ESG stands for Environmental, Social, and Governance standards. The acronym refers to non-financial measures used to identify material risks, growth opportunities and vet investments. This is also known as “sustainable investing” and seek positive and long-term impact on society, environment and the performance of the business.

b) Social

The social component consists of people-related elements. It cover an extremely wide range of potential issues about relationships of companies, including:

• Employee working conditions, including those related to treatment, equity payment, and benefits
• Employee health and safety policies, including those related to moral and sexual harassment prevention and management
• Diversity and inclusion in hiring and in awarding advancement opportunities and raises
• Management of grievance and conflicts and social justice
• Employee engagement and staff turnover
• Diversity and inclusion in hiring and in awarding advancement opportunities, training and raises
• Local communities, social minorities, and others stakeholders management

3) Governance

The governance component relates to the internal system of practices, controls, and procedures an organization adopts in order to govern itself, make informed decisions, comply with laws, and meet the needs of external stakeholders. Governance deals with issues such as:

• Executive compensation, bonuses, and benefits
• Diversity and independence of the board of directors and management team
• Potential for conflicts of interest for the board of directors and management team
• Corruption and bribery
• Tax strategy, financial and accounting transparency
• Transparency in communication with shareholders
• Data privacy and information disclosure
• Employee, shareholder, and customer satisfaction
• Donations and political lobbying

Why ESG is important for ATI?

We follow a simple philosophy in our business practices “Anything we do should add value to the community we live in.” As a member of the global community, we follow international environmental best practices on every project we underwrite. Our policies ensure that our projects do not cause harm to people or the environment. We also screen and exclude any project using child labour, supporting money laundering or corrupt practices.

ATI is actively working on ways to optimize Environment, Social & Governance (ESG) impacts in order to effectively support African member countries. We also focus on our own internal procedures and project portfolio while striving for gender parity at all levels of the organization and environmentally sustainable business practices.

Overview on ATI’s ESG Policy

ATI’s ESG Policy includes procedures for carrying out the E&S due diligence of clients applying for insurance. It infuses the IFC Performance Standards and other DFIs standards. ATI has developed tools for screening and categorizing of projects/undertakings as well as reporting and monitoring.

The process of ATI’s ESG Risk Management Framework consists of the following steps:

CSR

ATI’s CSR Policy overview

ATI’s CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) vision is to promote the social and economic wellbeing of its stakeholders, particularly vulnerable and marginalized communities within its member countries, in its areas of operation through a series of interventions that will enhance economic and social development of the region. ATI’s CSR policy focus on the following areas:

• Improved Health and Sanitation
• Conservation, Environmental protection and Improvement
• Social welfare of women and children
• Financial inclusion of vulnerable societies and Youth Empowerment
• Volunteering initiatives for ATI staff and
• Education and Capacity Building

ATI’s CSR roadmap for 2021 to 2023 is as follows:

a) Public Health Initiatives

• In the short term – Set up a COVID-19 Fund and consider contributions towards the COVID-19 Response.
• In the long term – Identify a center (e.g. maternal unit or Cardio Center) in a leading hospital in a member country, provide annual donations and contribute to critical public health initiative through regional and or global bodies.

b) Environmental initiatives

• Supporting green projects and green facilities focused on climate change and environmental protection, e.g. support green energy initiatives and partner with institutions providing off grid energy solutions to help address the electricity gap.
• Encourage recycling, limited use of plastics and paperless filing/ operations as part of the new work environment.

c) Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) initiatives

• Support water and sanitation projects in rural Africa e.g. advocate for one toilet per household. Partner with UNICEF on their WASH programs per country.

d) Volunteering initiatives for ATI staff

• Support Employee Volunteering Projects, e.g. allow staff to adopt a project, which they will champion.

e) Education & Capacity Building

• Promoting girl child education and support facilitating equal access to education for boys and girls, especially for the children of the most vulnerable groups of the society
• Support improving curricula and physical infrastructure, materials and equipment necessary to facilitate the development and learning process of Youth.

f) Social welfare of women and children

• Focus on gender equality and support embedding gender across all areas – health, education, water, hygiene and sanitation, child protection and social policy.

g) Financial inclusion of vulnerable societies and Youth Empowerment

• Targeted priorities for the Empowerment and Well-being of Women and Adolescent Girls.

h) Community Development

• Support Community Development and contribution towards resettlement programs on projects supported by ATI.