Engagement with Society
A commitment to the Middle East & Africa
As a responsible bank, we are aware of our role in the communities where we are present.
In the Middle East & Africa, social issues are an integral part of our corporate mission. Every year we provide financial and human support to numerous partnerships. Some of the initiatives currently underway in the region include:
Beyond 2020: Part of the Zayed Sustainability Prize humanitarian partnership – United Arab Emirates
In 2019, BNP Paribas became a partner of the Zayed Sustainability Prize’s Beyond2020. Established in 2008, the prize has grown from a UAE leadership-driven initiative into a significant and globally renowned award for delivering critical, life-transforming solutions to a broad number of beneficiaries’ worldwide, providing technology for good and fostering development that is inclusive and sustainable.
From 2021, Beyond2020 will play a key role in further supporting vulnerable communities, as the world is expected to engage and coordinate action towards a sustainable recovery. It and its partners, including BNP Paribas, aim to improve lives through long-term impact and support various UN Sustainable Development Goals to create a brighter and more sustainable future.
BNP Paribas has committed to support vulnerable communities in three countries per annual phase. So far, six countries have been selected: Indonesia, Bangladesh, Costa Rica, Vietnam, Malaysia and Columbia. The first two projects have been completed.
For more about the Zayed Sustainability Prize and Beyond 2020, visit https://zayedsustainabilityprize.com/.
Bahrain Jazz Fest – Arts and culture partnership – Bahrain
For 25 years, the BNP Paribas Foundation has supported jazz musicians, composers and performers’ careers as well as many festivals around the world.
Since 2017, BNP Paribas has been the official ‘Presenting Partner’ of the Bahrain Jazz Fest, Bahrain’s first-ever international jazz festival. The festival has grown year on year, featuring over 100 artists and entertaining over 20,000 visitors.
Despite the restrictions caused by the pandemic, BNP Paribas continued to support the festival when it went fully virtual in 2020. This support has also expanded to a virtual celebration of International Jazz Day, showcasing Bahrain as a Jazz Hub in the region.
As the festival builds in scope and scale, community remains at its core. In 2021 the festival included a new series of school outreach workshops for young jazz musicians in Bahrain with the Headline Band “Jazz House Collective”. To learn more about the festival, its support for jazz musicians and artists, or to buy tickets to forthcoming events, visit Bahrain Jazz Fest.
Nuwat – Environmental Research Partnership
In line with its commitments to support a sustainable environment, BNP Paribas has entered into a partnership with Nuwat, an environmental research and conservation think-tank, education provider, and advisory organisation that works on a national, regional and international level.
- At the early stage, BNP Paribas will partially fund two biodiversity research projects—with a focus on microplastics and sharks.
Through this partnership, we hope that understanding the impact of microplastics and identifying important shark species’ habitats will contribute to the longevity of marine ecosystems. Moreover, the partnership extends to further research into Bahrain’s pearl oyster beds, one of the largest natural pearl-producing regions in the world. These oyster beds not only flourish in extreme conditions but may also hold vital insights that could shape resilience strategies for marine ecosystems globally. The focus on biodiversity reflects BNP Paribas’ commitment to environmental stewardship, enhancing our reputation as a responsible corporate citizen and attracting environmentally conscious customers, investors, and partners.
In addition to research, Nuwat offers various educational opportunities to spread environmental and conservation awareness, including field excursions, workshops, internship programs, webinars, and coaching sessions. Through these programmes, Nuwat aims to cultivate a culture of sustainability and environmental consciousness.
For more information, visit www.nuwat.org
Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiques – Preserving Local Heritage Partnership
BNP Paribas has partnered with the Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiques (BACA), to restore and rehabilitate certain house clusters in Bahrain Fort and transform them into a vibrant and thriving cultural neighbourhood.
The project aims to rehabilitate and preserve historic houses in the Kingdom, which were built in the 1960s, and were one of Bahrain’s first housing projects. They served as residence for Dr. Monique Kervran, the head of the French archaeological mission over 40 years ago.
Our partnership with BACA underscores our commitment to preserving cultural treasures and heritage sites. We hope that through this initiative, we would leave a lasting legacy by ensuring the preservation of important historical sites for future generations, contributing to the cultural enrichment and identity of the community in the Kingdom of Bahrain.
BACA seeks to restore and rehabilitate these houses, in order to establish a model for preserving the buildings of the transitional era, allowing them to be used and invested in vital commercial and cultural projects, where the project proposal provides an open architecture that creates a visual and spatial connection with its natural and heritage surroundings.
For more information about BACA, visit Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities – Kingdom of Bahrain | About us