Nairobi, 28 October 2021: Airtel Africa, a leading provider of telecommunications and mobile
money services, with a presence in 14 countries across Africa, today launched a comprehensive
sustainability strategy (www.airtel.africa/investors) which sets out its detailed plans to improve the
lives of millions of people across Africa through digital and financial inclusion and access to
education. The strategy also includes specific goals around environmental protection and the
ongoing development of a rewarding, diverse and inclusive workplace.
We have worked hard to identify the technical programmes needed to respond to all our material
topics and to have a genuine and positive impact on people and communities across Africa. Our
strategy sets specific goals and commitments, and for each of these, we have identified exactly how
we will achieve them and the milestones along the way. Our Board and Executive Committee have
been integral to developing this strategy which is fully aligned with the Company’s corporate
strategy and plans. We have engaged with our stakeholders throughout the development of the
strategy and undertook a detailed stakeholder consultation ahead of this launch.
Our strategy is delivered through four sustainability pillars: ‘Our business’ which reflects our
operations and the expansion of our network, ‘Our people’ which sets commitments around
employee engagement, development, diversity and inclusion, ‘Our community’ which details our
dedication to improving access to education, and ‘Our environment’ which is focused on reducing
the environmental impact of our operations. We have identified six of the United Nations Sustainable
Development Goals to which we believe our work will make a genuine and tangible contributionthey are SDG 4: Quality education, SDG 5: Gender equality, SDG 8: Decent work and economic
growth, SDG 9: Industry, innovation and infrastructure, SDG 10: Reduced inequalities, and SDG 12:
Responsible consumption and production.
Segun Ogunsanya, CEO, Airtel Africa, said: “Today is a significant milestone in Airtel Africa’s
journey. Our new strategy provides a solid foundation for us to accelerate change for the
communities we serve and the environment in which we operate. We have worked closely with our
stakeholders to ensure that this strategy is ambitious, robust and credible. This partnership
approach underpins all the work we will deliver through our strategy. We will look to collaborate
across the industry, recognising that by working together, we will be able to drive a more significant
impact for the people who need it most. We are more committed than ever to ensuring open and
honest communication on our progress as Airtel Africa embarks on its long journey towards a more
sustainable future.
Goals and commitments
The sustainability strategy includes nine goals and commitments, with corresponding programmes
that address the business’ material topics (identified through an extensive consultation at the
beginning of the year) and enable the Group to continue delivering sustainable growth and uphold
the best governance standards:
• Data security goal: Establish industry-leading data security for our customers through
investments in technology and expertise, updated processes and consumer awareness –
with focus areas around confidentiality, integrity and availability.
• Service quality goal: Provide underserved communities with access to reliable networks
and connectivity through the rollout of new infrastructure and technology, improved fibre
connectivity and capacity – with focus areas on service accessibility, delivery and reliability.
• Supply chain goal: Ensure all our suppliers are aligned with our sustainability agenda
through programmes to increase supplier disclosure and audit ESG performance – with
focus areas on enhanced supplier due diligence and ongoing ESG compliance.
• Commitments to our people: with our ongoing commitment to provide rewarding
employment opportunities and to achieve genuine diversity and inclusion at all levels across
the business through:
o Delivering equality in our workforce through recruitment and programmes to
provide training and advancement for everyone regardless of gender, nationality or
disability;
o Providing best practice training and development through upskilling and reskilling
initiatives to ensure they can succeed in their future careers. And through
supporting female entrepreneurs through training and increasing women’s
participation in the technology and engineering sectors;
o Providing the highest standards of health and safety for our employees and
contractors through the introduction of a best practice social and health and safety
management system, improved policies and full compliance with all legislation and
regulation; and,
o Maintaining the highest levels of employee engagement through the introduction of
additional channels that provide every one of our people with a voice.
• Digital inclusion goal: significantly improve digital Inclusion across Africa by driving the
penetration of mobile, smartphones and home broadband in rural areas through the
provision of retail and support services.
• Financial inclusion goal: significantly increase financial inclusion in Africa, with particular
support for women through the development of affordable financial products to meet the
needs of the un- and under-banked, a reliable service and financial confidence and literacy.
• Access to education goal: helping transform the lives of over one million children through
improving access to education – with programmes around connectivity, the provision of
zero-rated education content under a five-year UNICEF partnership, connecting 1,400
schools to the internet by 2027, and the adoption and support of schools in all our markets.
• Greenhouse gas emissions reduction goal: Our ambition is to achieve net zero
greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions ahead of the 2050 deadline set out in the Paris
Agreement. To do this we must fully identify, measure and reduce our GHG emissions which
can only be achieved in partnership with our peers and the wider industry. We will establish
and launch a sector leading and credible decarbonisation pathway in 2022, ahead of the
publication of our first Sustainability Report.
• Environmental stewardship: Eliminate hazardous waste from our operations, significantly
reduce our non-hazardous waste and minimise our water consumption with programmes to
replace damaging materials, expand recycling schemes and build employees’ awareness
around the protection of our natural resources.