Etisalat is planning to deploy international social responsibility and sustainability reporting standards including Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) and ISO 26000 across Asia, the Middle East and Africa.

The Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) works towards a sustainable economy by providing organisations with reporting guidance. It has pioneered and developed a comprehensive Sustainability Reporting Framework that is widely used around the world. ISO 26000 is an ISO International Standard giving guidance on Social Responsibility and assisting companies in their efforts to operate in a socially responsible manner that society increasingly demands.

The Etisalat Group’s strategy was unveiled and launched in Dubai at the Group’s first Etisalat Social Investment Summit (eSIS 2012) attended by its senior management, operating companies and an array of stakeholders, including representatives from the UAE Office for the Coordination of Foreign Aid, charities, and social responsibility experts and thought leaders. Nasser bin Obood, Chief Government Relations Officer and Ahmed bin Ali, Senior Vice President Corporate Communications led the proceedings which was also attended by senior representatives from Etisalat UAE, Afghanistan, Egypt, as well as Atlantic Telecom (Moov), PTCL and Ufone.

 “To date we have undertaken a great many exceptional social initiatives across our global footprint, and we now need to take this a step further through our unyielding commitment to bringing our social investment reporting in-line with international standards, through GRI and ISO 26000, said Nasser bin Obood, Chief Government Relations and Corporate Communications Officer at the Etisalat Group.

Engineer Ahmed bin Ali, Senior Vice President for Corporate Communications, Etisalat Group, added, “Social responsibility has always been key to our business decision-making and it is continuing to grow in importance for us, as we continue to grow our business.  This summit is a testament to our commitment to uphold the highest ideals and standards in social responsibility, in terms of strategy, accountability and impact. A truly successful organisation is one that is also sustainable and I am very confident that we will greatly benefit from our clearer vision on social responsibility and coordination with internationally recognised guidelines.” 

Presentations were given by Etisalat’s operating companies and a host of external speakers, such as The Boston Consulting Group, the CSR Arabia Network and the Emirates Foundation for Youth. Rob Steele, Secretary General of the International Standards Organisation (ISO), also delivered a recorded message to the Etisalat Group, supporting the company’s journey towards ISO 26000 compliance* whilst the Office for the Coordination of Foreign Aid emphasised the important role multinational UAE companies play in supporting the reputation of the nation abroad. 

Zaki Sirelkhatim, Manager of the Information Management Unit at the Office for the Coordination of Foreign Aid, said “The UAE Office for the Coordination of Foreign Aid (OCFA) appreciates the efforts of Etisalat in documenting their foreign aid activities, and encourages the UAE’s corporate community to document their foreign aid with the office as this contributes to raising the profile of the UAE as a major international donor.  Providing development, humanitarian or charity aid by Etisalat and other private companies to countries in need around the world is testimony of the whole nation’s commitment to al