Partnerships by Region

ArcelorMittal: Catalysing collaboration in Liberia and West Africa
Mining, Energy and Natural Resources

In mid-March, when the WHO officially declared COVID-19 a pandemic, the World Economic Forum (WEF) asked if ArcelorMittal could replicate the EPSMG model. A private sector group in Liberia was therefore established, and a weekly West-Africa wide conversation was convened to bring together interested stakeholders including the WEF and other NGOs, government representatives and companies representing many industries active in the region, totalling 30-40 voices across West Africa.

The objective of the country group is to help by coordinating the efficient use of resources, be that financial, or in-kind by way of goods and services, to:

1. Support communications and community outreach, by raising awareness among the general population of how to recognise COVID-19 symptoms and prevent the spread of the disease, as well as debunking false remedies. This is critically important, because in Africa, mistrust of government and stigma associated with a positive result are endemic, so people tend to avoid being tested. Employers are well-integrated into communities and are trusted information sources, so are ideally positioned to effectively communicate messages that can help contain COVID-19. We are therefore running communications projects across West Africa to reinforce these messages.
2. Help measure the spread of the disease by scaling up testing capacity in local communities and work to minimise under or misdiagnosis of COVID-19 cases, thereby curtailing its spread. Through enhanced data collection and analysis, the private sector can support effective decision making on managing the disease.
3. Seek to better manage movement within and between countries to minimise disease transmission over wide areas by localising testing efforts, while mitigating supply issues arising from border closures by leveraging trusted private sector supply chains to centralise purchasing of goods such as testing kits, life support equipment and personal protective equipment.
4. Once available, work out how best to support the equitable distribution of medical supplies, including any vaccine.
5. Help support economic recovery through continuity of business and employment, to prevent lockdown measures turning a medical emergency into a humanitarian disaster.
6. Seek to leverage any external support which may be available, such as aid from development agencies, including the package offered by USAid.

While the near-term objective of this project is on getting through this crisis, its long-term future will be decided on need. The aspiration, however, is the project endures, is replicated in countries across West Africa and becomes a cohesive regional platform. It would need to be led by an established and authoritative independent body which would help to ensure a coordinated and collaborative private sector response to West Africa’s current and future challenges.

Ebola Private Sector Mobilisation Group
Mining, Energy and Natural Resources

In August 2014, ArcelorMittal, a steel producer corporation, initiated the “Ebola Private Sector Mobilisation Group” (EPSMG), a coalition of more than 80 companies to align private sector capability with the international Ebola response. Initially, the EPSMG was launched as a platform for dialogue amongst major mining companies operating in the affected countries. Today, the coalition includes companies operating in a broad array of sectors, as well as 40 civil society and government bodies.[1] During the outbreak, the EPSMG became a key source of information, logistics and concrete resources, as well as a support group for all those facing challenges in their business interests and sense of humanity.[2]  

The EPSMG developed an Action Pledge, supported by the United Nations, which highlighted commitments and actions to increase business contributions to the Ebola response. The Action Pledge included a commitment to continue to operate business in Ebola-affected areas, to pay staff and train them about Ebola, asking them to pass that knowledge to their families, neighbours and communities to prevent infection and fight stigma. In terms of partnership, the Action Pledge highlighted the importance of participating in collective efforts with civil society, intergovernmental organizations, affected communities and other businesses with a view to forge long term partnerships in support of regional economic and sustainable development. On the post-outbreak recovery efforts, the Pledge aimed at collaborating to help rebuild stronger healthcare systems in affected countries.[3]

Nicky and Jonathan Oppenheimer set up the South African Future Trust as a response to the COVID-19 pandemic 
Financial Services

The South African Future Trust (SAFT), established by Nicky and Jonathan Oppenheimer, supports small and medium enterprises impacted by the coronavirus pandemic. The fund aims to provide direct financial relief via interest free loans to permanent employees of South African small, medium and micro-sized businesses (SMMEs) who are at risk of losing their jobs or suffering income loss due to COVID-19. 

