SMEs account for 99.8% of all firms in Senegal, the majority in the informal sector, but less than 10% have access to financing. Ecobank Senegal innovates to support them by helping them to seize market opportunities. Primarily, the bank collaborates with support bodies to support selected SME loan applications before they are presented, thus reducing the risk of default significantly. For Senegal’s SMEs this vital intervention actively helps to increase their turnover, exports, private investment and integration into value chains.

For more information, read the case study.

Improving women’s agency is crucial for advancing gender equality, equity, and the empowerment of women. Evidence suggests that women who use financial services have increased opportunities to earn income by accessing jobs, starting businesses and gaining intra-household bargaining power. With lack of opportunity of this kind acute in rural Zimbabwe, Ecobank stepped in to offer low-cost, female focused solutions in remote areas. In the first six months of 2023 alone, the bank saw 2,000 rural women groups joining its programme – taking the total number of individual women impacted to 52,500.

For more information, read the case study.

Ecobank Malawi secured a 5 million Euro guarantee facility and a 12.5 million Euro credit line from the European Investment Bank (EIB) to support women-led Agri-businesses and facilitate capacity building for them. The Bank also hosted a financial education event to help women build bankable businesses, and a ‘Let’s Promote Business’ seminar providing training on business registration, financial management, value addition, bidding and tendering, and the power of advertising. in addition, the Bank showcased Ecobank’s products including Ellevate, SME Business Accounts and our digital channel solutions.

In an innovative partnership with KNet Ghana Limited, Ecobank Ghana’s project produces clean energy through solar power generation to ensure a reliable power supply and reduce the costs associated with the Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) project. The Bank approved facilities of US$7.5 million to enable KNet to import and install solar systems at all its 43 transmission sites across Ghana. By the end of 2022, the project had converted power sources for 10 sites generating 750KWP and partially converted 18 of the 43 transmission sites from diesel generated energy to solar powered clean energy, cutting carbons emissions drastically.

Ecobank Mali granted an overall annual facility of FCFA500 million to Mali SHI SA for stock financing for the shea nut collection season 2022, and the Bank is currently considering a request to increase the facility to FCFA 3 billion. The environmental benefits include protecting six million shea trees; employment in collection and processing activities, providing a source of income for the communities; valorisation of shea oil cakes produced at the factory; use of shea oil cakes as fuel; 15,000 tonnes of coal saved each year; deployment of shea tree nurseries in partner villages; and reforestation of shea trees.

Ecobank Benin provided grants totalling FCFA 9,000,000 to the Claudine Talon Foundation for the manufacture of 2,000 reusable 100% organic cotton sanitary towel kits, in support of the 'Managing Menstrual Health in Schools' project which aims to reduce girls’ absenteeism by girls, enhance their education/development, and reduce production of non-biodegradable waste. The Bank also gave FCFA 25,000,000 to the Zero Obstetric Fistula project to help eradicate this condition. These initiatives demonstrate the Bank’s commitment to gender equality, female education, development, quality healthcare and empowerment.

Ecobank Burkina Faso has provided total loans of XOF 1.65 billion since 2012 to TENSYA for working capital, investment loans to develop 25 hectares of orchards, as well as the purchase of a tractor, delivery vans and tunnels (modern driers in the form of containers). It addresses the significant losses of ripe mangoes in orchards by improving the environment through upkeep and development of orchards, and also increases the income of local communities. TENSYA currently employs around 30 permanent staff and about 1,500 seasonal workers in high season, more than 90% of whom are women.

To further its commitment to women’s development and empowerment, Ecobank Chad launched its Ellevate credit facility through its Commercial Banking division. This enables it to stand out from the competition as Ellevate empowers women to start small businesses, be self-sufficient and financially independent, leading to economic development through the transformation of local products. Ellevate enables women to take care of their families, create employment opportunities, develop their businesses and drive Chad’s economy.

