BrazilEY launches ambitious global CSR initiative in Middle East
Ernst & Young has launched a new global corporate social responsibility programme in the Middle East and North Africa; EY Ripples.
Global professional services firm Ernst & Young has launched its EY Ripples corporate social responsibility programme in the MENA region, with the firm aiming to positively impacting one billion lives globally over the next ten years with the support of one million people from the EY community. The programme has three primary threads; supporting the next generation workforce, working with impact entrepreneurs, and accelerating environmental sustainability.
“As a global organisation with the ability to create an impact, EY is fully committed to making a meaningful contribution in the communities we operate in by using our skills, knowledge, and experience to help drive sustainable economic growth,” said EY MENA Chairman and CEO Abdulaziz Al-Sowailim. “The EY Ripples programme is a testament to this commitment, so that everybody can contribute to and reap the rewards of positive change in our communities.”
As part of the efforts, EY will increase its level of not-for-profit consulting services for impact entrepreneurs, tapping the energy and skills of its workforce. To date, close to 500 projects have already been completed around the world, with activities focused on scaling businesses that drive progress toward achieving the Sustainable Development Goals set out by the UN – in areas such as affordable off-grid energy, telemedical care, and safe sanitation for rural communities.
EY will also expand its existing educational initiatives which seek to equip the next generation and underserved groups with sustainable skills for the future of work – conveying knowledge in relation to entrepreneurship, adaptability, financial literacy and modern technology. In addition, the firm will work to drive the adoption of behaviors, technologies and business models that protect and regenerate the environment while unlocking economic opportunities.
“We live in a remarkable time in which we have unimagined tools, knowledge and skills at our disposal, and if we better utilise these, we can address many of the world’s toughest social and environmental challenges,” said EY’s global Chairman Carmine Di Sibio. “Ripples is a commitment to play a leadership role in the communities EY member firms operate in across 150 countries, using a wealth of talent, know-how and powerful networks to ultimately create long-term value.”
To achieve its goals and help address some of society’s toughest challenges, EY aims to mobilise its ~280,000-strong global workforce, together with EY alumni, collaborators and the firm’s clients and wider networks. For the Middle East, every one of the firm’s professionals will over the coming year dedicate at least the one working day to EY Ripples activities, while the firm as a whole will seek to build collaborative opportunities with trusted regional organisations.
In line with contemporary calls to move beyond traditional CSR projects, the aim for EY Ripple is to provide a catalyst for lasting social impact. Al-Sowailim: “By encouraging our people to take small actions that add value to the lives of others, every day, in every aspect of the business, we can continuously inspire and engage more people to contribute positively. This will in turn start a ripple effect of people growing and joining forces to create enormous waves of change worldwide.”
