Since the beginning of the millennium, BANK OF AFRICA, under the leadership of its Chairman, has adopted a proactive approach to sustainable development by signing a number of national and international undertakings that embody universal and exacting values and through a series of bold and tangible initiatives.

 

COP 22 provided an opportunity of demonstrating its actual achievements of such a pioneering and longstanding commitment. In 2016, the Bank signed the United Nations Global Compact, underlining its commitment and support for the ten principles relating to human rights, labour standards, environmental protection and anti-corruption. During the year, the Bank also supported the ‘Mainstreaming Climate Action within Financial Institutions’ initiative. In 2016, the Bank also became the first bank in Morocco to issue green bonds by public offering, signed agreements to finance adaptation to climate change and measured its carbon footprint. In January 2017, BANK OF AFRICA signed the Principles for Positive Impact Finance of the United Nations Environmental Programme Finance Initiative (UNEP FI), having previously signed the UNEP FI’s Positive Impact Manifesto promoting sustainable and positive impact finance, alongside 19 other financial institutions. This is aimed at identifying and mitigating the environmental and social impacts from its operations in line with global best practice.

 

The numerous awards presented to our Group reveal the scope of BANK OF AFRICA's CSR strategy: ‘Top Performer, CSR Morocco 2017’ for the 4th consecutive year, being included in the index of emerging countries in recognition of best practice in CSR,an award winner for the 3rd consecutive year at the CSR Arabia Awards as well as seeing its ISO 14001 certification for its Environmental Management System renewed and obtaining ISO 50001 certification for its Energy Management System.

 

Our shareholders and directors, who understand what is at stake when it comes to Corporate Social Responsibility, are fully aware that the sustainability of our institution's growth model cannot be measured by quantitative results alone but also by its contribution to sustainable and inclusive economic development and the trust that our customers, partners, employees, shareholders and all our other stakeholders place in us.

 

Every facet of our Corporate Social Responsibility programme is managed as part of a collective effort involving each business unit and business line concerned. Over the past five years, processes have evolved while, at the same time, responsibility is gaining ground and is genuinely asserting itself as one of the Group's main strengths, one of the cornerstones underpinning our business model.

 

And, in order to pursue our Sustainable Development & CSR strategy, we are progressively implementing our initiatives against a backdrop of endeavouring to attain our 17 sustainable development goals.