corporate social responsibility ONRECYCLED 100% PAPER. annual ED T AS PRIN report W T 2011 THIS BOOKLE 2 3 CSR is adopting a balanced approach to economic, environmental and social issues nowadays, in such a way as to be beneficial to citizens, communities and society as a whole, going beyond simple observation of the law and voluntarily making the results of such activities public to maintain accountability. With its ever avant-garde spirit, Bank Audi was the first Lebanese institution to set up a separate CSR unit as of April 2010. The establishment of this unit falls within Bank Audi’s permanent commitment to social, environmental and human well-being, which represents an integral part of the Bank’s core strategy and objectives revolving around Transparency, Human Capital, Heritage, Quality, Civic Role and Innovation. For a bank like Bank Audi, with a significant economic dimension mirrored by a ratio of domestic assets to GDP exceeding 50%, and being the largest local bank in terms of financing the economy, the largest private contributor to GDP formation, the largest tax payer and the largest employer in the Lebanese private sector, commitment to the civic society and to the environment clearly imposes itself. The feedback from various achievements has proven Bank Audi’s initiative to be a necessity and a success: primary beneficiaries and various stakeholders recognise it and value the Bank for its perception and adoption of Corporate Responsibility. Over and above, CSR campaigns promoted by the Bank have echoed with an outright positive response from customers and shareholders. Always aiming at “Growing Beyond Our Potential” as a method of life entrenched in the way we work and live and in reflection of our Management’s attitude towards integrity and high ethical values, Bank Audi plays a major role, beyond banking, in developing communities through a large deal of active participation, partnerships and community support programs. It is through such nationwide CSR engagements that Bank Audi is confirming its awareness that banking leadership entails civic duties and that it goes hand in hand with the standards of social welfare. Sincerely, Raymond W. Audi Samir N. Hanna Chairman and Group Chief General Manager Executive Officer c4 sr 5 education and development Samir Hanna, Group CEO, addressing Bank Audi employees’ children during “Live a day at Bank Audi”. 6 7 Bank Audi’s CSR main theme campaign: over 7000 signed pledges spreading safe Band Audi closing a day of awareness sessions on May 11, 2011 – driving guidelines to the community. The United Nations Decade of Action for Road Safety worldwide launch day in collaboration with “Kunhadi”. Development being at the core of our interaction as corporate citizens, it goes beyond education, training and assistance to reach society as a whole. The objective is to be involved in development projects, thus becoming a solid model to follow in our aspirations to achieve positive change. With this in mind, Bank Audi launched “Conscientious Driver”, a special campaign intended to increase “Mérite Blé Vert” 2011 group photo. awareness to road safety. In partnership with the “Kunhadi” association who spread the campaign to various educational and business institutions, and through Bank Audi’s wide branch network, clients were invited to take the pledge of becoming conscientious drivers. To date, we are proud to have gathered over 7000 signed copies of this pledge which coincides with the United Nations Decade of Action for Road Safety, initiated in 2011. Moreover, special attention was given, as always, to encourage and support young talents and tomorrow’s future leaders. In this context, students from different schools and universities across the country benefited from full or partial scholarship funding through Bank Audi’s partnership with educational institutions. This is the case, for example, for the “Mérite Blé Vert” partnership which binds Bank Audi to La Sagesse schools. Besides, a special award program entitled “Profamily” is organised by the Bank annually to reward employees’ children for their outstanding academic performance in the Lebanese baccalaureate by sponsoring their future academic pursuits. 8 9 Cooking classes for the benefit of “Faire Face” Association. Bank Audi also plays a crucial role in developing An online career portal was developed in this respect, the youth through its voluntary student internship giving candidates easy access to general information program which allows it to reinforce long-term about Bank Audi’s values and expectations when relationships with its stakeholders. Interns are thus it comes to recruiting and assessing potential introduced to our business culture and values, employees. The portal also features training and increasing their employment opportunities. Each development opportunities, as well as the wide array year, the Bank hosts over 400 interns from over 20 of advantages offered to employees and meant to universities in Lebanon and abroad, covering over improve their well-being. This electronic gateway, 30 