The SAFT has partnered with six of South Africa’s major banks – ABSA, FnB, Nedbank, Investec, Mercantile and Standard Bank – with clients of these banks able to apply for funding. Funds will be transferred directly to employees of the participating SMMEs.  

Applications opened for the fund on 3 April, and by 22 April over 5000 SMMEs have received support from the initial R1 billion (over £40 million) available. Once the current crisis has passed, SAFT will have an ongoing role in accelerating economic growth within South Africa.

CEMEX introduces comprehensive support package to respond to COVID-19
Mining, Energy and Natural Resources

CEMEX has designed several actions in order to serve the needs of those in areas where the company operates. These actions include:

1. Health and Safety

Mixers - Private & Government Partnership 

To ensure the correct sanitization of hospitals and key public areas, their mixer trucks have been loaded with water and a special soap mixture and taken to key areas determined by governments. These actions have been conducted in coordination with local governments in México, Nicaragua, Egypt, Philippines, Czech Republic, Dominican Republic, Colombia and Panama. 

Food - Private & Government Partnership

Through a local chamber of commerce, a request from the government to help with food for vulnerable populations was received, by the time the request was made CEMEX were collecting the clementine harvest. They donated 400kg of clementines in Spain in order to help people in vulnerable situations to have healthy meals.

2. Social Innovation, Capacity Development and Strategic Volunteering:

Gender violence mitigation - Private & Government & NGOs

Through CEMEX's urban model pilot, they have been following the increase in violence since the start of the lockdown. They are working with the private sector, NGOs and governments in order to deliver help in the form of care kits to homes in the community where the project is located. They  have also included information on helplines from  NGO and government partners for emergency services due to gender violence.

3. Partnerships:

Citizen participation and partnerships - Private & NGOs

The Citizen Integration Council (CIC) and the Human Development Commission in Nuevo Leon, Mexico, with help from several companies in Nuevo Leon and coordinated by Grupo Monterrey, formed of CEMEX and other partners in the region, signed a partnership to use their platform for other organizations and citizens. CIC is a platform of civic technology that has been promoting active citizen participation for 8 years. Currently they are using their platform to match people in need with people willing to help. Through APOYA needs are communicated and covered effectively and proactively. This collaboration model is currently at the state level but it could be replicated nationwide. One of the projects supported by APOYA are the COMUNIDAR efforts that include initiatives such as #RespiraNL and AbrazaNL.

Solidarity Network – Private & community & NGOs

CEMEX have strengthened the network of partners in their urban model pilot to bring in-kind support to people in extreme vulnerability. CEMEX, Tecnologico de Monterrey, Fundación FEMSA, and a local network of 32 community committees, leaders, NGOs and public schools formed the ‘Solidarity Network Campana-Altamira’ by providing donations, logistic support, installations and social capital.

Click here to read more about how construction is a safe and essential industry in CEMEX's position paper.

Watch the video about CEMEX in México (in Spanish) by clicking here.

Pastoral Social and Cerrejón join together to support Wayuu communities in dealing with the COVID-19 emergency
Mining, Energy and Natural Resources

Cerrejón employees from the company’s volunteer program and the Cerrejón Foundation are partnering with Pastoral Social from the Catholic Church in La Guajira, Colombia to provide aid to the most vulnerable indigenous communities in the region which have been affected by the COVID-19 emergency. Employees from Cerrejón, the Cerrejón Foundation and others who have joined this initiative have donated money towards foodstuffs and hygiene kits to Wayuu communities in La Guajira. 

The collection of funds will be managed by Pastoral Social which has the logistical capabilities and personnel to purchase, receive, select and package the food and hygiene products needed. All deliveries will be made by local authorities from the municipality of Uribia.

Cerrejón continues to support local communities by providing water, delivering 15,000 masks and 350 protective suits to local hospitals, and by supporting local authorities in delivering 300 packets of basic foodstuffs to 26 indigenous communities.

Drummond Company, Inc. gives support to more than 15,000 families
Mining, Energy and Natural Resources

Drummond is seeking to support the most vulnerable population groups in Cesar and Magdalena. In these two departments in north Colombia, this effort has focused on four main aspects: food security, medical supplies, drinking water, and fire control. 

