Sustainable development report 2009 IDC Your partner in development finance
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Sustainable development report 2009
   
  Currently viewing: Our Material Sustainability Challenges
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Our Material Sustainability Challenges

 
The IDC is just beginning its sustainability journey. We are mindful of the expectations of our stakeholders and the diverse meaning that sustainable development has for different people, which is why we are embarking on a process of planning before implementing a strategy on sustainability.
 
This year we have sought to report on the outcomes of programmes and projects already in place. Over the coming year we will seek to improve our processes and measurement of our sustainability performance.
 

Targets, challenges and materiality

This report covers five areas based on our key material issues. These have been established on the basis of stakeholder engagement, feedback and our internal risk assessment processes.

Each issue is seen as being of particular interest to one or more of our key stakeholder groups, and has a direct bearing on the continuing sustainability of both our organisation and the context in which we operate.

 

The five themes are:

 

Broad-based black economic empowerment (BBBEE)

The IDC has been mandated to drive BBBEE as a policy to ensure that there is equitable ownership of economic resources.
 

Enterprise development

Small businesses are essential for economic growth. As a development finance institution, the IDC has a role in ensuring that it nurtures enterprise development in a manner which is sustainable.
 

Skills development

The shortage of skills is a limiting factor in development and the IDC has focused its efforts on developing skills both within and outside the Corporation.
 

The environment

The IDC is aware that the conservation of natural capital poses both challenges and opportunities. We have adopted a clear strategy to maximise the opportunities and ensure that, as far as possible, our impacts are managed and minimised.
 

Investing in our communities

Giving back to communities is a key focus and one that has grown out of our commitment to good corporate citizenship. We strive to contribute to sustained livelihoods in a way that does not create dependency.

For the purposes of this report and to ensure that we meet the basic requirements of the GRI, we have chosen 10 indicators on which to report.