Since the adoption of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in 2015, Safaricom has evidently taken the time and effort to enforce the majority of them. As Kenya’s strongest telecommunications company with empowering lives as its corporate clarion call, the telco has made significant strides in the SDGs journey by embedding the principle in just about every operation. Over the years, it has prioritized innovation, partnerships, best business practices, and sustainability. This article explores the company’s efforts, progress, and contributions toward achieving these global goals.
The 17 Sustainable Development Goals are a call to action to end inequality and poverty in the world. They are hedged on the principle that every human being deserves health and prosperity, as well as a healthy planet to live in.
Goal 3: Good Health and Well-Being
In all my interactions as a digital publisher for Safaricom, health is one of the programs I’ve covered most. From fistula to maternal health to childhood diabetes, I have had the privilege to work on many impact stories, one of my most memorable being Prisca Ariri who had lived with Fistula for 50 years. Safaricom also supports platforms like M-Tiba, a mobile health payment system, which enables users to save and spend funds for medical treatment. This initiative ensures affordable healthcare access, particularly for low-income earners.
Goal 4: Quality Education
Quality education transforms lives. Through education-focused initiatives, Safaricom has invested heavily in digital literacy and infrastructure to ensure that schools across the country have access to as many education resources as possible. The company’s e-learning platforms for instance, coupled with reliable connectivity, provide educational materials that are easily accessible in digital format, thus impacting thousands of underserved areas with the power of education.
Goal 7: Affordable and Clean Energy
In Safaricom CEO Peter Ndegwa’s words in the telco’s 2023 sustainability report,
“For Safaricom, sustainability is not just a good thing to do, but the right thing to do. We have formalized this approach by prioritizing nine of the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs) which we use as a framework to deliver our purpose, adopting a co-creation approach. Embracing the SDGs has ensured that we stay true to our promise of putting people and planet before profits”
This sums up the company’s belief and efforts toward sustainable operations to a tee and showcases it as a champion of clean energy and sustainable business operations. Have a look at the report here.
Goal 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
Safaricom is one of Kenya’s biggest contributors to the economy, whether directly or indirectly. Other than creating employment opportunities, it also supports small businesses and opens doors for tens of business ideas, thus empowering entrepreneurship. Through initiatives such as the Safaricom Foundation with Ndoto Zetu as an example, the compamy stimulates economic growth and uplifts communities across Kenya.
Goal 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure
Connectivity is any telco’s main business. Towards this, Safaricom has committed not only to connect Kenyans but also to offer innovative products based on our evolving needs. The telco has the strongest network infrastructure, 4G getting to all corners of the country, extensive fiber networks, and 5G in some areas. By virtue of this, millions of Kenyans can communicate and access the internet along with a host of digital services. Through mobile money services like M-Pesa and M-Shwari, Safaricom has revolutionized financial inclusion, providing access to banking for the unbanked throughout the country.
Goal 10: Reduced Inequality
Bridging the digital and financial divide is one of the surest ways of reducing inequality. Safaricom’s numerous collaborations with technology partners for affordable services ensure that even marginalized communities are not left behind in accessing services such as education through programs like Shupavu, healthcare through telemedicine, mobile banking through M-Pesa, and even agricultural services through Digifarm.
Safaricom also prioritizes and creates avenues for gender equality in its employment ranks and in technology. Through programs like Women in Tech, the company offers much-needed mentorship and internships to young women pursuing courses and careers in STEM, and this goes a long way in breaking the barriers and allowing women into traditionally male-dominated fields.
For a more nuanced idea of the Women in Tech program, read this article I did on Donna Rege – Chairperson – Safaricom Women in Tech.
Goal 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
For this, Safaricom has embedded responsible operations in its day-to-day work, encouraging a culture of responsibility among staff, partners, and consumers. The company actively uses resources efficiently to minimize waste and further promotes recycling, especially e-waste.
Goal 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions
Safaricom promotes strong corporate governance practices to ensure ethics and integrity as a corporate culture. This, along with transparency and trust goes a long way in cementing SDG 16 which calls for inclusive societies, strong institutions, and equal access to justice.
Goal 17: Partnerships for the Goals
Big initiatives often require solid partnerships to cover all corners. Collaboration is one of Safaricom’s greatest strengths, especially in achieving SDGs. Through partnerships with NGOs, the Government, and fellow private sector stakeholders, Safaricom is more effective at addressing critical issues like access to education, healthcare, and community empowerment with programs such as Ndoto Zetu. These partnerships have been instrumental in scaling enabling Safaricom to maximize the impact of various SDG initiatives.
As the world takes stock of where we are with the SDGs so far, Safaricom is running an online quiz to engage and educate customers on the goals whose 2030 implementation deadline is approaching fast. I’ll be discussing this in the next article, and on social media under the hashtag #SustainableDevGoals. Keep it here and stand a chance to win airtime, devices and gift vouchers.
