RAGB11 Foundation Commitment Sport Social Volunteers Emergencies Outreach Energy International Efficiency Sponsorship Missions www.fondation.veolia.com Funding Projects 2011 activity report Federating Employment Young people Partnership Workforce development Responsibility Cooperation Environmental Corporate Foundation Tel.: +33 (0)1 55 23 43 46 [email protected] • 2011 activity report Foundation Corporate Environnement Veolia conservation Networks VEOL_1205114_RA FONDATION_GB_COUV_564,5x220_v1.indd a1 04/06/12 15:47 Corporate Foundation governed by Law no. 87-571 of July 23, 1987 amended Head office: 36-38, avenue Kléber – 75116 Paris – France Mail address: 6, Esplanade Charles-de-Gaulle – 92751 Nanterre Cedex – France E-mail: [email protected] Chief editors: Dominique Boizeau, Claire Billon-Galland Editorial coordinator: Hélène Salmon Design, artwork and production: Photos: Veolia Environnement photo library, Veolia Environnement Foundation photo library, the Foundation’s sponsors, Veoliaforce sponsors, Julie Garlenq (IFRC), CASE photo library, Aymeric Warmé-Janville, Francis Demange, David Bild, Katharina Kuhlmey, To meet environmental concerns, this document was produced by PDI, an Axel Ducourneau (CNRS), Cécile Diaz, Marie Aurenche, Maison du fleuve Sénégal, MIX Imprim’Vert, FSC-certifi ed printing company, using organic, plant oil-based Christophe Majani d’Inguimbert From responsible inks. It was printed on Amber Preprint 120 g/m² paper (Arctic Paper) made from sources fi bers sourced from responsibly and sustainably managed forests. The plant Production oversight: Jean-Claude Le Dunc manufacturing Amber paper is ISO 14001 certifi ed and produces an EMAS report. Printed by: PDI VEOL_1205114_RA FONDATION_GB_COUV_564,5x220_v1.indd a2 04/06/12 15:47 Veolia Environnement Foundation ! Profi le 03 Editorial by Antoine Frérot 04 Interview with the Executive O$ cer % EMERGENCIES 07 Missions & OUTREACH 10 Development assistance / skills volunteering 12 Development assistance / fi nancial support 16 Helping c' ldren and other vulnerable groups ! WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT 22 Social inclusion through work 26 Helping people back to work and training !& ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION 30 Protecting the natural heritage and biodiversity 32 Education and awareness-building 37 Transversal projects 38 Index Projects and sponsors A corporate foundation serving community outreach and sustainable development The Veolia Environnement Foundation ranks among France’s largest private foundations. Where it di" ers is that it harnesses the goodwill of its employees in two ways. Some of them sponsor community-oriented projects contributing to sustainable development that receive fi nancial support from the Foundation. Others, through Veoliaforce, volunteer their skills in humanitarian emergencies and development programs. Emergencies, outreach, workforce development and environmental conservation are the Foundation’s priority areas of action. Editorial by Antoine Frérot Chairman of the Veolia Environnement Foundation Chairman and Chief Executive Offi cer of Veolia Environnement “The Foundation’s action is one of the fi nest illustrations of t' s outreach and our commitment to the world around us.” In 2011, the Veolia Environnement Foundation launched its 1000th project, a symbolic milestone that bears witness to the continuity of its action to serve people, regions and biodiversity. Despite a globally tough economic climate this year again, I was keen for the Foundation to continue making the same commitment. The need for social outreach programs is increasing throughout the world and once again, the Foundation responded to the call. Its particular focus on issues of employment and social inclusion was recognized through a vast survey carried out with the nonprofi t organizations it supports. The most important thing is for this commitment to feed through into practical results, which means that the Foundation is called on to play a growing role in building bridges towards employment. Here, I can only applaud the professionalism shown by the Foundation and Group employees who contribute their time – and especially their skills – to crisis relief, combating social exclusion and helping implement the most sustainable solutions. All these volunteers bring their tecÚ ical expertise of course, but also their ability to listen and innovate, guided by an essential commitment to local action. The development of partnerships with big international organizations, a particularly marked trend in 2011, is a strong indication that they recognize our expertise and the usefulness of our action. Veolia Environnement will continue to play this role of responding to the major challenges facing our societies. The Foundation’s action is