a) Environmental
The environmental component encompasses an organization’s impact on the planet in both positive and negative ways and the consequences for living beings as a result.
Environmental aspects include:
The social component consists of people-related elements. It cover an extremely wide range of potential issues about relationships of companies, including:
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:
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.
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:
As a first step, ATI undertakes an initial desktop assessment that aims at determining the environmental, social and governance relevance of projects and build a common understanding with undertakings. The following information is verified:
All projects are classified according to the relevance of their potentially negative E&S impact. Depending on the E&S risk profile and whether the undertaking can be considered an existing operation or a new project, the following categories will be applied:
Depending on the project/undertaking classification, ATI will undertake an E&S assessment based on its Environmental & Social Due Diligence (ESDD) Decision Tree. The assessment should be conducted by third party experts or in-house experts to review existing available environmental and social information related to the proposed transaction and agree on an Environmental and Social Actions Plan (ESAP). This should include a desktop review, a site visit to the project where relevant, and an assessment of the stakeholder engagement process. E&S Due Diligence allows ATI to make an informed decision.
ATI expects category A, B and C undertakings to meet the relevant objectives of the applicable 2012 E&S Performance Standards of the International Finance Corporation (IFC Performance Standards) in a reasonable timeframe.
If ATI decides to approve a transaction, an agreement will be formalized to meet applicable ESG requirements including ESAP, as relevant. The undertaking will review the progress made with regards to the implementation of the project ESAP on a regular basis throughout the lifecycle of the project.
On occasions where it is deemed relevant, an ATI representative is expected to visit the site on an agreed timeline to monitor the implementation of the ESAP. The monitoring outcomes and any new identified E&S issues will be documented and the undertaking will work to ensure that corrective actions are implemented.
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:
ATI’s CSR roadmap for 2021 to 2023 is as follows:
a) Public Health Initiatives
b) Environmental initiatives
c) Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) initiatives
d) Volunteering initiatives for ATI staff
e) Education & Capacity Building
f) Social welfare of women and children
g) Financial inclusion of vulnerable societies and Youth Empowerment
h) Community Development