Case Studies
Creating and implementing a company-wide corporate responsibility strategy
Aliaxis, a world-leading plastic piping manufacturer with operations in 45 countries, asked Threefold to work with them to develop a focused and achievable corporate responsibility (CR) strategy – a first for the company.
We conducted an analysis of the company's most material corporate responsibility issues and impacts based on inputs from interviews with senior management, functional heads and external stakeholders; a competitor review; desktop research; and internal workshops.
This analysis was used to inform the development of a new CR framework for Aliaxis focused on 5 high impact areas and responding to key business drivers and stakeholder concerns. The analysis and framework were approved by the executive committee in June 2019. We have continued to work with the Aliaxis leadership to establish governance and drive implementation, as well as supporting the teams responsible for each of the focus areas to build roadmaps and prioritise actions.
“We feel very lucky to have found Milka and Annette to work with us. They understand how companies work and were immediately able to explain to the people they spoke to how corporate responsibility links to their function and can support them in achieving their objectives. This is a new priority for us and Threefold has given us the achievable and pragmatic approach that we asked for so that everyone can get energised around the impact we can have together. I have truly enjoyed working with these two professionals and I admire a lot their ability to navigate from a strategic view to very hands-on discussions. This is not a given for everyone!"
- Ursula Saint Léger, Chief HR, Communications and Corporate Responsibility Officer, Aliaxis
Private sector engagement strategies for non-profits
The Fund to End Violence Against Children provides financial support to programmes around the world that deliver practical, innovative and effective solutions to end violence against children. In three years of grant-making, the Fund has invested $32 million in 37 initiatives across more than 27 countries to tackle online child sexual exploitation and abuse.
The Fund approached Threefold to support its grant recipient organisations and their implementing partners to start or expand their engagement with the private sector, whether with advocacy, collaboration or fund-raising objectives. Threefold designed and delivered a webinar for the grantees on private sector engagement and designed a working session and facilitators guide for an upcoming convening, to help grantees create their private sector engagement plans.
“It was very valuable for our grantees to benefit from Milka and Annette’s experience and we had great feedback from participants. The webinar helped to build understanding of how companies are organized and what they look for in non-profit partnerships. Milka and Annette have both worked in the sector and on the topics our grantees are focused on, which meant their guidance and advice was very relevant, hands on and easily applicable. Grantees’ feedback has revealed that they plan on using what they learned from Milka and Annette to apply it to their working contexts as part of their projects supported by the Fund.”
– Trang Ho Morton, Fund Manager, Fund to End Violence Against Children
The use of socio-economic impact assessments in the telecommunications sector
The GSMA Foundation brings together mobile operators, donors and the international development community to demonstrate the positive social impact of mobile technology. As part of its work on creating a sustainability assessment framework for the industry, the GSMA Foundation ask Threefold to research the current landscape and use of socio-economic impact assessments within the mobile sector and to make recommendations on how to improve and increase the value of such assessments.
Our review used desk research and interviews with five companies to understand: how and why operators currently measure socio-economic impact; what indicators are used; how results are used and shared; and what challenges and opportunities companies face in conducting such assessments. We also carried out research on socio-economic impact assessments conducted in 4 other sectors – FMCG, extractives, hospitality and finance – to compare and identify good practices.
We produced an internal report for GSMA member companies summarising the findings, highlighting innovative approaches and challenges and presenting suggestions for further work for companies and the industry as a whole. We also drafted an external summary report, delivered a webinar for members and have since supported the GSMA in identifying how to take some of the recommendations forward in practice.
“Having led sustainability functions within the telecom industry, Milka and Annette were in a great position to carry out research into the use of socio-economic impact assessments in the sector. They clearly understand the opportunities and challenges of undertaking such assessments and their engagement and report focused on areas that would add most value for our members. We continue to regularly go to Threefold for insights, perspectives and practical guidance for our members.”
- Sima Varsani, Sustainability Director, GSMA
Developing a new responsible supply chain strategy
Statkraft is Europe’s largest generator of renewable energy solutions, providing hydro, solar and wind power solutions in 16 markets across the world. Threefold supported Statkraft to strengthen and develop the company-wide responsible supply chain programme.
Working in close collaboration with the Statkraft team, our work included designing the overall framework for the programme; identifying priority areas for action together with short and long-term action plans; and putting together materials to introduce the programme to senior management for approval. We used our knowledge and experience of implementing similar programmes within complex, global organisations to offer concrete advice and solutions. We then worked with the team to create clear and engaging materials to present the programme and gain buy-in from key senior management.
Understanding and managing child rights in the online gaming sector
Threefold worked with UNICEF’s Child Rights and Business unit in Geneva on the Discussion Paper on Child Rights and Online Gaming and subsequent UNICEF Child Rights and Business - Recommendations for the Online Gaming Industry.
