. Functions included Regulatory, Abuse and Exploitation” online under
the first digital partnership of this Digital, Risk Management, Commercial, the Broadband Commission Working
nature in the region made between one Legal, Procurement and Technology. Group: Child Online Safety.
of the biggest regional telecom entities. 7. From a products and customer The above are just a few examples of the
This encourages the development of perspective, Zain launched 5G networks many initiatives outlined in the Report.
digital banking services helping support in Kuwait and Saudi Arabia, expanded With the MENA region undergoing drastic
startups and emerging enterprises much needed 4G networks across other changes, Zain’s sustainability agenda will
and contribute to the incredible digital key markets and continued to expand continuously evolve so that the company
innovation taking place across the its B2B presence expanding its reach by remains of value to all our stakeholders.

33 JUNE-JULY 2020