Chapter
18
Decarbonize our business & transition towards Net-Zero by 2050
Embed ESG across our value chain
Reduce the digital inequality gap
Build resilience across our communities by targeting 16 million children and youth
Zain’s aim is to deploy energy efficient solutions in line with SBTi guidance set in each operation, and integrate mitigation and adaption plans through the following:
Zain follows the Greenhouse Gas (GHG) protocol guidelines for the inventory of its emissions. The emissions guidance are set based on SBTi recommendations:
Boundary: All Zain operating companies are included in the organizational boundary for its emissions inventory. The towerco emissions related to the energy consumption of the company’s active equipment is Zain’s responsibility and therefore included in the boundary.
Emissions Baseline: The baseline used for setting the emissions targets is 2022, based on nine months of data and three months of forecasted data (9 + 3). Zain will consider re-adjusting its baseline if it finds a material differences between the actual emissions and the forecasted data.
Emissions reductions: The reductions in CO2 emissions are estimated based on the type and quantity of energy efficient solutions planned to be deployed in each operation. Those reductions are affected by network expansions and the addition of new sites. The balance between the emissions reductions through energy efficient solutions and the emissions resulting from network expansions constitute the net emission reduction.
Targets calculations: The net emissions reduction of each operation is compared to the baseline emissions to derive the CO2 emissions target for each operation.
Zain’s Target: The total net emissions for all operating markets is divided by the baseline emissions to arrive at the total target for Zain.
| OPCOs | Baseline - 2022 Scope 1 & 2 Emissions (Metric Tons) | Targets | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
|
2023 |
2024 |
2025 |
2026 |
2027 |
|
Bahrain |
42,606 |
-4.6% |
-8.8%
|
-11.5%
|
-14.3%
|
-29.3%
|
|
Iraq |
239,542 |
-0.9% |
-8.9%
|
-7.9%
|
-13.1%
|
-12.7%
|
|
Jordan
|
52,130 |
-86.7% |
-83.8%
|
-83.2%
|
-82.5%
|
-81.9%
|
|
Kuwait |
132,115 |
-1.4% |
0.4% |
-2.2%
|
-0.3%
|
-15.6%
|
|
Saudi Arabia |
501,069 |
-2.6% |
-7.6% |
-10.4% |
-13.1% |
-23.1% |
|
Sudan |
82,509 |
-10.3% |
-17.0% |
-30.2% |
-34.8% |
-36.1% |
|
South Sudan |
12,590 |
-5.4% |
-26.0% |
-44.3% |
-62.2% |
-77.3% |
|
Total |
1,062,561 |
-6.8% |
11.41% |
14.15% |
16.99% |
-24.5% |
| Bahrain | Iraq | Jordan | KSA | Kuwait | Sudan | South Sudan | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
CO2 emissions per base station (Scope1+2) |
Kg |
57,449 |
41,029 |
3,550
|
48,511
|
47,256
|
28,144 |
43,161 |
|
Year-on-Year Decrease / increases in emission per base station |
% |
-3.42% |
-7.83% |
-75.43% |
-0.75% |
1.99% |
3.31% |
-11.34% |
Bahrain
In Bahrain, half of the country is covered by urban areas, while the remaining land is predominantly occupied by oil fields. Zain’s towers in this landscape are primarily linked to the grid, posing challenges for the integration of renewable energy sources. However, there are approximately 30+ off-grid sites, offering Zain Bahrain the potential to deploy energy-efficient solutions such as solar and hybrid technologies that the company kickstarted in 2023. Furthermore, Bahrain’s compact size introduces spatial constraints that make installing additional energy-efficient solutions such as a solar farm a noteworthy challenge.
Iraq
Iraq has made slight improvements to its electricity grid, addressing challenges posed by aging infrastructure and inadequate maintenance, which historically led to frequent outages. Notably, Zain Iraq’s towerco has commenced deploying solar and hybrid solutions resulting in CO2 emission reduction by 3.3% year-on-year.
Jordan
Zain Jordan completed the transition towards utilizing decarbonized grids on 8 February, 2023 for 75% of its sites across the Kingdom. The transition resulted in over 74% of CO2 emission reduction year-on-year, with a target of further reducing emissions by 84% in 2024. Additionally, Zain Jordan optimized the power features of all mobile technologies across its 2G, 3G, 4G and 5G networks to conserve energy utilization.
Kuwait
Despite formidable challenges in Kuwait’s infrastructure and the obstacle of low fuel costs hindering decarbonization incentives, Zain continues to tackle through strategic climate change mitigation efforts such as the deployment of inverter cooling solutions, the installation of more efficient DC power solutions, and the connection of 16 sites to the grid.
Kuwait, being a country with one of the highest temperatures globally, faces a potential exponential increase in energy consumption if temperature rises persist, leading to a surge in CO2 emissions. However, Zain remains committed to engaging with stakeholders to initiate crucial discussions and advocate for necessary reforms with the local government to accelerate the deployment of renewable energy solutions on a large scale, and with exploring and building an opportunity of positioning itself to capitalize on the transition to renewable energy sources in the near future.
The Zain Kuwait Car Park solar plant is designed for a power capacity of 663KWp. The project was planned to be completed by end of 2023 but was delayed to accommodate for additional approvals required by local authorities. Those approvals are related to a validation of the structural integrity of the car park structure based on the additional wind loading of the planned solar panels. The project is now planned to be completed by the end of the 2nd quarter of 2024.
Saudi Arabia
Zain faced several challenges in its quest to implement its climate change mitigation plans. Firstly, the reliance on on-grid power, fueled predominantly by traditional sources like fuel and gas, poses a hurdle. Despite the government’s goal to achieve net zero by 2060, the current lack of alternative on-grid power sources complicates this endeavor. Secondly, Zain’s decision to transfer 80% of its sites’ passive infrastructure to LATiS, a new towerco, through which Zain explored the conversion of diesel generators to on-grid power to align with emission reduction goals. Lastly, the Kingdom’s escalating summer temperatures contributed to heightened power consumption and subsequent CO2 emissions, amplifying the need for sustainable solutions. Addressing these challenges is pivotal in steering Zain towards a greener and more efficient future.