Since 2018 Ecobank Côte d’Ivoire has provided financial education to 5,000 people every year via the now annual Savings, Investment and Heritage Fair. The Fair helps increase financial literacy, inclusion and the number of Ivorians that have bank accounts, which is currently only 20.4%. The themes of the Fair have included savings; digitalisation of savings and financial inclusion; the financial impact of COVID-19; adapting to the unstable economic circumstances; and planning and investing in an uncertain economic environment.

Ecobank Gambia installed a Grid-Tie Solar system project aimed at generating electricity for branches and offsite ATMs to increase the use of renewable energy sources and promote sustainability. It generates electricity from the sun, with excess energy exported to the larger utility grid (or imported from it) when necessary, thus ensuring the bank branches and ATMs are constantly powered during the day, night and on cloudy days. After upfront installation costs, it is forecast to reduce utility bills by US$40,344 annually.

Accessing financial services can be a major challenge for young people in Africa in terms of lengthy opening times, requirements for physical documents and high fees. To address this, Ecobank Kenya supported Fingo Africa to create an app that provides financial inclusion and empowerment to Africa’s youth. It enables them to pay bills, send and receive money, buy airtime and build up savings pots for set goals, all from their mobile device.

Ecobank Liberia supported United Commodities’ sustainable agriculture project to construct a feed mill to localise the production of chicken feed for poultry farms in Liberia, and to construct three warehouses to store the chicken feed and also rice prior to distribution. The Bank financed 55% of the project cost to power the mill with solar energy, thus reducing dependency on fossil fuels. It is environmentally friendly and reduces operational costs. Constructing the warehouses also creates jobs and, once operational, employ 50 additional people.

Ecobank Nigeria has onboarded 30,484 women’s businesses on to its Ellevate programme and disbursed loan facilities totalling Naira 50 billion to them. Ellevate provides a comprehensive suite of banking facilities as well as a range of non-financial benefits such as leadership and business skills training. The Bank’s support has helped to provide these entrepreneurs with sustainable income to support their families and create employment. The programme empowers women, increases income, stimulates economic activities, drives gender equality and financial inclusion and reduces violence against women.

Ecobank Rwanda financed the construction and extension of the RWAGIHANGA Drinking water supply system project to the value of US$947,711. The project has been successfully completed and it is creating positive impact for Rwandans in the Gakenke District and neighbouring areas by providing them with clean drinking water and improved sanitation.

Côte d’Ivoire’s coffee and cacao farmers are all too often subject to physical assaults from thieves stealing cash. Ecobank Côte d’Ivoire sought to eliminate this by digitalising the value chain to minimise the use of cash, thereby increasing their security. Ecobank partnered with key stakeholders, producers and cooperatives in the agricultural sector to create an ecosystem – centred around our Xpress Point agency network and digital services - enabling them to access banking products and improve their lives through financial security. The initiative aims to ensure that over 40,000 farmers will no longer risk their lives when trying to feed their families.

For more information, read the case study.

Ecobank Ghana’s initiative supports a total of 6,000 out-growers and smallholder farmers - 60% of whom are women - from 83 communities within the Bono region of Ghana. It provides them with a ready market for their produce, as well as job opportunities for the youth - reducing poverty and stimulating economic activity. The project has reduced post-harvest losses and enhanced the cultivation of about 20,000 acres farmland. The support of Ecobank Ghana for Yedent is through the provision of grants, loans, digital-financial solutions and advisory services, providing the company with a working capital facility of over US$4.5 million (GHS 27 million) for the purchase of maize and soybean from smallholder farmers – thereby helping to strengthen and support the region’s agribusiness value chain. Ecobank also donated four Dehuskers and Shellers valued at US$30,758 (GHS182,000) to the Aggregators of Yedent Agro Company.

