With global operations, Ericsson is active in a diverse set of cultural environments. Our community involvement is driven at the country and market unit levels so that we can focus on the initiatives that bring the greatest value to each community.
Through a Group Sponsorship Directive, Ericsson has defined a common approach for engaging with communities to further social and environmental goals. The Directive, defined in 2006 and encompassing corporate responsibility as well as other commercial forms of sponsorship, provides a cohesive, transparent and uniform baseline for organizing local activities. This approach strengthens the Ericsson brand and the association with our core values.
Corporate responsibility sponsorship initiatives focus on applying our core business to making communication affordable and accessible for all, as well as on using telecommunications in social and environmental contexts. In 2006, projects ranged from scholarships, environmental protection to social and humanitarian aid such as disaster relief, health care and children's welfare.
Our approach provides a number of overriding benefits.
Ericsson gains better insight into the activities supported by the company and, more importantly, it allows Ericsson to leverage our impact as a responsible member of the community. Direct local engagement generates a greater positive impact on the communities we are trying to serve. We are also better able to encourage and empower our employees to be positive agents in their neighborhoods.
In order to monitor how the Directive is applied, data on sponsorship activities will be systematically collated on Group level starting in 2007.
