For over 45 years, Housing Finance has engaged in community service and has been a key drive r to improving lives of its employees, customers, partners, suppliers, and other stakeholders groups. These activities are in line with the bank?s strategic plan through its diverse bank policies, codes of ethics and values.
However, Housing Finance Bank?s community engagements have largely been philanthropic in nature. These have included supporting adhoc, initiatives, donations, both cash in kind to individuals and community based organisations.
Therefore, the BOD in December 2011 approved a CSR policy. While working out an appropriate implementation framework, management considered adopting the ISO26000 SR standard.
Why adopt ISO 26000 Social Responsibility Standard.
Management is happy to note that Housing Finance Bank, will be the first bank in East and Central Africa to get this certification. Applying this International Standard as a premier on social responsibility will be used to improve existing practices and act in an ethical and transparent way that contributes to the health and welfare of the society in which we operate.
Social Responsibility
Adopting this standard implies that we shall practice?Social Responsibility (SR)?as opposed to?Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and?incorporate sustainability across our business offering along the following 7 core subjects of social responsibility:
- Organisational Governance
- Human Rights
- Labour Practices
- Environmental Issues
- Fair Operation Practices
- Consumer Issues
- Community Involvement in development
In so doing, we shall be guided by the following general principles:
- General sustainable development
- Accountability
- Transparency
- Ethical behavior
- Respect for stakeholder interests
- Respect for the rule of law
- Respect for International Norms of behaviour