Sudan
In the aftermath of the 2023 political conflict in Sudan, the electricity grid faces considerable challenges stemming from damaged infrastructure and disruptions. The country predominantly relies on natural gas, oil, and diesel generators for power generation. Zain faced challenges in the Western region of Sudan, being one of the most impacted regions and hence this accelerated the deployment of solar power solutions. Furthermore, amid Zain’s climate change mitigation efforts, over 150 DG-battery hybrid solutions, backup battery extensions, and electrification solutions were installed during the year. This was pivotal not only for grid reliability, but it also helped in optimizing energy consumption across mobile sites.
South Sudan
South Sudan continued to experience devastating flooding and excessive rainfalls during 2023, impacting 12 mobile sites. Due to the unstable grid availability in the country, Zain must rely on diesel generators for its base stations. However, tremendous efforts were put in place to mitigate climate change among which Zain shifted 55 sites from DG-battery hybrid to solar solutions resulting in 10% reduction in CO2 emissions year-on-year.
Throughout 2023, Zain continued to install energy efficient solutions across its operating markets, including the following:
| Operating Countries | DG-Battery Hybrid solution | Solar Hybrid Solution |
|---|---|---|
|
Bahrain |
|
|
|
Iraq |
|
213
|
|
Jordan
|
|
|
|
Kuwait |
|
9
|
|
Saudi Arabia |
|
|
|
Sudan |
96 |
|
|
South Sudan |
|
20 |
|
Total |
||
|
96 |
242 |
|
|
338 |
||
| Operating Countries | Zain Sharing Others' Sites | Others Sharing Zain's Sites |
|---|---|---|
|
Bahrain |
19 |
|
|
Iraq |
|
|
|
Jordan
|
|
|
|
Kuwait |
3
|
|
|
Saudi Arabia |
6 |
14 |
|
Sudan |
|
|
|
South Sudan |
|
|
| Operating Countries | Smaller Size Generators | Outdoor (BTS/Power) Solutions | Small Shelters (<2.5Mx2.5M) | Grid Connection | Upgrade to Efficient DC Power Solution |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Bahrain |
|
38 |
|
8 |
|
|
Iraq |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Jordan
|
13 |
|
|
16 |
50 |
|
Kuwait |
|
168
|
|
99 |
|
|
Saudi Arabia |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Sudan |
|
|
|
|
|
|
South Sudan |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total |
13 |
206 |
0 |
123 |
50 |
| Initiatives | Total Direct cost (USD) | Total Indirect cost (USD) |
|---|---|---|
|
Zain sharing others’ sites |
0 |
178,098 |
|
Others sharing Zain sites |
0 |
0 |
|
Outdoor (BTS/Power) solution
|
2,446,675 |
2,446,675 |
|
Small shelters (≤ 2.5m x 2.5m) |
0 |
0 |
|
Small shelters (≤ 2.5m x 2.5m) |
2,210,000 |
0 |
|
Smaller size Generators |
0 |
61,201 |
|
Solar Hybrid solution |
950,000 |
0 |
|
Grid Connection |
792,870 |
0 |
|
Free Cooling system |
0 |
0 |
|
Total |
6,399,545 |
2,685,974 |
| Units | Bahrain | Iraq | Jordan | Kuwait | Saudi Arabia | Sudan | South Sudan | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Scope1 – Fuel |
liters |
1,260,497 |
35,852,428 |
273,558 |
11,752,102
|
56,979,768 |
18,983,451 |
3,049,379 |
128,151,183 |
|
Scope2 – Electricity |
KWh |
57,320,934 |
183,287,211 |
120,645,056 |
174,669,751 |
576,399,096 |
39,649,844 |
5,018,899 |
1,156,990,790 |
|
Scope1 – Fuel |
CO2e KG |
3,378,132 |
96,084,508 |
711,230 |
31,495,633 |
152,705,778 |
50,875,649 |
8,172,336 |
343,423,266 |
|
Scope1 – Refrigerants |
CO2e KG |
743,948 |
7,608,078 |
747,436 |
3,090,116 |
2,581,917 |
1,089,081 |
|
15,860,576 |
|
Scope1 emissions |
Kg CO2 |
4,122,080 |
103,692,586 |
1,458,666 |
34,585,749 |
155,287,695 |
51,964,730 |
8,172,336 |
359,283,842 |
|
Scope2 emissions |
Kg CO2 |
40,050,137 |
121,519,421 |
11,080,248 |
107,352,029 |
351,891,648 |
12,120,957 |
4,222,902 |
648,237,341 |
|
Total Scope 1 & 2 emissions |
Kg CO2 |
44,172,217 |
225,212,006 |
12,538,914 |
141,937,778 |
507,179,343 |
64,085,687 |
12,395,237 |
1,007,521,182 |
|
CO2 emissions per base station |
Kg |
56,582 |
41,029 |
3,550 |
47,239 |
48,511 |
28,144 |
43,161 |
|
|
Baseline-year 2023 Decrease/ increases in emission per base station [Year 2022 vs 2023] |
% |
-3.42% |
-7.83% |
-75.43% |
-1.99% |
-0.75% |
3.31% |
-11.34% |
|
Note:
For the conversion from liters of fuel to KWh, we considered that 1 L = 3KWh on the basis that 1 liter produces 10KWH with diesel generator efficiency of 30% as recommended by the GSMA
DG-battery hybrid solutions usually lead to approximately 50% savings on fuel consumption
Estimate of KWh for solar system is based on the data provided by Zain Jordan as per site monitoring and management solution. 750KWh is produced per site on average
In Sudan, some of our base station sites were shut down due to the civil conflict, leading to a reduction in energy consumption across our network which resulted in lower emissions compared to the previous year.