one of the fi nest illustrations of this outreach and our commitment to the world around us. ● # Interview with T' erry Vandevelde Executive Offi cer of the Veolia Environnement Foundation Social added value that is increasingly recognized $ “The Foundation is keen to act as a laboratory exploring all the issues revolving around social outreach and sustainable development.” What were the key guidelines for 2011? Against Cholera (GAAC) – the Foundation So the Foundation has the capacity acts as the secretariat for this structure, to forge partnerships with major Alongside the internationalization of the which aims to coordinate eff orts and institutions. What are the factors Foundation initiated some years back, establish a global strategy for combating building the trust they place in Veolia? we continued to strengthen our strategy the disease. We provide genuine back-up of forging major partnerships, one example for this unique alliance bringing together First, of course, our skills. What the being the renewal of our partnership with scientists and policy-makers. UNHCR, for instance, fi nds particularly the French Red Cross, signed by Antoine Frérot The Global Alliance is also a partner valuable is our capacity to provide expertise and Jean-François Mattei. to the Health Ministry in the Democratic in all the vital services required for large We also signed a new cooperation agreement Republic of the Congo and has worked refugee camps. Another of the Foundation’s with a UN agency, UNHCR (UN Refugee with it to build a response strategy for strengths is our determination to develop Agency), which assists refugees and eradicating cholera, permanently, by multi-player partnerships and our capacity displaced people. Through this agreement, implementing programs to ensure access to attract co-fi nancing from the big the Foundation becomes an “operational to water, sanitation and hygiene. institutional aid and development agencies partner” to UNHCR, as it has been to The DRC is the fi rst country to agree and major foundations. UNICEF since 2008. We should also mention to this cooperation, but others have For instance, the Foundation was awarded the offi cial launch of the Global Alliance since followed suit. the Special Jury Prize in the Corporate “2012 will be a year of major advocacy for the Foundation, whether in favor of social inclusion or decentralized cooperation.” Sponsorship Trophies organized by the Ministry fi rst to recognize the value of the Tara Oceans them by conducting a survey to assess of the Environment. scientifi c expedition. We welcome the idea our global action in the fi eld of social In another example, fi ve of our volunteers that the Foundation can act as a laboratory inclusion through business activity. won a commemorative medal awarded and take calculated risks. The Foundation is The fi ndings of the survey highlight by the Ministry of Defense in connection also committed to supporting environmental the Foundation’s role in building bridges with our action in Haiti in partnership research programs conducted by the University between the nonprofi t sector and the with the French Red Cross. of Arizona in the USA in the framework of corporate world. Biosphere 2, an experimental site that is What were your priority areas the world’s largest closed artifi cial In the past, you have talked about of action in 2011? ecological system. “leveraging” eff orts. Is this one of the main priorities driving the Our three priority areas of action remain The Foundation is also very active on Foundation today? the same: humanitarian relief and the local level. What were the highlights development assistance, strengthening of 2011 in this area? I think that’s true. We have chosen to social ties and helping people back focus primarily on actions where we have to work, environmental conservation We are indeed very attentive to the needs the capacity to make a major impact. and biodiversity. of the regions in which we operate and the Drawing on its seven years of experience, We launched our 1000th project in 2011, importance of strengthening local outreach the Foundation is now in a position to which means we have the experience initiatives to help the most deprived groups. implement more wide-ranging strategies, to take a global view. Social inclusion through business activity whether in terms of social inclusion We note, for instance, that thanks to the has historically been a major focus for the or decentralized cooperation. We are expertise of Group employees primarily, Foundation and we continually seek to improve increasingly playing an advocacy role: we are focusing our action on areas our understanding of local needs. In seven years, we federate initiatives and act as a conduit where we can off er genuine added value. we have supported more than