Singtel

Overview

Singtel’s corporate philanthropy programme Singtel Touching Lives Fund was established in 2002 to support the education of children and youth with special needs in Singapore. The company's philanthropy efforts have since extended to disability employment, digital enablement and online safety for vulnerable groups such as children, youth, seniors, persons with disabilities, disadvantaged families and migrant workers. These efforts are strategically aligned with its broader business goals. Singtel’s Community Impact Framework guides its philanthropy initiatives for the community, encompassing giving, volunteering and the integration of socially responsible practices. The aim, as Singtel has defined it, is to achieve tangible outcomes that positively impact the community. Singtel’s ongoing commitment to philanthropy exemplifies the potential for businesses to generate societal value while pursuing its corporate objectives. The subsequent Q&A section delves into the particulars of Singtel’s sustainable philanthropy practices.

How is Singtel integrating philanthropy with its business strategy?

In 2021, Singtel unveiled its Group Purpose, ‘Empower Every Generation’, and refreshed its ‘COMMIT’ core values to ensure they are embedded into every aspect of its business and people practices to empower customers, businesses and the community to leverage technology to create a more sustainable and inclusive digital future. Recognising the key role that management plays to ensure the success of ESG and philanthropy objectives, Singtel has linked ESG targets to incentive plans of its top executives – 20% of their long-term incentive plan remuneration policies are tied to specific, time bound KPIs. These include Singtel’s goal of digitally enabling one million persons and SMEs from FY2015 to FY2025, of which Singtel is on track to do so with over 970,000 beneficiaries already reached in FY2024. Initiatives like the Digital for Life workshops for seniors, Donate Your Device programme for disadvantaged groups, digital literacy including scam awareness for migrant workers, and capacity building for social enterprises through Singtel Group Future Makers highlight this commitment. To further promote staff volunteerism and the culture of empowering communities, Singtel is setting volunteering hours targets across its business units, which will also be tied to top executives’ incentive plans. The company also continues to explore ways to tailor mobile services to best serve vulnerable groups such as seniors and migrant workers to enhance their digital inclusion and well-being.

How does Singtel identify its priority area?

Singtel’s philanthropy efforts are guided by the Group’s Community Impact Framework, recognising the key role it plays in the community as a leading communications technology group in the region. Aligned with the priority areas of the NCSS’s Sustainable Philanthropy Framework and in regular consultation with social service and government agencies, Singtel focuses on areas where it can leverage its technological expertise to address pertinent social needs. These include digital enablement for diverse vulnerable groups such as seniors, migrant workers and low-income families, while advocating for an equitable and inclusive future for children, youth, persons with disabilities and disadvantaged families. For a deeper understanding of Singtel’s priority areas please refer to the Singtel Group Sustainability Report 2024 and Singtel Touching Lives Fund Impact Report.

What is Singtel’s roadmap to achieve desired social outcomes?

Singtel’s community impact framework supports its two key pillars of digital enablement and equity and inclusion with established objectives: enhance ease of access to technologies among vulnerable groups, promote online safety and well-being, leverage innovative technologies to scale social impact, provide strong support to its target beneficiary groups, and increase employability of vulnerable groups through education. These are underpinned by key initiatives that target specific segments in society. For example, one of the ways that Singtel enhances ease of access to technologies among vulnerable groups is through supporting the Digital for Life national movement to organise workshops that empower seniors with basic digital skills and scam awareness knowledge. Singtel collaborates with partners such as IMDA, South-West Community Development Council and Cyber Security Agency on such digital enablement outreach. The Singtel Touching Lives Fund, which is anchored by annual events such as Singtel Carnival, Singtel Charity Golf and Expressions Through Art, provides funding and meaningful engagement to its beneficiary special education schools. The fund has raised over $57 million since 2002, helping over 1,800 students with special needs annually to integrate into society and live independently.

In adhering to its community impact strategy, Singtel has implemented robust internal processes, including regular check-ins with designated representatives and partners across internal business units, and social service agencies to receive timely feedback on its philanthropy initiatives.

How often does Singtel schedule regular reviews, document learnings and implement changes?

Singtel leverages a comprehensive metric system to establish accountability and guide decisionmaking in its philanthropy efforts. The company utilises a quarterly dashboard to track volunteering and digital enablement stats, as well as progress of sustainability initiatives. Singtel outlines details of its community impact supported by an annual B4SI verification process and public disclosure of community investment figures in its annual sustainability report. To enhance accountability and benchmarking, Singtel is developing an internal system to track volunteering hours and activities across business units more effectively and regularly. The company also seeks to promote more regular internal communication of volunteering activities aligned to its Group Purpose to promote greater staff engagement. Along with the alignment and commitment to the metrics of the NCSS’s Sustainable Philanthropy Framework, Singtel’s development of responsible procurement guidelines ensure its sustainability strategy and philanthropy initiatives are both impactful and aligned with Singapore’s broader social goals.

Why are engaging stakeholders and collaborating through sustainable partnerships important?

Singtel continues to engage stakeholders and galvanise ecosystem players to address social issues strategically. The company collaborates with social service agencies, government organisations and other ecosystem partners to facilitate impactful programmes like the Singtel Carnival and Digital for Life workshops for seniors. Singtel aims to deepen collaborations with partners by leveraging each other’s networks and resources to scale the impact of existing programmes and collaborate on new initiatives. There is scope to tap on Singtel’s existing role as the co-chair of networks such as the Singapore Business Network on DisAbility to promote greater sharing of resources, such as CV pools for persons with disabilities and database of inclusive suppliers and social enterprises that members can use for various sourcing needs. Singtel is also exploring ways to tap on technological solutions from its alumni network of social enterprises to enhance its community impact, for example utilising an app to streamline volunteer coordination. Singtel’s approach illustrates the progressive refinement of sustainable philanthropy journey, in line with the guidance provided by the building blocks of the NCSS’s Sustainable Philanthropy Framework.

Building a sustainable future for all requires the commitment and effort of all stakeholders involved. SDG 17 ‘Partnerships for the Goals’ underpins Singtel’s sustainability strategy as it seek to collaborate with its stakeholders including partners to create shared value and positive impact.

Singtel’s efforts to advance the inclusion and development of the vulnerable segments of society, including disadvantaged children, youths and families and persons with special needs in Singapore have been recognised annually by Community Chest with its Charity Platinum Award since 2001 and Volunteer Partner Awards since its launch in 2020.