| Category name | Total tCO2e | |
|---|---|---|
|
Category 1 |
Purchased goods and services |
97,893.46 |
|
Category 2 |
Capital goods |
137,572.18 |
|
Category 3 |
Fuel- and energy-related activities (not included in scope 1 or scope 2) |
138,583.95 |
|
Category 4 |
Upstream transportation and distribution |
39,218.09 |
|
Category 5 |
Waste generated in operations |
16,931.23 |
|
Category 6 |
Business travel |
1,054.08 |
|
Category 7 |
Employee commuting |
12,401.40 |
|
Category 8 |
Upstream leased assets |
18.66 |
|
Category 9 |
Downstream transportation and distribution |
– |
|
Category 10 |
Processing of sold products |
– |
|
Category 11 |
Use of sold products |
17,174.75 |
|
Category 12 |
End-of-Life of sold products |
– |
|
Category 13 |
Downstream leased assets |
– |
|
Category 14 |
Franchises |
– |
|
Category 15 |
Investments |
29,480.91 |
|
Total Scope 3 Emissions |
|
490,328.71 |
|
Y-O-Y Change (2022-2023) |
|
-1.27% |
Regarding the Climate Change Awareness target set in the corporate sustainability agenda and in alignment with guidance provided from CDP, Zain aims to address 40% of its customers by 2025 on climate-related issues. The goal of this target is to spark behavioral change with respect to addressing the impacts of climate change.
Each market conducted a variety of communications campaigns in which Zain embedded pre- and post- surveys to assess and measure generated impacts. The following are examples of the awareness campaigns launched in each market.
Zain Bahrain collaborated with the entity, ‘Our Sea Remediation and Waste Management’, to offer a beach clean up using robotic technology ‘bebot’, which operates using solar panels to generate its energy. This technology aims to keep marine shorelines free from waste and pollution, with this program initiated in November 2023. So far, 5.8 tons of waste covering 24,750 square meters has been removed, with the ambition of segregating the waste collected and either recycling, reusing, or disposing in an environmentally friendly manner. The partnership will continue to cover larger areas across Bahrain in 2024.
Zain Bahrain continued to partner with the Supreme Council for Environment and the Ministry of Education to launch a competition across all public and private schools in Bahrain.
Initially, 24 school registered for the competition, and 16 completed their participation.
The competition consisted of different catergories:
In 2023, Zain Iraq launched a series of social media campaigns leveraging its reach through its multiple social media channels. The below are the campaign with the number of people reached:
In 2023, Zain Jordan reached 10.3 million people through its social media channels, which touched on topics including climate change, water, waste management, and plastic pollution. The company also conducted various activities to have more efficient operational facilities in the headquarter (HQ) building, which included upgrading to motion censored kitchenettes and restroom water taps, saving 100 cubic meters of water. The HQ building also saw switches and parking to motion censored lighting, and collaborated with Tetra-Tech and USAID on an internal water audit where the findings will be implemented in 2024.
Zain Jordan also collaborated with the Ministry of Environment on a national project for remote water quality monitoring by providing internet services to monitoring stations. These stations operate automatically, conducting hourly sampling and analysis of water quality. The collected data is sent in real-time to a central database, facilitating swift and continuous monitoring of water quality.
Zain Kuwait launched its impactful “Badilha Bil Zain” social media campaign designed to shed light on the pressing issue of excessive waste generation in Kuwait. With a focus on fostering a sustainable lifestyle, the campaign encourages individuals to opt for reusable items. The movement has gained significant traction, reaching an impressive audience of 50,899 on Instagram.
Zain South Sudan reached 55,6203 people this year through its engagement activities on social media. Some of the topics that the company focused on included water conservation and plastic pollution.
Zain developed a Waste Management Policy in 2023 with the goal of eliminating all forms of waste, including e-waste, plastic waste, and wood and paper waste by 2030. The policy is applicable to all Zain’s operations, subsidiaries and entities where Zain has management control. It encompasses the entire value chain and is broken down into specific areas of application. The Policy will become effective as of 2024, when Zain will establish the compliance framework and roles and responsibilities of all stakeholder groups.
As water continues to be a scarce resource, Zain aims to maintain sustainable water usage practices, reduces its water consumption and commits to efficient water use. This is achieved by implementing a comprehensive water management plan that entails water security steps based on the FTSE4Good index:
Zain developed its water management plan to the unique conditions of each country where Zain operates in. The plan detailed specific measures aimed at improving water usage across all of Zain’s offices. The objective was to integrate water conservation practices, that takes into consideration with the specific conditions of each Zain operation, including geographical factors such as the current water stress observed in South Sudan.
Under 2023 water management plan, Zain tackles water consumption by adhering to the following specified targets:
Target 1: All Zain operations were required to integrate smart water meters into their water supply systems by the end 2023.
Target 2: All Zain operations were required to decrease their overall water consumption by 10% compared to the usage in 2022 by selecting one of the following methodologies:
The following table shows the improvement in each operation in 2023 regarding water conservation measures:
| OpCo | 2023 Water Management Performance |
|---|---|
|
Bahrain |
In 2023, Zain Bahrain prioritized water conservation through awareness campaigns, hosting a workshop featuring a guest speaker from the Electricity and Water Authority, with 32 Zainers in attendance. Furthermore, an initial phase has been launched to implement water reduction methods at the Zain Bahrain Headquarters, with official implementation to be taking place in 2024. |
|
Iraq |
In 2023, Zain Iraq made substantial strides in minimizing its water usage. Sensor-equipped water faucets were successfully implemented at the company’s headquarter, enabling better control of water flow and minimizing waste. In addition, 8 generators have been replaced with new units to optimize the central cooling system.
