Zain Group announced the publication of its 13th annual sustainability report, entitled “A Pathway to Value Creation,” which 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 (SDGs).
The report demonstrates how the company continues to execute its five-year, 2025 corporate sustainability strategy, aiming to deliver meaningful and sustainable value across Zain’s operating companies and beyond.
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4-Pillar Sustainability Strategy
The sustainability strategy at Zain revolves around four core pillars: Climate Change, Operating Responsibly, Inclusion, and Generation Youth. These pillars underscore the critical importance of addressing various issues such as environmental preservation, connectivity accessibility, digital literacy, displacement, employee development, and social well-being. This strategic approach reflects Zain's commitment to safeguarding the planet, bridging digital divides, and navigating geopolitical challenges regionally.
Commenting on the publication of the 13th sustainability report, Zain Group Chief Sustainability Officer, Jennifer Suleiman aid, “Zain is deeply embedded in the region, as the region’s successes and challenges are our successes and challenges. Every day, Zain works diligently to push the envelope towards digitalization and expand access to ‘Meaningful Connectivity,’ aiming to uplift the livelihoods of our people and the communities we serve and beyond.”
In 2023, Zain continued to place a high priority on enhancing the skills of its employees in line with the company’s 4Sight corporate strategy. The Zain Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion University (DEIU) was established in collaboration with the highly rated IE University in Spain, providing learning opportunities in Digital Transformation to 2,000 Zain employees.
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In addressing the crucial issue of climate change, Zain has taken concrete steps to decarbonize its operations. The company has reaffirmed its commitment to aligning with the Science-Based Targets initiative (SBTi), aiming to halve carbon emissions by 2030 and achieve Net-Zero carbon emissions by 2050. This commitment has helped Zain successfully maintain its ‘A-’ score with the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP). Furthermore, Zain has initiated the development of a tailored water management plan for each country of operation, considering the unique conditions in each market. This approach aims to integrate water conservation practices effectively and efficiently across its operations.
Under its ‘Operating Responsibly’ pillar, Zain reinforced Environment, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles across its value chain, further scaling its supplier training program, and managing its Supplier Self-Assessment Questionnaire process to validate suppliers’ commitment and alignment to its sustainability policies and ethical principles. 441 suppliers (Group-wide) responded to the questionnaire, representing 23% of Zain’s total active suppliers.
Under its ‘Inclusion’ pillar, Zain has continued to reduce the digital inequality gap. For example, in Iraq, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia, the third cycle of Women in Tech was launched. Annually, the program commits to enhancing its support for the target community by conducting focus groups, surveys, and feedback sessions to better understand their needs. A total of 408 young women joined the program across the Group in 2023, showcasing a 6% increase from the previous year.
To better serve customers within the disability segment, Zain offers tailored bundles across its markets and provides mobile phone subscriptions with sign language support.
In 2023, Zain's 'Generation Youth' sustainability pillar focused on enhancing resilience within the company's communities, targeting 16 million children and youth through various initiatives. The company's efforts were recognized with a score of 8.4 out of 10 in the Children’s Rights and Business 2023 Global Benchmark. This placed Zain fifth in the telecom sector and 21st across all sectors. Zain Group achieved a ‘Leader’ position, surpassing the sector average of 5.8 out of 10 and the regional average of 3.4 out of 10.
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Upholding Industry Standards
Notably, Zain is part of the revitalized GSMA Mobile Alliance against Digital Child Sexual Exploitation, and during 2023, worked towards implementing its three-year MoU with Child Helpline International (CHI) to facilitate child helplines across its footprint.
The latest sustainability report is supported by numerous industry standards. Overall, Zain:
- Aligns with the AA1000 Accountability Principles (AA1000AP) 2018
- Adheres to the Global Reporting Initiatives (GRI) standards
- Follows the Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB) 'Telecommunications Sustainability Accounting' standard
- Incorporates guidelines from the Task Force on Climate-Related Financial Disclosure (TCFD)
- Complies with the United Nations Guiding Principles (UNGP) on Business and Human Rights Reporting Framework
- Adheres to Global Compact (UNGC) principles
- Follows the ESG Reporting Guide published by Boursa Kuwait
- Upholds the GSMA ESG Metrics for Mobile guidelines (for the first time)
