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SUSTAINABILITY CORNER Access Bank becomes the
first Sustainability Certified African Commercial Bank
As a sustainability leader in Africa, Access Bank was invited to participate in the Sustainability Certification under the Sustainability Standards and Certification Initiative (SSCI). Only reputable financial institutions from around the world are pre-qualified for the SSCI certification program and are required to have demonstrated a strong commitment to sustainability.
On September 30, 2020, the Bank was presented with the certificate for achieving the highest level of sustainability certification under the SSCI program by the European
Organisation for Sustainable Development (EOSD) during the Sustainability Certification ceremony at the World Development Finance Forum (WDDF) in Karlsruhe, Germany.
Access Bank is the first commercial bank in Africa to be granted this certification. This is a further affirmation of the Bank’s leadership in sustainability, and a major leap towards the achievement of the vision of Access Bank to become “The World’s Most-Respected African Bank.”
The Bank was also appointed as a member of the International Council
for SSCI and joined other members of the council to co-create the SSCI standards, providing an all- encompassing framework for holistic integration of sustainability to drive innovation in the organizational culture of financial institutions.
SSCI delivers a holistic, robust, evolving, and locally-sensitive set of standards to make value-driven financial institutions more resilient and profitable. The SSCI also inspires the creation of business models based on stakeholder value in a fast-changing world, thereby ensuring the long-term viability of certified financial institutions. Organizations without pre-qualification into the SSCI program are required to apply and is subject to the approval of the SSCI governing council.
As a sustainability certified organization under the SSCI program, the Bank will be able to create new income streams and thrive for the long-term in an ever more volatile world. It will also be availed new opportunities for mobilizing funds to finance businesses and projects creating high economic, social and environmental impact.
The Bank remains committed to strengthening its support towards vibrant communities and influencing positive market transformation in the areas wherein it operates. The Bank will also continue to significantly manage its impact on people and propel the world towards a more sustainable path, whilst ensuring that no one is left behind in alignment with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as well as other global sustainability standards.
PAGE 8 INSIDE ACCESS | OCTOBER 2020 4TH EDITION