Consequently, there has been 20% reduction in overall water consumption in 2023 when compared to the figures from 2022. |
|
Jordan |
During the first quarter of 2023, Zain Jordan started the restoration process of water sanitation facilities at its headquarters. To assess the efficiency of the current water conservation measures and monitor water flow, Zain Jordan conducted a water audit at its headquarters. Subsequent audits were performed following various installations on the premises to gauge improvements. The outcomes revealed an overall reduction of 8% in total water consumption. The results of Zain Jordan’s efforts resulted in 11% total reduction in water consumption in 2023 compared to 2022. |
|
Kuwait |
In comparison to 2022, Zain Kuwait have reduced water consumption by 9% in 2023. |
|
Saudi Arabia |
Compared to the year 2022, Zain KSA has achieved a 14% reduction in water consumption in 2023. |
|
Sudan |
The water management plan could not be implemented in Sudan due to the persisting conflict and ongoing war in the region. |
|
South Sudan |
Zain South Sudan have worked on identifying water leakages at their premises to reduce wasted water sources. |
The plan facilitates a substantial decrease in water consumption across all of Zain’s operations in 2023 compared to 2022.
| 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Total Water Consumption in m3 |
95,036 |
94,864 |
90,254 |
93,705 |
64,972 |
90,683 |
80,565 |
64,733 |
2023 results exclude Sudan and South Sudan total water consumption.
Zain demonstrates a commitment to biodiversity conservation and nature preservation as integral components of its broader dedication to climate action. Through strategic partnerships with subject matter experts and innovative solutions, the company actively works to minimize its ecological footprint and contribute significantly to biodiversity and nature preservation.
A significant driver of biodiversity loss is the expanding use of land by industries, agriculture, and transportation. As a telecommunications and digital service provider, land and water consumption is considered relatively minimal compared to other sectors, nonetheless Zain continues to assess its impacts across its value chain. The company prioritizes biodiversity conservation in its operations, acknowledging the environmental impact of its business. Through the implementation of the Environmental Social Management Plan (ESMP), Zain integrates biodiversity protection into the site selection process for its telecommunication base stations sites. Rigorous site assessments are conducted and considerations for ecological sensitivities and biodiversity protection are done to minimize negative impacts on nature in accordance with the ESMP. In addition, Zain acknowledges the risks of building stations in relation to biodiversity including, pollution, impact on wildlife, and changes in natural distribution of ecology, in addition to emphasis on conducting diligent risk assessments, lays out procedures, follows local laws and regulations, and adhering to best practice to ensure minimal impacts on nature and biodiversity. Moreover, as part of its ESMP, Zain is committed to ongoing monitoring and periodic reassessment of our operations’ environmental impact leading to adapting and enhancing Zain’s strategies for biodiversity protection.
Some of Zain’s strategic partnerships to support biodiversity conservation and nature preservation include:
Zain Kuwait continued its longstanding partnership of 25 years with the Kuwait Dive Team to champion ecological preservation and biodiversity conservation in Kuwait’s sea. Through targeted coastal cleanups and school beach cleanup initiatives, including participation of 80 female middle school students, this partnership aims to raise awareness about the vital role of preserving biodiversity in marine ecosystems. The contribution of a boat further underscores Zain Kuwait’s commitment to supporting initiatives that safeguard and enhance coastal biodiversity. Through this partnership, the team managed to remove up to 4,165 tons of waste from coastal areas and coral reefs.
Lastly, as part of Zain Kuwait’s commitment to supporting the Kuwait Dive Team’s mission, a notable contribution was made in the form of a boat donation. This is the fourth boat presented by Zain to Kuwait, showcasing the company’s determination to help protect marine life in the country.
As part of its ongoing commitment to combat climate change and preserving nature, Zain Jordan established the Zain Forest in 2008 in Jerash Governate. In its ongoing partnership with the Arab Group for the Protection of Nature, both entities maintain and fertilized the forest trees to ensure their growth and preservation. In addition, the team noticed a localized soil erosion issue that prompted significant migration of birds and animals, thus addressing this ecological imbalance by planting, watering, and cultivating 8,500 hardwood trees, mitigating any adverse impacts of soil erosion. Consequently, the Forest experienced an influx of wildlife including migratory birds into the ecosystem. Lastly, through the Zain Forest, Zain achieved 711 tons of CO2 emissions reduction in accordance with our emission reduction strategy.
In 2019, Zain established a pivotal partnership with the Princess Alia Foundation. This collaboration aimed to contribute to the advancement of Al Ma’wa for Nature and Wildlife, a project initiated in 2011 in collaboration with Four Paws, an international animal welfare organization, for rehabilitating confiscated and rescued wildlife. Zain’s contribution involves providing in-kind support and essential connectivity to facilitate real-time monitoring and management of the rescued wildlife at the Al Ma’wa Wildlife Reserve in Jerash. This connectivity aids in securing specific areas during feeding times and enables the live transmission of vital signs of the animals, ensuring their well-being. Zain’s commitment underscores the convergence of technology and conservation efforts, enhancing the overall effectiveness of Al Ma’wa in providing a secure and caring environment for rescued wildlife.
Zain KSA, in collaboration with Red Sea Global (RSG), launched an innovative initiative at The Red Sea, showcasing their commitment to nature conservation. The launch of the world’s first zero-carbon 5G network at the Six Senses Southern Dunes resort reflects Zain KSA’s dedication to sustainable technology and aligns with Saudi Vision 2030’s objectives of clean energy reliance and environmental protection. This initiative is designed exclusively for The Red Sea, featuring a 5G network powered by 100% renewable energy derived from over 760,000 solar panels. By constructing 5G towers using 3D printing technology that seamlessly blends with The Red Sea’s natural landscape, Zain KSA not only ensures minimal visual impact but also contributes to RSG’s overarching goal of achieving a 30% net conservation benefit by 2040.
In 2021, Zain KSA started an annual reforestation campaign in Um Al Shogog, covering 18 million square meters. This strategic initiative aligns with Zain’s commitment to biodiversity conservation and climate action, specifically addressing carbon emissions, desertification, and land degradation within the Kingdom. The efforts of Zain employees, in conjunction with the local community, volunteers, and charity workers, result in the annual planting of over 12,000 trees, making a significant contribution to the Kingdom’s Sustainable Green Initiative’s broader objective of planting 10 billion trees by 2030.