69% of adults, 66% of women and 77% of youth in The Gambia are financially excluded. Ecobank Gambia’s women and young adults programme is addressing financial exclusion by targeting the unbanked and vulnerable individuals and groups in the region. The programme offers them the Ecobank Xpress Account - making payments and receipts of funds easy for all, whenever and wherever they are. Ecobank Gambia has signed up over 100 Xpress Point Agencies, promoting financial inclusion for the local unbanked population. To encourage women to sign up as agents and operate Xpress Points, Ecobank Gambia now permits any individual with a business registration and business location to become an agent, thereby boosting financial inclusion.

The Covid-19 pandemic prevented access to schooling, particularly in rural areas where about 3.5 million Zimbabwean children have been out of schooling since 2020. Many rural children don’t have adequate access to the internet, and the cost of other education technologies and learning tools is prohibitive. To address these challenges and foster sustainable learning, Ecobank Zimbabwe provided funding of US$200,000 for 10,000 solar powered radios, which enabled school content to be loaded on USB and SD memory cards - negating the need for internet connectivity. The project is being rolled out in phases, starting with the southern rural part of Zimbabwe which accounts for one million rural children and is highly marginalised with the least number of schools per district.

Ecobank Benin set up a substantial agri-food platform at a regional level in Abomey-Calavi to include the transfer of wholesale perishable and non-perishable product activities from the largest market in West Africa, Dantokpa Market. Benefits included the easing traffic in the city centre, thereby reducing pollution at Lake Nokoué and throughout the city of Cotonou; the creation of jobs and improving income for the population of Abomey-Calavi; and improving transaction terms for the traders involved. Ecobank Benin was the lead arranger for this 85 billion CFA franc project, in tandem with Ecobank Development Corporation (EDC). Ecobank inspired five other banks to support the project and mobilise the remainder of the funds.

Ecobank Burundi’s project combatted poverty and improved living conditions for 146 very deprived families by helping them to increase their financial standing. Ecobank Burundi encouraged them to put aside some of their income each week and granted them loans at low interest rates. Over three years, some no longer go begging and a few started to send their children to school. Ecobank Burundi provided these families with savings accounts and Xpress Plus accounts, as well as QR codes and EcobankPay for the traders amongst the families - proving that even the most vulnerable in society can have financial access.

In collaboration with the Town Hall of Libreville, Ecobank Gabon provided hygienic and connected tables to 600 predominantly female traders selling food on the ground, so that they can improve both the hygiene of the food they sell and public health. The tables are equipped with solar panels, enabling traders to have power and light. The economic benefits help support women's independence and their financial inclusion.

The project supports the Agence Nationale d’Inclusion Économique et Sociale (ANIES) – the national agency for economic and social inclusion - to foster sustainable and inclusive economic development, and combat marginalisation and social exclusion. ANIES aims to increase access to basic financial services to at least 40% of the adult population, and its emergency cash transfers have enabled people to invest in health and education. In line with this, Ecobank Guinea opened over 9,000 Xpress Accounts and reactivated Xpress Points in the region, facilitating financial inclusion of thousands of vulnerable households during the COVID-19 pandemic.

In 2021, Ecobank Malawi availed a US$84.5 million facility to the Malawi Government through the Smallholder Farmers Fertilizer Revolving Fund of Malawi (SFFRFM), facilitating the import of 150,000 metric tons of fertilizer. The programme also allows Malawian subsistence farmers to purchase farm inputs at a highly subsidised cost, with the government paying the remaining 70% of the actual cost. There were over 2.7 million beneficiaries, mostly in rural areas – with the programme reducing poverty and ensuring food security at a household and national level. It also dissuades people from conducting non environmentally friendly practices, such as the charcoal business. Malawi is forecast to produce a 1,356,000 MT maize surplus from the programme, thereby improving national food security.

Ecobank Mozambique’s project encourages customers to plant trees in public spaces and protected areas, such as sensitive areas like mangroves. The project partners with the Cooperativa de Educação Repensar, bringing greater visibility to the institution through sustainability and social activism, whilst promoting Ecobank’s digital services. The project is focused on promoting a green, healthy and prosperous environment.

