Communication on Progress

Participant
Published
  • 13-Oct-2021
Time period
  • October 2021  –  November 2022
Format
  • Stand alone document – Basic COP Template
Differentiation Level
  • This COP qualifies for the Global Compact Active level
Self-assessment
  • Includes a CEO statement of continued support for the UN Global Compact and its ten principles
  • Description of actions or relevant policies related to Human Rights
  • Description of actions or relevant policies related to Labour
  • Description of actions or relevant policies related to Environment
  • Description of actions or relevant policies related to Anti-Corruption
  • Includes a measurement of outcomes
 
  • Statement of continued support by the Chief Executive Officer
  • Statement of the company's chief executive (CEO or equivalent) expressing continued support for the Global Compact and renewing the company's ongoing commitment to the initiative and its principles.

  • To our stakeholders:
    I am pleased to confirm that Africa Biosystems Limited reaffirms its support of the Ten Principles of the United Nations Global Compact in the areas of Human Rights, Labor, Environment and Anti-Corruption.

    In this annual Communication on Progress, we describe our actions to continually improve the integration of the Global Compact and its principles into our business strategy, culture and daily operations. We also commit to share this information with our stakeholders using our primary channels of communication.

Human Rights
  • Assessment, policy and goals
  • Description of the relevance of human rights for the company (i.e. human rights risk-assessment). Description of policies, public commitments and company goals on Human Rights.

  • Human Rights are critical for a company to succeed both internally and externally.
    Internally: Our team at Africa Biosystems Limited (ABL) relies on talented human capital to drive sales for cutting edge life sciences equipment in the region. We also build capacity on the continent by investing in education and training of local talent to enhance specialized skill sets. Our talent is key in achieving business success and we support all 30 Articles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, recognizing the inherent dignity and of the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world.
    Keeping this Declaration constantly in mind, ABL strives to teach and to promote respect for these rights and freedoms.
    Externally: Our core purpose is to drive transformational change in Eastern Africa, using cutting edge life science technology to empower human health and create the basis for peace, security and human dignity through the use of DNA forensics.

  • Implementation
  • Description of concrete actions to implement Human Rights policies, address Human Rights risks and respond to Human Rights violations.

  • Internally: Protecting human rights are a core value for our business. Human Rights protection falls under the responsibility of our Director of Finance & Operations, Janmohamed Verjee.
    Externally: In Kenya, many human rights violations occur. In fact, statistics from Kenya indicate that 300 rape cases are reported every week, and the total could be 10 times this when including unreported cases.
    In 2018, ABL placed the 48 Capillary 3730SR DNA Analyzer (Gold Standard) valued at US$.50,000.00 at The University of Nairobi, for the purpose of HIV-DR Genetic sequencing and other approved applications e.g. Microbial Genotype & HID. Once the equipment was placed ABL undertook and provided all the technical and application training for the equipment at no additional cost.
    In 2019, ABL also donated an amount of Shs.176,300/= towards school fees for two under privileged children to enable them further their education. Further to this, ABL also helped a customer with UGX.1,000,000/= (US$.300.00) towards medical assistance for their relative who was unable to raise enough funds for the medical bill. ABL also sponsored a football team “Muthiga Football Club” for one of their soccer games to the tune of Shs.26,500/= (US$.265.00) ABL also donated an amount of Tshs.480,000/= (US$.210.00) towards funeral expenses of one of our customers in Tanzania.
    In 2020, Africa Biosystems Limited made a donation to Pankaj Shah towards food items for those affected by loss of jobs due to the pandemic. The Company also made funeral expense Contribution of Shs.50,000/= towards the staff of a father who passed on and Shs.75,000/= towards hospital bill of a staffs father.
    In 2021- we supported hospitals and other institutions with COVID related Instruments at very special pricing.

  • Measurement of outcomes
  • Description of how the company monitors and evaluates performance.

  • Internally, our Director of Finance & Operations ensures that all grievances are addressed fairly and in line with the UN Global compact principles and in accordance with the laws of the countries we operate in. Externally, we aim to support at least one event per year to highlight how technology can be used to secure our Human Rights.

Labour
  • Assessment, policy and goals
  • Description of the relevance of labour rights for the company (i.e. labour rights-related risks and opportunities). Description of written policies, public commitments and company goals on labour rights.

  • ABL commits to the UN Global Compact principles for Labor Rights. In addition, ABL support the eight fundamental ILO Core Conventions on prohibition of forced labor, child labor, the right to organize in a trade union, and suffer no discrimination. Our company is mid-sized, and has a highly collaborative culture where employees can express any labor issues openly. All our offer letters to our employees highlight employee rights, responsibilities, compensation, and benefits.