Zain established a holistic approach for supply chain management to address sustainability-related risks and ensure suppliers align to Zain’s ESG standards, promote sustainable practices across its value chain, and mitigate reputational risks.
Over the year, the company advanced its efforts in this space by amending its targets from numerical to percentile targets to ensure the unification of KPIs across markets. To do so efficitively, Zain standardized its baseline total active suppliers to be able to set targets as percentages. Such a process required collaboration between the sustainability and procurement teams across Zain’s operations. To create a unified approach, in the first half of the year a Supply Chain Management Forum was conducted for the two departments to ensure consistency and alignment on approach and the process moving forward.
In 2023, Zain further developed its physical audit process by creating an additional level of verification by establishing an observation form. This form ensures Zain reports on risks identified as a result of physical audits. The observation form ranks the severity of the observation raised and if considered high-risk and a violation of the supplier code of conduct, the supplier undergoes a termination process. Throughout the year, zero suppliers were terminated based on results of the physical audit.
| Operation | Number of Suppliers Target | Number of Suppliers Completion | Percentage Achieved |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Bahrain |
25% of Active Suppliers in 2023 |
41 |
19% |
|
Iraq |
42 |
35% |
|
|
Jordan
|
84 |
34% |
|
|
Kuwait |
121 |
25% |
|
|
Saudi Arabia |
90 |
24% |
|
|
Sudan * |
21 |
5% |
|
|
South Sudan |
42 |
31% |
|
|
Total/Average |
441 |
23% |
* Sudan’s figure reflect the efforts pre-conflict (January 31 – April 14 2023).
* In 2023, the number of responses reflects those from Group and suppliers across operations
| Operation | Target of Number of Suppliers | Number of Suppliers Physically Audited: | Completed |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Bahrain |
8 |
8 |
No |
|
Iraq |
8 |
10 |
Yes |
|
Jordan
|
8 |
8 |
Yes |
|
Kuwait |
8 |
5 |
No |
|
Saudi Arabia |
8 |
8 |
Yes |
|
Sudan * |
8 |
N/A |
No |
|
South Sudan |
8 |
12 |
Yes |
* Due to the political crisis, Sudan was not able to conduct the physical audit this year.
| Operation | % Spending on Local Suppliers | % Spending on Foreign Suppliers |
|---|---|---|
|
Bahrain |
50% |
50% |
|
Iraq |
54% |
46% |
|
Jordan
|
57% |
43% |
|
Kuwait |
58% |
42% |
|
Saudi Arabia |
95% |
5% |
|
Sudan |
93% |
7% |
|
South Sudan |
93% |
7% |
|
Total |
76% |
24% |
* The table above does not include Zain Group suppliers.
To align to best practice, in 2023 Zain revised the definition of local suppliers to geographic location.
Throughout the year, each of Zain’s operations finalized their plan on the data privacy programs and identified the target segment. Some of the operations progressed their efforts while others will be conducting them in 2024. Sudan was not able to finalize its plan due to the impact of the war.
| Operation | Target Segment | Progression in 2023 |
|---|---|---|
|
Bahrain |
Elderly Community Migrant Workers |
Zain Bahrain conducted awareness sessions for the elderly community on the importance of data privacy and provided tips on how to stay safe online. In addition, through the company’s engagement with its suppliers, Zain Bahrain elevated the partnership by training migrant workers from its suppliers on data privacy. This approach strengthens the relationship with suppliers and empowers its value chain with the skills needed to become digitally proficient. |
|
Iraq |
Students |
Zain Iraq hosted a cyber security awareness session for students that interned with the company during the summer vacation. The topics covered in the session included: Information, devices, wireless security, social engineering, and safe internet browsing. |
|
Jordan
|
Students |
30 summer interns working in Zain Jordan’s mobile maintenance centers participated in a cybersecurity awareness session to educate them on the significance of data security, providing essential knowledge and skills to safeguard themselves against cyber threats. |
|
Kuwait |
Target group is
under development |
Zain Kuwait will work on adapting the employees’ data privacy training program to a marginalized segment. Throughout the year, Zain Kuwait worked on identifying the segment they plan to target. |
|
Saudi Arabia |
Students |
In 2023, 3,093 participants from Zain Saudi Arabia subsidiaries, vendors, and partners underwent the ‘Be aware-Be secure’ cybersecurity training and awareness program, reinforcing a robust cybersecurity culture across the organization and its extended network. The plan is to customize the program for university students. |
|
South Sudan |
Students |
Zain conducted a session for 10 students from the Catholic University in Juba on the importance of data privacy. |
In its strategy, Zain focuses on targeting the following segments:
In 2023, Zain worked on gaining a better understanding of the needs and challenges of the elderly community across its markets as it is considered an untapped segment for Zain. Identifying this segment presents a challenge due to the fact that mobile lines are typically created by relatives and not the users themselves. The company is working on addressing these challenges but targeting organizations related to the elderly and homes. Below are some of the activites that were initiated this year, with remaining operations planning on conducting further activites to address this segment in 2024.
Zain Bahrain signed an MoU with Al Hekma Society for the retired to establish a better understanding of the elderly community. This partnership provided visibility of this segment’s needs, challenges, and issues to access digital and mobile services. Through the agreement, Zain aims to establish initiatives and awareness sessions on topics such as cyber security, and provide customized solutions. Zain Bahrain also aims to leverage the knowledge and expertise of the retiree community to help mentor Bahrain youth across the country.
Zain’s Play, Nothing Like Zain, achieved remarkable success with its innovative and inclusive design, featuring a meticulously crafted three-tier stage. The event attracted over 55,000 attendees and reinforced Zain’s commitment to pushing creative boundaries for all customers. This year, the emphasis on inclusivity was demonstrated through sign language interpretation in the recorded version and English subtitles, highlighting Zain’s dedication to accessibility on a global scale.