Ecobank Nigeria’s PaaS initiative is a Green Office project focused on implementing specialised energy solutions, particularly solar energy, with a view to reducing fossil fuel use and adopting cleaner renewable energy. Ecobank Nigeria took a 12-year view, comparing its cost implications with the existing energy costs. By the end of 2021, a total of 183 branches (72% of Ecobank Nigeria’s branches), had been onboarded, which is estimated to reduce emissions by 947,574kg of CO2 - equivalent to the planting of 25,071 trees.

Ecobank Ghana provided a medium-term loan to Zoomlion Ghana Limited towards the purchase of one million waste bins, which are supplied to households and businesses around the country to reduce littering and promote good health. In addition, the Bank’s digital solutions (EcobankPay, Omni and USSD) enabled customers of waste management companies to pay their monthly collection service fees with greater convenience. Payments can also be made at Ecobank branches and Xpress Points.

For more information, read the case study.

Ecobank Nigeria’s Small Holder Farmers Support Scheme links farmers with companies involved in the production and processing of key agricultural commodities such as maize and rice. The scheme provides loans to farmers to boost agricultural production and employment, providing the farmers with sustainable income and also supporting the drive for food sufficiency. Ecobank Nigeria created over 118,000 accounts for farmers across all 36 States and advanced loans totalling $28.95 million in the first year of the programme.

For more information, read the case study.

Ecobank Senegal helped support the diversification of electricity production sources with the goal of electrification for all. It aimed to reduce the cost of energy for households and businesses by reducing the cost of producing electricity and improving service quality. It is also developing gas infrastructures and converting production units so that they can be operated using gas. The Bank is lending $30.128 million and opening Letters of Credits for $23.737 million. It is also dramatically increasing digital transactions through the Ecobank Mobile app for buying electricity.

Ecobank Benin mobilised fundraising among its private and business customers to help combat malaria. The Zero Malaria Fund immediately attracted XAF 550,000 from subscribers, with the Bank donating a further XAF 60,000,000. The Fund is being used for innovation and financing ambitious projects to combat malaria across the whole country. The Bank also conducted malaria awareness campaigns and its staff acted as ambassadors for the initiative.

Ecobank DRC is funding $72.8 million to import 440 buses into the country and improve the public transport network and public transport infrastructures. The project is also supporting the planned digitalisation of bus fare collection, the creation of almost 3,000 jobs and increased income for the Treasury. Through this project the Bank is supporting one of the Congolese Government's priority programmes which has a visible and direct impact on the environment and on society.

Ecobank Gabon’s partnership with Libreville municipal authorities and urban taxis improved the availability of taxis in the town. The Bank’s financial contribution is used for the mandatory taxes required for taxi drivers. It is also digitalising a public service and leveraging EcobankPay’s contactless payment system. The Bank signed up 150+ new EcobankPay merchants and plans to extend the initiative to Akanda and Owendo in 2022.

Ecobank Gambia’s ‘Bana Bana’ project promotes financial services access, through EcobankPay, to the previously unbanked women traders at the Serrekunda Market - the largest market in the Gambia. Through the initiative the Bank is encouraging the traders to onboard and drive sales digitally with the possibility of getting access to finance from Ecobank. The traders are also getting much-needed basic financial literacy and training in terms of opening and maintaining bank accounts, access to financial aid and digital collection of sales.

Ecobank Mozambique is incentivising each partner and customer to plant shade trees, fruit trees and ornamental trees each year, take care of growing them and send a monthly progress report on them. The Bank is offering a bonus credit approval and/or a reduction in its fees on electronic channels services to the partner/customer demonstrating the biggest number of trees planted and growing healthily

Ecobank Zimbabwe contributed $60,000 – with its staff contributing a further $10,000 – as part of its partnership with GOAL Zimbabwe and Promobile to undertake COVID-19 awareness Road Shows across the country. Six large distinctive Mobile units travelled through rural communities delivering vital coronavirus messaging, distributing food and hygiene products as well as conducting nutrition and health checks. Its education reached over six million people. In addition, the Bank opened over 1,000 accounts for GOAL staff and its value chain.