Food security: Through the Food Bank Association, and partnering with regional and church institutions and the Colombian Army, 13,000 families in 14 municipalities of Cesar and Magdalena received free grocery bundles that included essential items for good nutrition and hygiene.

Medical supplies: More than 3,000 units of medical supplies were delivered to 7 municipalities in Cesar and Magdalena. The supplies consisted of face masks, medical uniforms, gloves, face shields, and antibacterial gel that will protect medical and support personnel who are responding to the coronavirus pandemic.

Drinking water: 1.4 million litres of drinking water has been donated to the department of Cesar. This has helped over 1,100 families in the region, including those in the neighbourhoods of Bosconia, La Jagua de Ibirico and El Paso who are at heightened risk due to the dry season.

Fire control: With the threat of forest fires in Magdalena, 5,280 gallons of water has been supplied, as well as the infrastructure to land a helicopter to respond to environmental emergencies. 

Partnerships with governments and the community: the case of Mastercard
Financial Services

Mastercard is committing up to $300 million to support the search for a cure and aid small businesses and financially vulnerable communities around the world. A partnership has been established with Grameen America to support the transition of low-income women entrepreneurs to digital banking to digitize their operations and access microloans. Another key partnership Mastercard established is with the Community Reinvestment Fund to help small businesses access federal relief. In cooperation with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and Wellcome, Mastercard is assisting with the establishment of the COVID-19 Therapeutics Accelerator, to speed the development of and access to therapies.

Mastercard is also engaging with several hundred national and local governments around the world to facilitate electronic disbursements, so vulnerable businesses and individuals can safely and securely receive vital benefits. The financial services corporation is also working with city and state leaders around the world, providing access to anonymized and aggregated data-driven insights free of charge, to help them assess the impact of COVID-19 on their communities and optimize their recovery plans. At the community-level, Mastercard extended access to its STEM curriculum, Girls4Tech, through a suite of new online, creative educational resources designed to help parents and teachers engage and inspire kids, ages 8-12. Mastercard is also offering free cyber vulnerability assessments and identity theft protection to businesses.

Minera de Cobre Quebradona develops the campaign 'A Purpose For Life' to help residents of Jericó
Mining, Energy and Natural Resources

Minera de Cobre Quebradona has launched the campaign 'A Purpose For Life' to protect the health and wellbeing of the inhabitants of Jericó and the neighbouring municipalities of Southwest Antioquia, as well as employees and suppliers of Quebradona in response to COVID-19. The initiative was created in collaboration with the Mayor's Office of Jericó and community leaders. 

The response package includes:

• Delivery of more than 5,100 groceries to families, cooperatives and care homes for the elderly in Jericó, Fredonia-Puente Iglesias, La Pintada, Pueblorrico and Valparaíso. Groceries were purchased mostly from local businesses to boost the economy of the region and were distributed by each municipal administration
• Delivery of medical equipment including 3,500 hygiene kits and 7 laser temperature thermometers to Jericó and Puente Iglesias 
• Donation of computer equipment and expansion to 60MB internet capacity to Jerico’s local administration office, for the better connectivity of local authorities with the region and the rest of the country
• Promotion of the programs 'Proper Use of Free Time' and 'Comprehensive Family Care', covering virtual education, family advice and psychological support to protect the community during the quarantine
• Creation of 'We Are Southwest Talent' – a joint activity with the House of Culture of Jericó, whereby inhabitants can demonstrate their talent (writing, dance, music, singing or acting) through stories or home videos recorded
• Establishment of AngloGold Ashanti Volunteer Donation employee campaign
• Donation of $60 million COP to the food banks of Bogotá and Medellín

'A Purpose for Life' initiative is a message of support, persistence and solidarity with the community that has opened its doors to Quebradona project during the last 14 years. The long term aim of the initiative is to ratify AngloGold Ashanti’s corporate responsibility commitment to Jericó, Antioquia and Colombia.