  • Implementation
  • Description of concrete actions taken by the company to implement labour policies, address labour risks and respond to labour violations.

  • ABL’s collaborative culture ensures high level of employee engagement so any grievances can be discussed. Our Director of Finance & Operations is responsible for all labor policy and ensuring labor rights.
    We ensure that we compensate our staff at fair market rate, and continue to test the market and adjust compensation accordingly based on budget and market drivers.

  • Measurement of outcomes
  • Description of how the company monitors and evaluates performance.

  • We measure the number of labor related violations in accordance with Global Compact Labor principles (e.g. compulsory labor, child labor, discrimination) and are pleased to report none to date. In addition, from a diversity perspective, we have increased the number of women staff in our company for gender balance and equality, and are pleased to report that 50% of our staff is female.

Environment
  • Assessment, policy and goals
  • Description of the relevance of environmental protection for the company (i.e. environmental risks and opportunities). Description of policies, public commitments and company goals on environmental protection.

  • ABL support the UN Global Compact Principles on Environment. ABL promotes environmental responsibility by driving DNA technology to enable environment preservation.

  • Implementation
  • Description of concrete actions to implement environmental policies, address environmental risks and respond to environmental incidents.

  • For example, ABL will be supporting the transformative $40 million project to revitalize Africa’s orphaned crops. Orphan crops' are African food crops and tree species that have been neglected by researchers and industry because they are not economically important on the global market. The 100 targeted crops are the 'back garden' crops of rural Africa, home to 600 million people. So improving them will greatly improve the diets of Africa's children, helping to eliminate hunger and malnutrition, which causes stunting. Stunting - short stature for age and incomplete neurological development - is rife among the children of rural Africa.
    http://www.nepad.org/fr/foodsecurity/news/3206/centre-improve-orphan-crops-opens-nairobi
    http://news.ucdavis.edu/search/news_detail.lasso?id=10021
    In addition, we are continuously looking to reduce our environmental footprint in other ways, from using recycled content and reducing unnecessary travel. We are actively focusing on reducing our footprint by printing less paper and communicating more electronically.
    Description of concrete actions to implement environmental policies, reduce environmental risks
    ABL has assisted companies in East Africa to offer In-Vitro fertilization technology. In addition, it will help them in the mid-term for cancer diagnosis and STEM cells. ABL also extended training Africa Crop Consortium on genome typing of the orphan crops. We did this with partners Life Technologies, at the internal center for Agro Forestry. NEPAD project. Managing Director Yasmin Verjee says "this technology will improve the nutrition and productivity of important crops in Africa and will ultimately reduce malnutrition and stunting that millions of children suffer."
    ABL sponsored the 3rd Medical and Veterinary Virus Research symposium, Nairobi, Kenya 16-17 October 2014. We donated KES 100,000/ to promote research and local knowledge. The money went into prizes for the best poster and best oral presentation during the symposium and funding the travel of a few needy investigators who will be coming from outside of Nairobi.

  • Measurement of outcomes
  • Description of how the company monitors and evaluates environmental performance.

  • ABL continues to strive towards driving environmental awareness both internally within the company and externally. Our Senior Management reviews our environment impact on a quarterly basis, assessing ways to improve internally and looking for opportunities to contribute externally that leverages our knowledge, people and technology.

Anti-Corruption
  • Assessment, policy and goals
  • Description of the relevance of anti-corruption for the company (i.e. anti-corruption risk-assessment). Description of policies, public commitments and company goals on anti-corruption.

  • ABL and our employees are committed to achieving a high standard of ethical behavior in everything that we do. Ethics and Integrity are a key part of the company’s core values. Our tag line is “Ready, Reliable, and Ethical.”

  • Implementation
  • Description of concrete actions to implement anti-corruption policies, address anti-corruption risks and respond to incidents.

  • All our employees sign a professional code of conduct where our principle of Teamwork, Mutual Respect, Collaboration are included in addition our core focus on Ethics and Integrity. We are all responsible to ensure Ethics and Integrity in our everyday work.

  • Measurement of outcomes
  • Description of how the company monitors and evaluates anti-corruption performance.

  • Corruption is not tolerated in our business. And we turn down any business opportunities if any such incidents arise. Senior Management reviews all the deals on a weekly basis with the sales team to ensure that the deals are transparent and in line with our professional code of conduct.
    Going forward, we aim to develop a code of conduct that our employees will review and sign up to on a yearly basis.