Click here to view Zain’s Play.
Under Zain’s 2020-2025 sustainability strategy, the company allocated targets to have all operating markets launch data bundles and packages for people with disabilities (PwDs) by 2023. Currently, Zain Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and South Sudan have curated data packages and/or bundles for people with disabilities. Due to the conflict, Zain Sudan halted its customized commercial offerings.
| Operation | Data Bundle for PwDs |
|---|---|
|
Zain Bahrain |
Yes – Plans to revamp the service to reach more people and better address their needs in 2024. |
|
Zain Iraq |
No – Due to the lack of available countrywide statistics on PwD’s, Zain Iraq did not launch a specific bundle for this group. However, the company provided special offerings that include priority cards in branches. |
|
Zain Jordan
|
Yes – Zain Jordan’s Basma Line bundle was revamped this year based on a focus group conducted with PwD’s in 2022. More information on the bundle can be found in the ‘Products & Services’ section of the report. |
|
Zain Kuwait |
Yes – Zain Kuwait launched its data bundle based on a requirement imposed by the Telecommunication Regulatory Authority. On PwD Day, Zain Kuwait visited the center for PwD’s to raise awareness on the bundle and conduct engagement activities with the segment. |
|
Zain Saudi Arabia |
Yes – Launched the core bundle titled Lifetime, which provides a 50% discount for PwD’s. On Purple Saturday, Zain Saudi Arabia launched a social media campaign in partnership with the Association for PwD’s reaching 18.5K people, and service subscriptions reached a growth of 247% for the year. |
|
Zain South Sudan |
Yes – Zain South Sudan launched a specific people with disability bundle in September 2023 that included free 50 minutes, 50 SMS, and 250 MB. 60 people with disabilities have benefitted from the bundle. |
Zain Bahrain continued to develop its ‘Natawasel’ service, the first sign language video call center at government health centers in the Kingdom. The goal of Natawasel is to ensure that deaf and hard-of-hearing people do not receive medical misdiagnosis due to miscommunications with doctors. The initiative was undertaken through an extensive engagement process with the Bahraini Deaf Society, which highlighted the pain points people from the deaf community face when visiting government medical facilities. 27 health centers across Bahrain are equipped with video call services and successfully logged more than 891 calls to date. In 2024, Zain Bahrain plans to use this service for the traffic and emergency lines in the country.
Women in Tech was a program established in 2021, based on research conducted on women in STEM-related fields in the MENA region. Zain continued to scale its Women in Tech program across its operating markets where it matches female STEM students with experts from Zain’s operations to be mentored. Through these successful matches, the program aims to enable future generations of females to enter the field with the promise of becoming change-makers in the industry.
In 2023, the third cycle of Women in Tech was launched in Iraq, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia. Every year, the program evolves to better address the needs of the target community through focus groups, surveys, and feedback sessions. The constant assessment of the effectiveness of the program plays a crucial role in its success.
| Operation | Context | 2022 Target | 2022 Achievement | 2023 Target | 2023 Achievement |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Zain Bahrain |
Zain Bahrain is exploring options to collaborate with stakeholders who can help support in mentorship opportunities and reaching STEM students. |
100 |
– |
120 |
– |
|
Zain Iraq |
800+ applicants received, the program delivered a total of six sessions for each student from 26 different universities. In 202 3, Zain experienced a 60% growth in the number of applicants in comparison to 2022, and increased the number of mentees to 136 women and mentors from 14 Zain employees to 22. |
100 |
115 |
120 |
136 |
|
Zain Jordan
|
Zain Jordan’s Women in Tech stream was established, and collaborative efforts were made between various stakeholders to reach 122 students where 4-5 sessions were conducted. The company leveraged its Zain Innovation Center (ZINC) to reach out to universities to help raise awareness of the program. |
100 |
100 |
120 |
122 |
|
Zain Kuwait |
Zain Kuwait is exploring options to collaborate with INJAZ to support in mentorship opportunities and reaching STEM female students. |
100 |
– |
120 |
– |
|
Zain Saudi Arabia |
4,900 applications received. The program was started in collaboration with the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT) and Communications, Space & Technology Commission (CST). |
100 |
100 |
120 |
150 |
|
Zain Sudan |
The team needed to halt the program due to the conflict in the country. |
100 |
69 |
120 |
– |
|
Zain South Sudan |
Zain South Sudan is exploring options to identify entities to collaborate with to support in mentorship opportunities and to reach STEM female students. |
100 |
– |
120 |
– |
While the online world plays a pivotal role in children’s lives, it is important to acknowledge the benefits and risks of the digital environment. In current times, children start using the internet from a young age, noting that studies show that 95% of 3-4-year-olds access the internet for an average of eight hours per week. Additionally, the prevalence of social media amongst young users is notably high, with more than two-thirds of children under the age of 12 engaging in social media platforms. This interconnectedness showcases the importance of understanding and managing the digital realm for children to ensure a safe and positive online environment for their development.
At Zain, we recognize the importance of balancing the advantages and realizing potential hazards in the digital landscape, especially for children. The company actively engages with key stakeholders through its public activities and initiatives, such as children, parents, caregivers, governments, and child protection organizations to ensure it holistically addresses this topic. Through educational campaigns and collaborations with local entities, Zain aims to raise awareness about responsible online usage. The company’s dedication is demonstrated through the development of practical tools and partnerships, including its ongoing collaboration with Child Helpline International, the Canadian Center for Child Protection, and UNICEF. These efforts equip families with the necessary knowledge to navigate the digital space securely. Zain strives to maximize the positive opportunities technology presents while minimizing associated risks, contributing to a digital space that prioritizes the overall well-being of children across its operating markets.
As part of Zain’s commitment to ensuring safety for children throughout its networks, the company published its Data Protection Policy that reinstates its firm stance in not deliberately processing the personal data of children under the legal age permitted in the relevant jurisdiction (13, 16 or 18 in some countries), unless the company attains consent from their guardians.