BBVA secures vital health equipment
Financial Services

As a part of a €35 million global donation to fight the COVID-19 pandemic, BBVA secured 2,813 ventilators, 5,000 flow valve masks, 400 oxygenators, and 400,000 face masks from China.  The first installment of 1,013 ventilators was arranged in one night between Madrid and Hong Kong and has already been distributed. Another 1,000 ventilators will be delivered shortly to healthcare authorities in Mexico, while the last 800 are pending delivery in China.

Although the purchase of medical equipment is not part of BBVA’s social remit, nor is healthcare one of its strategic areas of corporate responsibility, the bank clearly grasped from the beginning that it had to act.In mid March, BBVA had already begun to study the experiences of those countries hardest-hit by coronavirus (China, and later Italy). The bank recognized that the most pressing need was a rapid response to the growing number of contagious patients, which in turn would necessitate an urgent donation of medical equipment. This donation was made possible through collaboration with other companies, NGOs, as well as the Government’s of Spain, Mexico and Turkey. 

BT's Skills for Tomorrow programme
Consumer Goods and Services

Working in partnership with leading digital skills organisations, BT has brought together resources and information to help people, especially those with low or no digital skills, overcoming the challenges of isolation. The aim of the initiative is to keep individuals connected with friends and family, as well as to assist children with home learning and adults working remotely for the first time. The programme is free and designed to help everyone – from school children and teachers, parents and families to businesses and jobseekers – and anyone who needs support getting online to make the most of what the digital world has to offer. 

BT is working with partners such as Small Business Britain, Google Digital Garage, Great British Entrepreneurs Awards to help small businesses. BT is working with the Good Things Foundation to assist older persons get online and with Internet Matters to help children navigate the online world safely. With ITV, BT created Top Tips on Tech, a series of videos and guides to help everyone learn about different technologies and how to use them. 

Through the programme, in the long term, BT expects to reach millions of people and hopes to have an impact on people’s confidence, their digital literacy, and safety online. If successful, this could have a positive effect on tackling inequality, enhancing productivity and security, on future innovation, and on increasing tech talent in the UK.

Co-op launches multi-million pound donation scheme to feed the hungry
Consumer Goods and Services

Co-op has announced a major multi-million pound donation to help feed the nation during the ongoing COVID-19 crisis. Instead of its Easter TV advert, which was originally promoting its chocolate eggs, it has donated the airtime – worth £2.5 million – to fight hunger by promoting the work of charity FareShare.

FareShare – the UK’s largest hunger fighting charity – supports over 11,000 charities and community groups, including food banks. FareShare have 23 regional centres, which supply to a network of local community groups across the country.

In partnership with FareShare, Co-op has created a new charity TV ad launching the new scheme, which helps and encourages customers to support food banks by either donating in-store or via a text to a dedicated number, both of which will boost the £1.5 million of food Co-op has already pledged to FareShare.

In addition to this, Co-op CEO Steve Murrells is directing his own personal income to kick-start a Co-op Members Fund, which will be channelled into foodbanks, a funeral hardship fund and front-line community causes. Murrells is donating 20 per cent of his salary over a 3 month period into the newly created Co-op Members’ Coronavirus Fund.

Diageo responds to COVID-19 with support package for British drinks industry
Consumer Goods and Services

British drinks giant Diageo—owner of brands from Smirnoff to Johnnie Walker to Guinness— has announced measures in both the United Kingdom and Ireland in response to coronavirus.

£1 million has been pledged by the company to support the British drinks industry, with the funds going towards supporting thousands of bartenders and helping pubs pay their wages.  Anyone working in the drinks trade will also be given the opportunity to attend a Diageo Bar Academy Training Course.

For Ireland, Guinness announced €1.5 million fund to support communities facing challenges from the impact of COVID-19. The fund will see €1.2 million go to support bar staff, alongside a further €300,000 to elderly vulnerable people through a partnership with charity ALONE. 

Diageo has additionally pledged eight million bottles of hand sanitiser for health workers in the UK, Ireland, Italy, USA, Brazil, Kenya, India and Australia.  

Glencore launches Community Support Fund
Mining, Energy and Natural Resources

Glencore has established a $25 million Community Support Fund to complement their local teams’ existing efforts to provide the support their communities most need at this time.

