APC 2012 Annual Report Download - page 90

2012 REGISTRATION DOCUMENT SCHNEIDER ELECTRIC88
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
2SCHNEIDER ELECTRIC, A RESPONSIBLE CORPORATE CITIZEN
Organization
The Foundation’s network structure is an original and very suitable
means for engaging local, humane and lasting sponsorship. It
also reinforces the energy of the people involved. In each site, the
choice of delegates is made based on recognized and formalized
participation via a letter of engagement signed by the head of the
site and that of the Foundation for a duration of two years. In2012,
the Foundation had 130 delegates covering 75 countries for a
mission, which includes:
•selecting an association dedicated to employing young adults;
•defi ning a project and supporting this partnership;
•organizing local events adapted to the country’s culture, to better
boost employee morale;
•informing employees of Foundation activities at their site.
The delegates also coordinate the organization of the Schneider
Electric Foundation’s annual campaign for international mobilization
called Luli. This week takes place in June/July and is an important
time in the life of the Foundation and the Company with local
partnerships taking center stage at an international level.
In 2012, 25,000 employees in 50 countries took part in this
campaign and have rolled out 150initiatives.
Governance
The Schneider Electric Foundation Board of Directors meets two
times per year. It defi nes and encourages signifi cant strategic
directions for the Foundation. It is composed of Schneider Electric
managers, employee representatives and important people from
outside the Company.
Requests received, responding to the foundation’s criteria, are
systematically sent to the delegate of the country concerned for
the proposed project. Once the project is selected and supported
locally, it can be studied on the corporate level by the selection
committee if a supplementary budget is necessary.
This committee is composed of three members: the Foundation’s
Managing Director, the Foundation’s Program Director and the
Access to Energy Program Training Director. They meet every
month.
Action plans
Training and opportunities for young adults
To facilitate the integration and professional training of the most
under-privileged young adults, the Schneider Electric Foundation
continually encourages and supports national and international
integration associations or electrical profession educational
organizations.
To fulfi ll this mission, the Foundation also participates in the Group’s
commitment to sustainable development. In particular, it also
contributes to the BipBop energy access program (for Business,
Innovation and People at the Base of the Pyramid) started in2008.
The Foundation supports the People aspect of the program,
dedicated to training with priority given to the target developing
countries.
This training and integration program captures more than 70% of
the annual funding allocated by the Foundation. All of these actions
are monitored and measured on a quarterly basis within the scope
of the Planet & Society Barometer through a key performance
indicator: For the 2009-2011 period, the objective was to
train 10,000 young adults at the Base of the Pyramid in energy
management professions. The objective was surpassed, with more
than 12,000young people trained. Over the 2012-2014 period, the
Connect company program again includes this training objective,
but with the target tripled: the objective is to train 30,000people.
In2012, 10,517people at the Base of the Pyramid were trained in
the energy management professions.
Emergency relief and reconstruction aid
Acting as intermediary in rallying its employees, the Schneider
Electric Foundation regularly brings its support during natural
disasters. The Foundation above all wishes to maintain long term
involvement. The aid takes place at two times: during the emergency
the teams mobilize immediately to support the specialized NGOs
and to meet the initial needs of the populations. The second stage
is then implemented, which can take time. This stage aims to
contribute to the reconstruction in the medium term. The actions
supported and developed by local partners focus on construction
projects, reconstruction and rehabilitation of the technical training
centers for energy management professions. This is the part of
the program that mobilizes the essential available resources. The
Schneider Electric Foundation considers it fundamental to share its
skills in electrical professions in order to actively contribute to aid in
catastrophe-hit zones so that reconstruction can be sustainable.
In2012, the project launched following earthquakes in Japan has
been validated and is in place.
Raising awareness about sustainable development
Energy and climate change are at the heart of the issues facing
our planet. Doing more with fewer resources is now possible. By
supporting innovative projects, the Schneider Electric Foundation
voluntarily helps raise awareness to different parties participating
in the challenges of climate change. The Company invests in
emblematic and international programs by making its knowledge,
notably in energy systems management, available through
donations in resources and/or knowledge. Through its projects
and the commitment of its employees, the Schneider Electric
Foundation wants to emphasize:
•the desire to contribute and provide solutions.
Safe, reliable, effi cient, productive and green energy management
solutions are now available and operational, even in the most
extreme conditions. Through its Foundation and alongside the
International Polar Foundation as well as the Fédération française
des clubs alpins et de montagne, Schneider Electric contributes
to implementing innovative and exemplary smart networks within
the environmental domain;
•the ability to build together, to break down barriers.
By forging links with NGO partners, Schneider Electric aims
to develop solutions that will serve the project by extending its
scope, adapting to needs and to different ways of collaborating
that are new and sometimes unexpected;
•setting an example for employees, but also for the wider
community.
Faced with the issues of our planet and particularly the challenges
posed by energy resources, Schneider Electric always wants to
aim higher: through its ambitious initiatives that may sometimes
seem idealistic, these adventurous solutions show that it is
possible to meet the challenges.