Uganda Development Bank is one of the first and few Institutions that have recently been certified as part of the European Organisation for Sustainable Development (EOSD) Sustainability Standards and Certification Initiative (SSCI).
The Sustainability Standards deliver a holistic framework for organizations to become top performers in terms of boosting their corporate profitability while applying the principle established under the Sustainability Standards and Certification Initiative: Make profits while working within the planetary boundaries, serving the society and helping to create and endure a sustainable economy.
Sustainability Certified Institutions are bound by the standards not to be driven by the goal of short-term profit maximization with the sole focus of benefitting themselves. Instead, they are led by a powerful purpose which is guided by their commitment to sustainable prosperity for all. Their decisions and actions generate business profitability for their shareholders but by creating high value for their customers, society, economy and environment alike. Sustainability Certified Institutions are expected to be the co-creators of a better world.
In order to support the Sustainability Certified Institutions cope with the requirements and challenges of being certified and bridge the knowledge and skills gaps concerning sustainability, EOSD has established a platform know as i-Lead to support the implementation of the sustainability standards. It is now one of the key components of SSCI for instilling, building, and continuously advancing the innovation and learning capacity, capability and competency of the Sustainability Certified Institutions.
The purpose of i-Lead is to provide a collective platform to the Sustainability Certified and Applicant Institutions for Innovating, Learning, Experimenting and Development (I-LEAD) to promote all-round individual well-being of management and staff; boost corporate profitability; and achieve greater results in serving their customers, the society at large and protecting the natural environment.
Uganda Development Bank Limited (UDB) was in August 2021 nominated by the International Council of Sustainability Standards to lead the platform in its inaugural year with the Managing Director, Ms. Patricia Ojangole, acting as the Group Head.
UDB shall among others be responsible for convening the i-Lead meetings; facilitating the implementation of the meeting decisions; organizing knowledge & experience sharing, peer-to-peer learning, and innovation sessions that deliver practical and highly hands-on solutions and cater to in-demand knowledge and skills within the SSCI Community; Supporting implementation of Sustainability Standards among the applicant and certified institutions; and ensuring the smooth and close collaboration for Innovating, Learning, Experimenting and Development among the members of SSCI Community.
The nomination of UDB to chair the i-Lead Group signifies the Bank’s commitment towards being a global leader on sustainability as well as supporting like-minded institutions in embracing the sustainability agenda.