How well do you know the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)? These are a list of 17 goals and a call to action to end inequality in the world. The SDGs which are United Nations driven are based on the principle that every human being on earth deserves health and prosperity, as well as a healthy planet to live and thrive in. Most Governments and corporate organizations embraced the SDGs since inception and for this article, we will have a look at Safaricom’s journey and commitment to the same, and future outlook.
But first, what are they?
- No poverty
- Zero hunger
- Good health and well-being
- Quality education
- Gender equality
- Clean water and sanitation
- Affordable and clean energy
- Decent work and economic growth
- Industry, innovation and infrastructure
- Reduced inequalities
- Sustainable cities and communities
- Responsible consumption and production
- Climate action
- Life below water
- Life on land
- Peace, justice, and strong institutions
- Partnerships for the goals
Safaricom has been committed to empowering lives by creating positive social impact since it came to be. The telco’s mission is strategically aligned and operations to see that key development challenges among its customers are addressed. With “Transforming Lives” as its motto, Safaricom has for years made good use of its wide reach and resources to make its contribution to a more sustainable Kenya.
“As we work towards our vision of being Africa’s leading purpose-led technology company, our commitment is to drive positive change and create lasting value for our customers and stakeholders in Kenya and Ethiopia. We have embraced the SDGs as a means of driving innovation, lowering costs through clean energy and building partnerships to realise our ambitions,” said Adil Khawaja, Chairman, Safaricom PLC.
With its varied programs, Safaricom has made big strides in advancing growth, development and sustainability. Let’s have a look at a few examples.
The Telco has programs in place to deliver connectivity and innovation (Goal 9). This is through products and services that will provide unmatched solutions to meet the needs of Kenyans by enabling access (Goal 10) through technologies and partners (Goal 17) and by exploring opportunities in Health (Goal 3), Education (Goal 4) and Energy (Goal 7). The company does so by managing responsibly operations (Goal 12) and ethically (Goal 16). This will stimulate growth and generate value (Goal 8) for the company, society and the economy as a whole.
I’m in the digital economy and I feel the positive effects of SDG 8 and 9, which are Decent Work and Economic Growth and Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure. As a Home Fiber user, I benefit from stable connectivity to run my online business and then of course M-Pesa affords me financial access since some clients pay via the platform, after which I can easily move money around to different bills and bank accounts. M-Pesa is a lifeline for individuals and small businesses, driving financial inclusion even to the most marginalized communities.
Additionally, Safaricom’s investments in SDG 4 (Quality Education) demonstrate its commitment to building future generations. Safaricom runs empowerment projects like building and sprucing up classrooms for deserving schools, as well as building ablution blocks among other infrastructure to make students lives in school easier. As far as education goes, there is also the Thika-based M-Pesa Foundation Academy that offers quality education to talented but underprivileged children, equipping them with skills to pursue higher education and meaningful careers.
For sustainable Agriculture, which falls under economic empowerment, we have Digifarm, a platform provides smallholder farmers with convenient access to a variety of services, including discounted inputs, financing and advice on best farming practice, all from an internet enabled mobile phone.
SDG No: 5 is Gender Equality and the first example that comes to mind is Uzazi Salama, a maternal health program that Safaricom runs with partners on ground in marginalized areas with poor coverage of medical services. Safaricom also has deliberate initiatives to create opportunities for women, top of these being their employment policies which have achieved 50% gender parity in its workforce.
Furthermore, Safaricom Women in Technology (WIT) is a running initiative that trains young women and girls in digital skills, preparing them for careers in STEM. This focus not only promotes gender equality but also contributes to closing the skills gap in Kenya’s growing technology sector which is growing rapidly.
Towards health, which is SDG 3 Safaricom has shown commitment to transforming lives with programs like M-Tiba and the countrywide health camps that make healthcare more accessible. Medical camps serve thousands of people wherever they are held and this has proven invaluable to low-income earners to access quality healthcare.
These are just a few examples and as we approach 2030, Safaricom is expected to continue impacting millions of lives through assorted programs. Looking ahead, the company aims to deepen its SDG impact through strategic partnerships like NGOs, Government and private sector for the success of the company and for more impact to communities.