In an everchanging digital landscape in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), the urgency of addressing children’s rights and online safety is further exacerbated by the widespread conflicts that are present in the region. The challenges and opportunities presented by the digital world are intertwined with the hazards arising from conflict, creating a pressing need to safeguard children’s rights.
Under its Generation Youth pillar, Zain set strategic targets applicable across all its markets.
During 2023, Zain worked towards implementing its three-year MoU with Child Helpline International (CHI) to facilitate child helplines across its footprint. The partnership aims to mobilize, facilitate and support child helplines in Zain’s markets of operation. Through the MoU, Zain is able to access new ways of developing engagements between child helplines and key child protection stakeholders, including governments and regulators, as well as ways to evolve child helpline platform software and technologies, and expand services to include instant messaging and social media channels. Through its first year, Zain and CHI successfully collaborated to enhance the effectiveness of helplines across Zain’s operational markets.
During 2023, Zain worked towards implementing its three-year MoU with Child Helpline International (CHI) to facilitate child helplines across its footprint. The partnership aims to mobilize, facilitate and support child helplines in Zain’s markets of operation. Through the MoU, Zain is able to access new ways of developing engagements between child helplines and key child protection stakeholders, including governments and regulators, as well as ways to evolve child helpline platform software and technologies, and expand services to include instant messaging and social media channels. Through its first year, Zain and CHI successfully collaborated to enhance the effectiveness of helplines across Zain’s operational markets.
Zain Iraq has been actively engaging with multiple organizations across the nation that provide helpline services to citizens. The team is focusing on evolving the helpline by the Community Police and held multiple engagement sessions to understand the needs of current helplines as they focus on the elderly, women, and children. Both parties are planning to continue engaging and understanding the landscape, focusing on the importance of helpline software upgrades.
Zain has a longstanding relationship with the 110 Jordan River Foundation (JRF) helpline, which has been operational since 2007. Zain Jordan continues to support the helpline by providing cellular service through microwave and two sim cards. In addition, Zain continues to zero-rate outgoing calls from Zain users.
This year, Zain worked towards reinstating its agreement with the JRF. In addition, the entities focused on a year-long strategy to raise awareness and hold capacity building exercises for the helpline whereby the organizations launched an awareness campaign through social, traditional media, and radio to raise awareness of the helpline to parents and caregivers. The campaign reached 110,230 individuals. In addition, the company sponsored the participation of 11 dedicated helpline advisors (call center agents and phycological professionals) in a comprehensive Dialectical Behavior Therapy training program to enhance interpersonal effectiveness skills, improved ability to handle crises and high-stress situations involving children and adolescents, problem-solving skills, helping advisors to find practical and constructive solutions to issues faced by children and development of skills to help children cope with distressing situations in a healthier manner.
Zain Kuwait has been working with the Kuwait National Child Protection Program 147 National Child Helpline to create a joint awareness campaign to raise the awareness of the importance of child protection and the helpline. The company is planning on launching it in Q1 2024.
In 2023, Zain formulated an official partnership with the National Family Safe Program (NFSP) after conducting multiple stakeholder engagement sessions to understand the deficits the helpline is currently facing. After the launch of the partnership, Zain conducted awareness sessions for its employees’ children on bullying and the importance of the helpline, where 70 children attended. Externally, Zain held multiple communication campaigns raising awareness of the helpline, reaching more than 392,000 individuals on Zain Saudi Arabia’s communications channels, including partnering with two well-known influencers to communicate Zain’s commitment to the helpline. Zain also held various on-the- ground initiatives to raise awareness, such as hosting booths in several events in collaboration with the NFSP across three regions, reaching 3,450 children and providing give-aways and activities to ensure they were aware of the helplines.
To learn more about the partnership, please visit the press release.
Prior to the conflict, Zain Sudan worked on an official agreement with the country’s Family and Child Protection Unit. This involved expanding the main call center building with support from the Italian agency in Sudan. 14 agents were allocated to the child helpline in the call center and trained by Zain Sudan. In addition, selected Zain call center staff were also prepared to handle calls on behalf of the child unit. This initiative aimed to enhance Zain Sudan’s responsiveness to child protection.
In South Sudan, a child helpline is not available, however, Zain plans to discuss its establishment with relevant parties in 2024.
Zain continued to take major strides in installing blocking mechanisms that prevent child sexual abuse material (CSAM) through Project Arachnid and the Internet Watch Foundation (IWF) across its operations. As part of the ongoing commitment to online safety, Zain remains vigilant in adopting technologies that enhance the detection and prevention of CSAM, thus contributing to a safer and more secure digital space for all.
| Opco | Progress |
|---|---|
|
Bahrain |
Already installed an extensive CSAM blocking per TRA requirements |
|
Iraq |
Launched Q4 2023 |
|
Jordan |
Launched Q4 2022 |
|
Kuwait |
Launched Q3 2021 |
|
Saudi Arabia |
Launched Q2 2023 |
|
Sudan |
Throughout the conflict, Zain maintained its installation and operations with the Internet Watch Foundation |
|
South Sudan |
Initiated the process of installation with related stakeholders |
In addition, the company is a part of the revitalized GSMA Mobile Alliance against Digital Child Sexual Exploitation. The Mobile Alliance is centered on taking proactive steps to fight technology-facilitated child sexual exploitation, adopting a multi-stakeholder approach and engaging with key international stakeholders to ensure a well-coordinated response in countering digitally facilitated child sexual exploitation and abuse which includes:
In the MENA region, digital literacy is evolving rapidly, influenced by a combination of technological advancements, socio-economic factors, political instability, and educational initiatives. As the region witnesses an increasing integration of digital technologies into daily life, the demand for digital literacy skills has become apparent. Governments and organizations recognize the importance of equipping youth with the ability to navigate the digital landscape, fostering critical thinking, and promoting responsible online behavior.