Ecobank Togo has provided cash management solutions and foreign exchange services to BBOXX Togo. BBOXX distributes innovative plug & play solar systems to improve access to energy in rural zones in Togo and it signed a Presidential electricity supply project agreement to implement 300,000 solar systems across Togo over the next five years. The project gives households access to electricity through the installation of a BBOXX kit at a subscription of less than US$10 per month. BBOXX operates in eight other countries in which Ecobank has affiliates.

For more information, read the case study.

Malawi had only 124 serviceable ambulances of the 300 needed to provide the desired service - particularly in rural areas - to cater for and treat patients in transit to hospitals. Ecobank Malawi provided a US$2 million short-term loan towards the purchase and importation of more ambulances, thereby supporting the Government’s efforts to increase access to health services. It will ultimately translate into an increased number of healthy and productive customers for the Bank.

Ecobank Senegal created a dedicated website to digitise the enrolment and payment management of 100,000+ scholarships to Senegal’s public students. It partnered with Fintechs and aggregators to outsource the payments and there are now over 20,000 points of sale throughout Senegal, which collectively can make hundreds of thousands of payments in a few days. The students were also offered the use of the Ecobank Mobile app to open Xpress accounts to receive their scholarships. By digitising the payments, Ecobank Senegal has delivered financial inclusion, cost savings, quality services, positive social impact and has trail blazed an efficient model for governments’ social benefits payments.

Ecobank Cameroon provided a credit facility of US$100 Million for the rehabilitation and public lighting of secondary roads in Yaoundé and Douala. The works also contributed to the sanitisation of the cities and districts by allowing easy access to hygiene services, reducing insecurity problems and contributing to their urban development. Emphasis was placed on these two major cities because of their high population density. It also demonstrated Ecobank’s willingness to support sustainable development projects that improve the living conditions of the populations.

Ecobank Chad provided a loan of 4.443 billion FCFA to SOTRADA, a Chadian company that treats waste and sanitation. It was used towards the 9.9 billion FCFA construction of two factories to treat solid hydrocarbon waste (with a capacity of 10,080 tons) and to recycle used oil (with 116,640 tons capacity). The project created 500 jobs and helped protect the health of the local population and the environment by stopping the water table being polluted.

Irrigation is a process used to artificially bring water to fields to counter production deficits induced by low rainfall. Ecobank Congo financed SARIS to set up a water irrigation project in its sugar cane fields. The project protects sugar cane production, improves the land by limiting the impact of drought and saving water resources. Part of the water comes from wastewater, which is reprocessed in the sugar factory's effluence waste treatment basin.

There are high volumes of plastic rubbish on Côte d’Ivoire’s streets. Ecobank Côte d’Ivoire provided a cash credit to enable the recycling operator SIPPEC to purchase used plastic bags from people collecting the plastic waste. This improved the environment through the collection of waste, enhanced sanitation by reducing the clogging up of drainage channels, enabled the recycling of plastic and created jobs for the collection, sorting and recovery of plastic waste.

The Ecobank Foundation led the employee engagement strategy to increase staff involvement in process and delivery by implementing a Group-wide vote to decide on the theme for the 2019 Ecobank Day. Staff voted on topics from three categories – health, education and financial inclusion – resulting in a collective decision to focus on Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs). The Committee opted to maintain the NCD theme for three years to ensure return on investment, measurable results and maximum social impact. In October and November 2019, employees at every affiliate engaged in activities relating to NCDS. This raised awareness of NCDs and the lifestyle behaviours necessary to prevent them, both within Ecobank and in its communities across sub-Saharan Africa.