majors and specialisations. Participants attend which is aligned with regional and multinational orientation sessions on the Bank’s values, history, best practices and targets potential and existing structure, products and services, in addition to an candidates worldwide, is home to an average of overview of banking operations. Some interns are 7000 résumés per year, which matches Bank Audi’s even offered employment opportunities at the Bank. reputation of biggest Lebanese employer (over 5000 Recently, and with the development of Corporate employees and a turnover of 4%). Social Responsibility within university curriculums, a rising number of students have also been supported It is worth mentioning at this point that the Bank is by the Bank for their thesis studies in this field. keen on preserving equal employment percentages as regards gender: 47% of female staff versus 53% Furthermore, the Bank’s Recruitment Unit makes it of male staff. a point to participate in various university job fairs and coaching initiatives for candidates who are preparing to apply for internships or embarking on specific career paths, as well as in professional job fairs aimed at attracting job seekers from different regions and backgrounds. Introducing the “Conscientious Driver” campaign to students in the context of Bank Audi’s participation in the AUB Job Fair. And because happy children mean satisfied To sustain the Bank’s growth strategy, development parents, Bank Audi invited 94 employees’ children initiatives remain strong and on-going with a view to participate in the “Live a Day at Bank Audi” to ensuring a competitive workforce equipped both event where they visited the Bank’s premises to get technically and behaviourally, aimed at upgrading familiarised with their parents’ work environment. necessary competencies for enhanced individual They also got to learn about the basics of banking, and organisation performance, and benefiting new meet with members of Management, engage in recruits as well as existing employees. different recreational activities, and write suggestion letters to the Group CEO. At Bank Audi, because we believe that sustainable development is achieved through the complete Bank Audi also welcomes students for full day visits development of our human capital, we create at its head office to introduce them to the business opportunities for everyone to develop within the world through the “Injaz” company program which banking sector and in sectors as diverse as art, gives them the opportunity to create and run culture and education. This includes language their own company’s, gaining relevant experience courses, and even special painting and cooking in the vital aspects of a company life cycle. Each classes. participating school is partnered with a local company whose volunteer employees serve as consultants to In the same perspective, the Bank’s Retail department students. Students visiting the Bank in the context of engages in training teenagers on the basics of the “Injaz” program have the opportunity to meet banking through school visits and presentations. In with Top Management and share success stories that this context, 3000 students learn everything they can boost them in their future endeavours. need to know on checks, credit cards and bank accounts every year. 10 11 Maxime Chaya, Bank Audi’s Corporate Ambassador, reaching the Everest summit. As for Maxime Chaya, the Bank’s Corporate Ambassador, he was invited to 50 events in 2011 to share the experience of his journeys and inspire young and old on the importance of pursuing one’s dreams against all odds and no matter how high the summit. His outreach involves more than 10,000 persons per year, an additional testimony that Bank Audi is a solid role model that youth can look up to. Maxime Chaya, an inspiration for the young community. 12 13 Awarding the best business plan in the context of the “Grow My Business” 2011 competition. In the same vein, Bank Audi values knowledge and offers its employees the opportunity to broaden their horizons through easy access to the Bank’s library which contains a total of 5100 books on various topics, from accounting, banking, law, economy and finance, to all aspects of art. The library also includes a large selection of magazines and other publications, as well as a unique series of the Official Gazette going back to 1964, and a number of Bank Audi employees’ thesis. Other community development projects include supporting the initiative of the Beirut Trade Association and the MIT Enterprise Forum – Pan Arab Region for a national business plan competition (“Grow My Business”), being actively present at Arab Net, the digital technology industry’s major yearly event, and supporting the Harvard Alumni Association. 14 15 humanitarian and health Band Audi, Awdiyat and Bank Audi Children’s Choir perform “Songs for the Road” at Music Hall, a special concert part of the “Conscientious Driver” campaign. 16 17 Bank Audi’s exclusive sponsoring of Hady Sy’s “One Blood” project at the UNESCO Palace, during the World Blood Donor Day.