As Glencore operates more than 180 sites and offices in over 35 countries, the scale and diversity of their operations means that the impact of the virus varies by location. The Fund will initially prioritise assistance to local health authorities and community organisations to help them to respond to the immediate impacts of the crisis. Imperatives such as access to clean water, hygiene products and medical equipment will be important in some regions. In others, Glencore's efforts may focus on enabling students to continue learning, despite schools being closed. 

In the longer term, Glencore will also transition to a recovery focus in light of the expected socio-economic impacts of the pandemic.

Inditex and the "COVID-19: Action in the Global Garment Industry"
Consumer Goods and Services

The COVID-19 pandemic has generated significant dysfunctions in global supply chains with a major social impact on the textile production chain and its workers. In the attempt to mitigate this situation, Inditex has worked proactively both individually and alongside key stakeholders focused on the protection of workers' rights. These include IndustriALL Global Union, the International Labour Organization (ILO), Ethical Trading Initiative and ACT (Action, Collaboration, Transformation).

In particular, Inditex has participated in the creation and development of the “COVID-19: Action in the Global Garment Industry”. The initiative is coordinated by the ILO, in collaboration with The International Organisation of Employers (IOE), the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC), IndustriALL Global Union, as well as in consultation with global brands and manufacturers. This call for action aims to support manufacturers through the economic disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and to protect garment workers’ income, health and employment. This global action also calls for work on sustainable systems of social protection for a more just and resilient garment industry. The initiative will focus on Bangladesh, Cambodia, Ethiopia, Haiti, India, Indonesia, Myanmar and Pakistan, although other countries may also be included as provisional priority countries, based on further information and emerging needs.

Inditex endorses this initiative as it considers that this is the time not only to reaffirm its values as a socially responsible company, but also to lead, together with other global actors, a call for action to minimize the effects of the COVID 19 pandemic on the lives of workers in the global textile production chain and the economic impacts on their communities. 

Marks & Spencer activities during COVID-19
Consumer Goods and Services

Marks & Spencer, in cooperation with Lidl, Aldi, Danone, Coca-Cola European Partners, giffgaff and Southern Coop, have partnered with Neighbourly to create the ‘Neighbourly Community Fund’ specifically to support those most impacted by COVID-19. The fund is providing micro-grants of up to £400 to support good causes that are helping communities affected by the Coronavirus outbreak. Grants are unrestricted and can go towards food provision, emergency supplies, practical support, running costs, transport and other essentials. Alongside this local on-the-ground funding, M&S is supporting the National Emergencies Trust Campaign with a donation to support the national efforts already in place to tackle the pandemic.

Further, through partnerships with organisations like Neighbourly, a community platform, M&S link their stores to local organisations so they can donate surplus food and non-food products to the members of the community that need them the most. 

Steve Rowe, Chief Executive of M&S, said: “Our guiding value is that we are all in this together. Our M&S family doing our very best to help every family that we can.”

Mars commits $20 million to communities in COVID-19 response
Consumer Goods and Services

As part of its ongoing response to the global COVID-19 pandemic, Mars has commited $20 million to support the people, pets and communities most affected by COVID-19. The support package includes:

• $5 million donation to support CARE for critical supplies and expertise that will be deployed in the developing world, to women, children and refugee populations. 
• $2 million donation to the United Nation’s World Food Programme (WFP) to aid in the transport and delivery of critical supplies for all United Nations agencies as they respond to the pandemic. 
• $1 million donation to Humane Society International (HSI) to help cats and dogs that have been abandoned, left behind or surrendered to shelters due to their owners falling ill or no longer having the financial means to care for them.

The Mars Foundation also announced it has made a $500,000 donation to the Capital Area Food Bank (CAFB) in Washington D.C. to help address increased hunger and food insecurity in the wake of COVID-19. Since the global pandemic, the Capital Area Food Bank has seen a significant increase in requests from those requiring assistance, with many of the nonprofit organizations it supplies food to reporting between 30% and 400% increases in the numbers of people coming through their doors. 