Ecobank Ghana successfully undertook a 15-month pilot programme in six branches to replace high-energy consuming equipment with solar energy and then extended the project to 26 additional branches. It has saved the bank US$226,621 through average monthly energy cost savings of 34% and a cumulative cost savings of 43%. Ecobank Ghana is on track to have solar energy supplying 50% of the bank’s branches by the end of 2020.

Ecobank Kenya granted a syndicated facility of US$114 million to Grain Bulk Handlers Limited to finance port and railway terminal infrastructure in four locations in Mombasa and Nairobi. The facility was syndicated with several external banks and ETI. The project has enabled GBHL to transport grain from ships at the Port of Mombasa to storage silos in Nairobi, which is 500 km away via train, thereby reducing carbon emissions from trucks, accidents on roads and the time required to deliver commodities to importers.

Ecobank Liberia has increased financial inclusion and digital literacy amongst its two targeted two groups: Professors at the University of Liberia and doctors in the Liberia Medical and Dental Association. It also offered them soft loans to enable the construction of homes and to purchase vehicles to ease their transport needs. To date, the Bank has disbursed soft loans to about 30% of the doctors and 25% of the professors, to a value of over US$500,000.

Ecobank Nigeria’s ‘cash for plastic initiative’ paid women and youths 30 Naira per kilogram of plastic waste, in its project to collect 4 million plastic bottles from the streets of Lagos. The plastic was then sent to a recycling plant. The project improved the environment and helped prevent the spread of malaria, cholera and dysentery. Two other associated initiatives involved cleaning up plastic waste from the seafront and holding a school symposium to educate 1,000 students about the scourge of plastic waste, pollution and environmental degradation.

Ecobank Rwanda provided finance of US$990,000 at a concessionary rate to help set up government health posts to provide primary health care in remote parts of Rwanda. The health posts are owned by the government and are operated as franchises by local nurses with clinical experience. They are linked to the National Health Insurance platform and keep services affordable for the most vulnerable people.

Non-Communicable Diseases are one of the major causes of death globally and are increasing significantly throughout Africa. Ecobank Sierra Leone financed the refurbishment and equipping of a Triage Unit at The Ola During Children’s Hospital to create the country’s first specialist outpatient Unit. The Unit now provides treatment for patients with chronic diseases that need specialist diagnosis, follow up services, wellness checks and overall case management, in addition to pediatric specialist clinical services.

Only about 5 million of Uganda’s 42 million population have bank accounts. Ecobank Uganda was the first bank to roll out Mobile App services in Uganda enabling KYC-lite opening of the Xpress Account, by using just the National Identity card. As well as being environmentally friendly as no paperwork is involved, the Mobile App services drive financial inclusion by enabling many unbanked people to access financial services to open bank accounts. The Mobile App increased the number of onboarded customers in Uganda from 221,071 to 229,610 during 2019.

Tropical Cyclone Idai hit Zimbabwe in March 2019 causing extensive flooding and destruction in the eastern part of the country and damaging infrastructure displacing 36,000 households. The Government launched a response programme, to which Ecobank Zimbabwe, in collaboration with World Vision, contributed US$100,000 to procure emergency kits for more than 2,000 households and to help restore access to safe shelter, food and other basic needs. A total of US$25 million was mobilised and this was processed through Ecobank Zimbabwe for use in the response efforts.

In 2019 Group EBS implemented its ‘Innovative Power Solution’ project to install solar retrofitting technology. The project was first piloted in 11 locations to power Ecobank buildings with solar energy and will then be rolled out to all affiliates across the Group, resulting in significant cost savings and contributing to Sustainable Development Goals 7 and 13. At the end of the pilot phase, it was estimated that the solar energy will displace about 273,774 Metric Tons of CO2 throughout its lifetime of 25 years. The excess power being generated through the solar panels over weekends and holidays is being channeled to reduce the power consumption costs of some hospitals, police stations and orphanage homes to further advance Ecobank’s corporate social responsibility.

