Case study: How CIB promotes a culture of responsible banking among its employees

Stakeholder identification and consultation

Please describe which stakeholders (or groups/ types of stakeholders) you have identified, consulted, engaged, collaborated or partnered with for the purpose of implementing the Principles and improving your bank’s impacts. This should include a high-level overview of how your bank has identified relevant stakeholders, what issues were addressed/results achieved and how they fed into the action planning process.

As a leading financial institution, CIB believes that meaningful engagement with key stakeholders enables the bank to advance its ESG goals and generate value for investors, partners, clients, and the wider community. CIB facilitates dialogues with experts from the heavy-industry sectors it finances to discuss emerging trends, challenges, risks, and opportunities. Collaborations with clients, government ministries, Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs), and Development Finance Institutions (DFIs) strengthen CIB’s sustainable finance initiatives. Its stakeholders include Development Financial Institutions, international organizations such as UNEP-FI, GFANZ, WEF, and CDP, governmental bodies and academia.

As an active member of the Net-Zero Banking Alliance (NZBA) and the Principles for Responsible Banking (PRB), CIB plays a crucial role in influencing global banking practices. Participation in the NZBA Steering Group Meeting in London and the PRB Board meeting in the UK highlights its dedication to aligning banking operations worldwide with the goal of net-zero emissions by 2050 and promoting responsible banking standards.

CIB’s international engagement also includes significant contributions to the Glasgow Financial Alliance for Net-Zero (GFANZ), where it is a key member of both the Africa Advisory Board and the Africa Network Working Groups. These platforms enable CIB to shape climate action policies across Africa, emphasizing the importance of sustainability in financial practices.

Furthermore, CIB actively participates in global forums such as MENA Climate Week in Riyadh, where it hosted a side event on transition finance, and the Africa Climate Summit in Nairobi, highlighting the climate challenges and opportunities on the continent. Its involvement in the World Economic Forum’s Green Hydrogen Initiative and discussions on transitioning to green energy sources like hydrogen demonstrate CIB’s commitment to innovative climate solutions.

CIB’s participation at COP28 was especially significant, where it not only took part in panels on climate finance and green building initiatives but also played a strategic role in advocating for the expansion of net-zero transition efforts and the enhancement of regional carbon markets. Its active contribution to shaping discussions at such international forums, combined with its leadership in regional initiatives, highlights CIB’s central role in advancing both global and regional sustainability goals. Through these efforts, CIB has solidified its position as a leader in integrating environmental considerations into banking practices, championing the cause of sustainable finance.

CIB also proudly celebrates the achievements of the “Choices and Voices” event organized by the Women’s Initiatives Network (WIN) on December 14th, 2023. This event was designed to empower women within the bank and boost their confidence in their ability to succeed and lead. Since its launch in 2019, WIN has been a strong advocate for diversity and inclusion at CIB, working to empower women across the organization and foster a more equitable workplace. The initiative regularly hosts meetings and seminars featuring prominent female leaders from the business community, focusing on strategies for success, career growth, overcoming challenges, and leadership development. This ongoing commitment demonstrates CIB’s dedication to creating an inclusive and supportive environment for all employees.

CIB took part in the 6th Job Fair at Nahda University in Beni Suef as part of the “Your Dream Matters” initiative. This program aims to empower women and strengthen their role within the banking industry, highlighting the significance of women’s workforce participation and providing all graduates with opportunities to apply for jobs. CIB’s participation demonstrates its dedication to supporting gender diversity and offering career prospects for young professionals.

In addition, CIB sponsored the “Financial Careers” job conference to inspire and guide young professionals in their career development. The event provided a valuable platform for connecting with talented youth eager to enter the financial sector. This initiative reflects CIB’s ongoing commitment to engaging in Egypt’s leading professional events and nurturing the next generation of financial experts.

CIB also participated in the fourth edition of the American University in Cairo’s Business Forum, where it discussed recent developments in the S1 and S2 International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) related to climate disclosures and their implementation in Egypt. The forum brought together experts from academia, business, regulatory bodies, private sector firms, auditors, and consulting organizations to explore the implications for investors and companies, as well as regional opportunities and challenges. CIB emphasized the importance of institutional collaboration in adopting these standards, reaffirming its leadership in advancing sustainability initiatives and integrating environmental considerations into banking practices.

How does CIB promote a culture of responsible banking among its employees?

In its 2024 PRB Progress Report CIB reports that it took the following actions to promote a culture of responsible banking among its employees:

To drive systemic change towards embedding sustainability into its policies and culture, CIB emphasizes and advocates for the importance of sustainable finance education (SFE). Unlike traditional finance education, which has historically concentrated on teaching the basics of profit-making, SFE highlights the vital link between finance and ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) factors. Recognizing that integrating ESG principles across its policies and culture requires a deep understanding of their significance for business growth as well as societal and environmental well-being, CIB views SFE as a critical pillar in this effort. In line with its mission to promote sustainable finance throughout its operations, CIB leverages the expertise of its Learning and Development team to deliver up-to-date, best-practice training and capacity-building initiatives on sustainable finance for its employees, clients, and other stakeholders, aligned with the different stages of the framework’s development.

An introductory sustainable finance module, designed to highlight the fundamental principles and pillars of sustainability, is available to all CIB staff across the organization. In addition, various tailored and off-the-shelf sustainability courses are offered, targeting specific areas, while sustainable finance education has been fully integrated into CIB’s flagship Credit, SME, and Retail Courses.

Furthermore, CIB has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with LinkedIn Learning to enhance digital education for its employees. This collaboration aims to broaden employees’ technological knowledge through LinkedIn Learning’s extensive library of over 20,000 expert-led instructional videos. By providing access to this on-demand educational platform, CIB seeks to support the country’s economic development through education and enable its staff to keep pace with industry changes.

CIB believes that fulfilling its climate and financial inclusion commitments depends significantly on well-informed and engaged employees who can effectively promote the bank’s sustainability products and services. Developing a culture aligned with its strategic vision is essential to this effort.

UN Principles for Responsible Banking: Accelerating a positive global transition for people and the planet

With over 300 signatory banks representing almost half of the global banking industry, the Principles for Responsible Banking are the world’s foremost sustainable banking framework. Through these Principles, the banking community takes action to align core strategies, decision-making, lending and investment with the UN Sustainable Development Goals and international agreements such as the Paris Climate Agreement.

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The combination of all the above empowers FBRH to provide first class Principles for Responsible Banking (PRB) assurance services.

References:

This case study is based on published information by CIB, located at the link below. For the sake of readability, we did not use brackets or ellipses. However, we made sure that the extra or missing words did not change the report’s meaning. If you would like to quote these written sources from the original please revert to the following link:

https://www.cibeg.com/-/media/project/downloads/about-cib/esg/portfolio-impact-assessment/2024-portfolio-impact-assessment.pdf

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