Naturgy uses resources and expertise to join fight against COVID-19
Mining, Energy and Natural Resources

The Spanish company is supplying free gas to the IFEMA Exhibition Centre, which has been transformed into a hospital. The company also provided a free supply of electricity and gas to hotels and residences that have granted their facilities to the Public Health Service. 

Naturgy is offering an electrical and gas breakdowns repair service as well as free repairs for household appliances for one year for the key workers, whether or not they are customers of the company.

Furthermore, Fundación Naturgy has made available free digital versions of the teaching resources of Efigy Education, the educational program supporting teachers in primary and secondary schools and vocational education centres throughout Spain during the school year. These teaching resources are offered on topics such as energy transition, circular economy, sustainability, efficient buildings, energy efficiency, air quality and new energy technologies.

To support its customers, Naturgy will defer payment of electricity, gas and service bills for all domestic customers issued during this period and will not cut off electricity and gas to homes during the nationwide health alert. Finally, the company has implemented a free service of medical care by video call for all its customers during these months, to enable citizens to consult their doctors without leaving their homes.

DBS Stronger Together Fund
Financial Services

The DBS Stronger Together Fund is an SGD 10.5 million fund set up by DBS to help communities hard hit by COVID-19 across the region. With this fund, we will provide about 4.5 million meals and care packs to those affected. They will also fund the procurement of diagnostic test kits, personal protective equipment and other medical supplies.

In Singapore, DBS partner with non-profit organisations to distribute up to 700,000 meals to the elderly, low-income and migrant worker communities. Members of the public can also join in the Fund by donating, where DBS will match dollar-for-dollar public funds raised.

In Hong Kong, they work with local charities and social enterprise by providing more than 30,000 care and food packs. Their resources also enable charities to increase services, to better address emotional and physical well-being of elderly, who may face greater isolation or mobility challenges amid the outbreak.

In China, DBS partner with a non-profit incubator and others to launch “Food for Care” programmes for low-income migrant workers who have raised concerns over job security and access to daily necessities. The program will provide about 1.7 million meals to affected communities, and over 50,000 individuals will receive support including personal hygiene kits and re-employment training.

In India, they partner UNICEF, United Way, Metropolis Lab and others to scale up public health infrastructure, provide medical supplies and equipment, and sponsor free testing for the underprivileged. They will also be providing the equivalent of two million meals, in the form of food supplies and pre-packaged meals, to communities affected by the pandemic.

In Indonesia, they will be providing bout 275,000 meals to 11,500 daily wage workers in Jakarta, its surrounding areas, as well as West Java through their partnership with NGOs. DBS will also be donating 100,000 units of a rapid test kit, polymerase chain reaction machines and other medical supplies to the Government of Indonesia.

In Taiwan, DBS plans to donate 45,000 food packs to those in need. The food packs contain rice, noodles, fish floss, corn crackers and hand sanitisers. All products are purchased from social enterprises.

Visit DBS' website for more information.

Impact Investment Exchange: a revolving facility to support enterprises that have been affected by COVID-19 and the SHE IS MORE global digital competition 
Financial Services

Impact Investment Exchange is offering a revolving facility providing small short-term working capital loans and refundable grants to help enterprises overcome the financial shock caused by COVID-19. The aim of the initiative is to support vulnerable businesses, in particular those that are pursuing Sustainable Development Goals linked to the themes of women empowerment, climate action, and community resilience.

This revolving facility is projected to provide capital for over 200 affected enterprises during the course of 5 years and to impact over 70,000 livelihoods. Moreover, this facility will play a catalytic role in the economy by keeping supply chains active, allowing enterprises to continue being sources of employment, as well as supplying necessary and essential goods/services to the community.

Impact Investment Exchange also launched the SHE IS MORE global digital competition to empower women as solution-builders and mobilize youth leaders to build COVID-resilient communities worldwide. As a digital youth art competition, virtual exhibition and online auction, SHE IS MORE aims to activate 50,000 families and youth to submit artwork and empower 14,000 women with better lives and better futures. In cooperation with multilateral organisations, community partners and corporate sponsors, SHE IS MORE aims at celebrating the value of women through art.