However according to PwC, communities and individuals in the MENA region face obstacles in leveraging digital advancements due to gaps in connectivity, information and communication technology (ICT) infrastructure, and access to affordable technology. The prevalence of disparities, coupled with gaps in digital literacy, hinders equal participation and opportunity of growth. This digital gap disproportionately impacts marginalized communities, low-income households, people with disabilities, children, rural areas, and the elderly, contributing to societal inequalities.
Demonstrating its commitment to the advancement of education in Sudan, Zain provided 60 computers to the computer laboratory at the University of Sudan. This initiative, tailored to benefit the Faculty of Computer and Information Technology, reflects Zain’s dedication to fostering digital literacy and academic upskilling within Sudan. Zain will continue to monitor the impacts of the war on infrastructure and devices donated to the lab.
In a strategic collaboration, Zain Kuwait partnered with the national e-learning platform, Baims, to spearhead the digitalization of the education sector, tailored for high school and university students across five countries in MENA (Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Jordan, and Turkey). Over the past year, the platform recorded 30 million views, and the outreach extends to over 150,000 active monthly users, showcasing the its dynamic role in facilitating educational engagement. Zain Kuwait, through this partnership, contributed to enhancing the accessibility and quality of education in the MENA region, marking a commitment to revolutionize the education sector.
In collaboration with UNICEF, Zain Jordan proactively supported online education in 2023, recognizing its crucial role in the evolving learning landscape. Through its B12 initiative, Zain Jordan has provided comprehensive online education to 20,000 students, ensuring a secure internet service for effective learning. This commitment aligns with the urgent need to bridge educational gaps and empower the younger generation with the skills necessary for the digital age. B12 has also fostered collaborations with private schools and universities, extending educational outreach to an additional 3,000 students.
Through these strategic partnerships, Zain Jordan is contributing to the immediate educational needs of students and laying the groundwork for a more inclusive and technology-enabled education system in the region.
For the fourth consecutive year, Zain Bahrain partnered with the Supreme Council for Women to offer the Girls for Tech program, powered by Clever Play, an organization that embeds STEM learning in children’s education. The program provides girls aged 8-14 with skills on coding, website creation, and basic robotics. Due to the popularity of the program, Zain Bahrain maintained its commitment to train girls in the field of technology and successfully enrolled 585 girls for its fourth iteration of the widely successful program.
| Number of users | |
|---|---|
|
2020 |
1,000 girls |
|
2021 |
100 girls |
|
2022 |
250 girls |
|
2023 |
585 girls |
The MENA region struggles with a critical challenge as young people face barriers in transitioning from education to meaningful employment. Research shows that young people in the region are three times more likely to be unemployed than older age groups. Despite governmental efforts over the years, the youth, especially young women and those in conflict areas, encounter challenges to gain employment, ultimately reverting to low-wage, informal jobs with limited benefits. The lack of essential skills, weak education, and inadequate vocational training contribute to persistently high youth unemployment rates. As industries undergo rapid digital transformation, a significant gap in digital skills also hamper the employability of youth, limiting their access to emerging job markets. Bridging the gap in digital skills through targeted education and job employment opportunities is essential to empowering youth with the tools necessary to navigate the evolving employment landscape in the MENA region.
Continuing its success from last year, Zain Saudi Arabia continued its Evolve program, which targets fresh graduates to develop their skills to prepare them for the market’s demands. The objective of the program is to provide fresh graduates with technological skills and help them become part of the workforce of the future. With a target of training 100 youth, since the start of the program Zain Saudi Arabia received 36,479 applicants where 154 people have been accepted and are part of the year-long on-the-job training program.
Launched in 2008, Zain Jordan continued to provide training for youth with mobile maintenance skills to increase employment opportunities under its Mobile Maintenance Center. This year, the company trained youth in mobile maintenance, fixing fiber technology, and gaming devices. Across six governorates where the centers are located, 203 graduated the program and 162 were employed in 2023.
The Ra’idat Program, a local competition initiated by the French Embassy in Iraq and executed in collaboration with Zain Iraq and the Station, the first co-working space for entrepreneurs in Baghdad, aims to support and empower female Iraqis in their entrepreneurial pursuits. This initiative provides a platform for women across different cities in the country, fostering their business development and implementation. In 2023, the program achieved significant participation, with over 150 females engaging in the competition, underscoring its impactful role in promoting and nurturing entrepreneurship among Iraqi women.
The top three projects initiated from the Ra’idat program were:
Top Three Projects
Happy Mushroom:
For mushroom production
Chocopedia:
For cake and chocolate
Anana:
For filming production
In 2018, Zain solidified a resilient and sustainable partnership with SANAD. This year signifies the sixth year of their collaboration. SANAD is an independent non-governmental non-profit organization that provides home hospice care to advanced chronically and terminally ill patients and their families. SANAD incorporates a holistic approach to address any medical, social and psychological challenges faced by patients and their families. In addition ,SANAD aims at increasing access to palliative care in the Middle East region through its capacity building programs to support other organizations in developing their own palliative care services, build the capacity of health care professionals, and increase the awareness of the general public.
In 2023, SANAD was recognized for the 2023 leadership award for its palliative care capacity building programs from the European Association of Palliative Care (EAPC) and European Palliative Care Academy (EuPCA). Between 2018 and 2023, SANAD provided generalist training to more than 350 healthcare professionals that were conducted either in-person or virtually in the following countries: Kuwait, Lebanon, Iraq, Sudan, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Jordan.
As a result of these collaborations and capacity building programs, palliative care has been introduced into such communities with the aim of challenging the stigma associated with this topic and integrating palliative care as a new health approach into the healthcare infrastructure in the region. Some of the countries started to assess governmental readiness, resources required, and pave the way for more integrated palliative services in their healthcare systems..
From an organizational aspect, Zain contributed to SANAD’s growth and sustainability through the following:
| 2017-2020 | 2021-2023 | |
|---|---|---|
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Support Services |
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Human Resources |
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Projects |
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