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Sustainability performance at a glance

Progress against targets

Economic and governance structures

Target 2006 Progress Target 2007
     
Conduct an annual reputation review and consistently improve corporate reputation index scores in all operations by 2% each year. The significant acquisition and integration of new operations did not permit the roll out of a Group-wide reputation audit. Conduct an annual reputation review that addresses our expanding Group and harnesses the value of local initiatives and stakeholder engagement processes.
Extend a whistle-blowing function to new operations and deploy further fraud awareness training and forensic capabilities in each operation. The whistle-blowing function was extended to more operations during 2006. Use of the hotline in new countries is not satisfactory and MTN is looking at ways to improve on this. Expand the use of whistleblowing in the Group.
Target BEE spend in South Africa of R1,3 billion. MTN South Africa achieved R1,9 billion in BEE spend (approximately 29,2% of the company’s total procurement spending of R5 billion). MTN South Africa will focus increasingly on enterprise development by fostering a culture of black business support, with specific emphasis on companies owned by black women.
Embed our sustainability management framework and performance indicators into each operation to facilitate internal audits and compliance reviews in 2007. Sustainability policy approved by Group risk committee at the end of 2006 and submitted to the board for ratification. The outcome will set the official direction from the board.

Cement the sustainability management framework; confirm performance indicators and lines of responsibility for operational sustainability reporting and management.

Conduct reviews of sustainability framework compliance and performance data gathering.

Gain further assurance on sustainability performance.

Sustainability assurance has not been sufficiently rolled out.

The scope of assurance remains a challenge due to changes and complexities inherent in the growth stages of our operations.

MTN Group will use electronic sustainability data collection tools to improve the quality of data collected and achieve greater and more tangible assurance on sustainability performance.
Further embed business risk management procedures. Risk management processes were extended to new operations in the second half of 2006. Extensive risk assessments have been performed and all operations now report on their risks annually. Further embed the culture of risk management across operations and refine risk reporting.

Social performance

Target 2006 Progress Target 2007
     
Extend corporate social responsibility policy to all acquisitions.

Group corporate social responsibility (CSR) activities have to date been informed by the initial policy crafted in South Africa.

A Group-wide framework has been instituted to give structure to MTN’s CSR initiatives.

The framework details conditions for MTN Foundation’s CSR participation.

A Group CSR policy will be adopted in 2007.
Allocate up to 1% of profit after tax to CSR activities in each country of operation and establish MTN foundations where appropriate.

The Group’s established foundations are funded by up to 1% of profit after tax; the Group’s CSR framework that operations use to establish CSR functions confirms this funding mandate.

An audit of CSR activities across all operations (including Investcom operations) was completed in December 2006.

Further align CSR activities and projects with the CSR framework.

Support newly acquired operations in establishing CSR management functions and preparing for foundation launches (where appropriate).

Maintain a staff turnover rate of between 5 – 7%. The MTN Group turnover rate for 2006 was 8%. Our target for 2007 is between 5% and 7%.
Maintain compliance with South African employment equity legislation. The South African operation maintained compliance with legislated employment equity requirements and submitted its annual employment equity report detailing progress in implementing the employment equity plan. To support the company’s customer-centric focus, MTN South Africa will roll out a diversity management programme to inform its customer-facing activities.
Extend Y’ello Leader Academy to all operations and to middle management in the South African operation. The academy was extended to all mid-level managers in South Africa, MTN Group head office and MTN Swaziland. Confirm Academy’s roll out in all other operations, including newly acquired Africa and Middle Eastern operations.
Pro-actively engage and communicate with all stakeholders and specifically improve on engagements with government and regulatory stakeholders. A government relations framework was adopted by the Group in September 2006. The framework details a uniform model for engaging and reporting on regulatory and government stakeholder engagements in all Group operations. Roll out government relations framework to all operations and generate quarterly status reports.
Improve call centre response rates across all operations and enhance call centre systems. Call answer rates improved with the implementation of enhanced technology systems – particularly interactive voice recognition technology. In line with customer-centric focus, continue improving call centre response rates across all operations.

Environmental performance

Target 2006 Progress Target 2007
     
Refine the reporting structures of our environmental management system (EMS) to match the organisation’s electronic risk management system.

“EMF Predict” software is being fully used to assess sites prior to site visits and to predict and assess EMF safety levels of BTS sites.

Cura risk management system has been implemented in a number of operations.

Expand the implementation of Cura risk management system across MTN SA to track and manage environmental risks and incidents.
Extend ISO 14001 certification across the Group in the next two years. Addressed ad-hoc environmental queries by some operating companies.

Achieve approval to increase environmental management resource capacity group-wide.

Improve co-ordination of this requirement for the Group.

Expand the implementation of the Cura environmental risk management system.

Intensify consumer awareness of used handset recycling and the use of biodegradable recharge cards.

To date, MTN has only encouraged customers to recycle their unused cellphones and old cellphone batteries.

In South Africa, for instance, customers are encouraged to drop off their unused handsets and old batteries at MTN dealerships or franchise outlets.

Work with business units and other stakeholders to develop more intensive programme to increase customer awareness of handset recycling and the use of biodegradable cards.
Promote a Group culture of efficiency for greater environmental awareness. Addressed ad-hoc queries by some operating companies.

Achieve approval to increase environmental management resource capacity.

Improve co-ordination of this requirement across the Group.

Train suppliers on handling electromagnetic fields, particularly suppliers working on our towers. In South Africa, EMF health and safety level – site agreement has been concluded to ensure contractors and staff adhere to requirements on entry to towers. EMF health and safety level site agreement to be fully implemented.