Ecobank Ghana’s winning entry was a successful collaboration between the bank and the Ghanaian Ministry of Education. Ecobank Ghana provided training on financial literacy and Ecobank’s digital services to non-formal educational instructors. The programme engaged more than 3000 people across Ghana, with 2000 financial literacy classes taking place in total. Members of the jury lauded the high scalability of the programme in other African countries. For more information, read the case study.

Integrating sustainability into Ecobank’s core business.

In its commitment to ‘greening the agricultural financing’, Ecobank Burkina Faso has provided several facilities, including a loan, to a local organic producer who has subsequently been able to adopt modern, sustainable farming techniques to service local communities. This includes irrigation equipment powered by solar energy, boreholes to supply permanent drinking water to local populations and the sale of high quality, organic produce to many regular customers in his portfolio. Ecobank Burkina Faso will now use this model as part of their financing of agricultural diversification.

Integrating sustainability into Ecobank’s core business.

Ecobank Zambia’s Project 50-5-50 initiative was designed to plant 2500 fruit trees in 50 schools across the country, to educate young people on the importance of tree planting as a tool for economic diversification. The trees contribute to the wellbeing of the environment in improving air and climate quality, conserving water and providing high nutritional value. In addition, the affiliate has reduced its paper consumption in efforts to reduce deforestation. The various Ministries of Environment from the government and the United Nations lent their support to the impactful project.

Integrating sustainability into Ecobank’s core business.

In 2018, Zimbabwe suffered a cholera outbreak with the government declaring a state of emergency. In response, Ecobank Zimbabwe launched a crowd-funding initiative to mobilise financial support, utilising QR codes and engaging local and national business customers to donate to the emergency relief fund. The affiliate matched donations to the fund ($ for $) and raised a total amount of $200,000, effectively addressing the sustainability theme of ‘health.’

Integrating sustainability into Ecobank’s core business.

Ecobank Benin have been supporting OCPM since 2018 in their efforts to help recover vulnerable minors living in difficult conditions and facilitate their successful social reintegration. The project supports at risk children to provide them with accommodation and donations of essentials such as food, medicine and medical supplies. For a 6-month period, OCPM assisted over 650 minors with the support of Ecobank Benin. The affiliate opened an Ecobank current account and distributed a QR code to collect donations in support of OCPM.

Integrating sustainability into Ecobank’s core business.

To commemorate World Environment Day 2018, Ecobank Congo in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) planted 90 trees in joint efforts to contribute to the environment through improving climate and air quality, conserving water and supporting wildlife. The event was a success, with the Mayor of Brazzaville also taking part and planting a tree. The benefits of this activity are long-term and will continue to play a vital role in Brazzaville’s eco-system.

Integrating sustainability into Ecobank’s core business.

In 2018, Ecobank Kenya in partnership with a Nairobi-based environmental conservation agency launched the ‘School Greening Initiative’. The programme involved the planting indigenous trees and fruits in school precincts, creating labour opportunities for local communities and educating students on the environment. Additionally, the ‘green belt’ provides a source of income generation from the sale of fruits as well as supplementing dietary needs.

Integrating sustainability into Ecobank’s core business.

Ecobank Nigeria undertook a variety of successful initiatives to address the ‘sustainable business’ theme. This included a ‘lights out’ policy, whereby the power was switched off at 6pm daily in branches and 7pm daily at Head Office and energy saving bulbs fitted to reduce power consumption. The affiliate further increased its solar-powered ATM locations to 32 to reduce dependency on fossil fuel generators, and replaced polythene cash bags with biodegradable alternatives in its branches. As a result, millions of liters of diesel consumption from generators were reduced in 2018 and a designated Sustainability Week formed.

Integrating sustainability into Ecobank’s core business.

For International Environment Day 2018, Ecobank Togo, together with the Ministry of Environment and Forest Resources (MERF) collectively planted 1500 seeds at a designated landfill site. The landfill site chosen for the project continues to act as a reference center for improved waste management practices and an incubator of greenhouse gas emissions.