Cairo, Egypt, 1^st of February, 2023

El Khateeb: All participating ideas were innovative, distinctive, and reflected a conscious young generation.

Egypt’s largest integrated telecommunications operator, Vodafone Egypt, announced the winners of its AI Assistive Tools Hackathon – the first of its kind in the Egyptian private sector – aiming to empower individuals with disabilities through Artificial Intelligence.
Under the auspices of the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, the hackathon, held on January 26 – 29, at Vodafone Egypt’s headquarters in Smart Village with partners Helm, Plug and Play, and Synapse Analytics.
Within Vodafone Egypt’s framework of cultivating inclusivity and social responsibility, the hackathon was launched to create solutions and bridge the disability gap by developing AI-based assistive tools and empower individuals with disabilities in the workplace.
The hackathon saw a tremendous amount of interest, and an overwhelming response with more than 30 entries, 13 of which were individuals with disabilities. 

The Health-Gram project was awarded first place, winning EGP 250,000 and the chance to incubate and further develop their project with Vodafone Egypt and their various technology and business solutions. 
Second place went to the SignIN project, winning a training opportunity to incubate the project provided by Plug and Play, as well as receiving technical tools from Vodafone Egypt to help with project implementation. The AccessME project, which received third place, won a training opportunity to incubate the project provided by Plug and Play.

“We are thrilled and inspired by all of the innovative and thoughtful ideas put forth throughout the hackathon. And our heartiest congratulations to the winners who have worked passionately and tirelessly on their solutions, reflecting their social awareness and innovative nature to support disabled individuals. The hackathon demonstrated the desire of these young people to make a transformational impact on the world and develop assistive technologies for a great cause. Being the first of its kind created by the private sector, the AI Assistive Tools Hackathon has become a platform for innovators to express themselves, highlighting the significance of corporations embracing their ideas to turn them into real breakthroughs and tangible innovations,” explained Mahmoud El Khateeb, Business Unit Director at Vodafone Egypt.
“As a community leader, Vodafone Egypt places social responsibility and inclusivity at the core of everything we do; constantly investing in social empowerment projects and innovations to support individuals with more efficient and affordable solutions to facilitate their daily lives and routine in the workplace,” El Khateeb added.

“By providing people with disabilities the required procedures and instruments, we are able to level the playing field, enabling them to shine through with their distinct capabilities and optimize their working day and accomplish their tasks efficiently,” said Nagla Kinawi, Human Resources Director at Vodafone Egypt. “Vodafone Egypt is keen to employ people with disabilities and launch various initiatives aiming to address their challenges and enhance their role within the company.”
From her side Eng. Hoda Dahroug, Advisor to the Minister for Digital Community Development at the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT) said “This hackathon is a tremendous chance for the technical empowerment of persons with disabilities and an opportunity to integrate them into the labor market. This coincides with the Ministry’s vision for digital transformation, and its interest in achieving an inclusive society for all groups, especially people with special needs, through the creation of technological tools and applications that facilitate their daily interactions, and provide them with a safe work environment suitable for their abilities,” 
“The young individuals who took part in the hackathon presented promising ideas and were distinguished by the spirit of ambition and determination. Being exposed to so many cutting-edge and ground-breaking ideas and initiatives made the hackathon a win-win situation for both organizers and participants alike,” she added.   

Cairo, Egypt, 14^th of February, 2023

Vodafone Egypt, in collaboration with several private and public entities and organizations in Egypt, launched the Egyptian Gender Alliance (EGA) to empower women's leadership and role in the workplace, in the presence of H.E. Ambassador Soha Gendi, Minister of Emigration and Expatriates' Affairs. The alliance’s main objective is to emphasize the significant role and impact of women in developing society, and providing the necessary support women need across all sectors.

The alliance was formed in partnership with the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT), the National Council of Women, United Nations Women, Vodafone Egypt, Procter & Gamble, PepsiCo, Microsoft, Cisco, and Simon-Kucher & Partners.

The EGA was launched during a grand ceremony hosted by Vodafone Egypt and attended by leaders and representatives of partnered entities. Mr. Mohamed Abdallah, CEO of Vodafone Egypt, welcomed all participants, after which Mrs. Leanne Wood, Chief Human Resources Officer at Vodafone, gave an introductory speech.

The ceremony included a panel discussion, moderated by TV host, Mariam Amin, discussing women’s role in all life aspects, particularly at social and economic levels. The panel was attended by representatives of the MCIT, National Council of Women, United Nations Women, Vodafone, Procter & Gamble, Microsoft, Cisco, and Simon-Kucher & Partners.

The Egyptian Gender Alliance is aligned with the Egyptian women’s empowerment strategy and objectives, sustainable development goals, and Egypt's 2030 Vision, aimed at empowering women economically and socially by improving their capabilities and enhancing their skills.

The alliance agreed to establish the EGA Academy to provide the necessary training programs needed to improve and develop the skills and competencies of women in the workplace and society as a whole.

Alliance members also held a series of meetings, workshops, and studies to define the desired goals of the initiative, the role of each partner in the initiative, and the type of support required to further support women at work.

The first of its kind, the alliance embraces and combines the joint efforts of many institutions, companies, and organizations addressing challenges that women face, reflecting the concerted efforts of various sectors to promote gender equality, empower women in workplaces and society, and enhance their social and economic independence.

Cairo, Egypt, 16^th of January, 2023

Vodafone Egypt issued its fourth sustainability report, and the first digital one on its website, which included information regarding the company’s performance and its impact on the Environmental, Economic, Social, and Governance (ESG) framework, as well as initiatives aiming to enhance its performance in these sectors. Vodafone relied on digital means in preparing the report, collecting and presenting data, which is part of the company’s initiative to raise awareness inside and outside its premises on the impact of its sustainability mechanisms, and ways to deal with various impacts that result from its operations responsibly and sustainably. Vodafone Egypt also plans to publish upcoming sustainability reports digitally on annual basis, and regularly update the information directly on the website.

Vodafone Egypt is the first telecom company to issue a Digital Sustainability Report that follows the ESG approach voluntarily. The report follows the guidelines of the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI), which supports the use of a sustainable reporting policy on Vodafone’s performance, presenting the company’s efforts contingent on its experience in fields of digital transformation and overall sustainability

“This report is part of Vodafone’s efforts to enhance transparency and present its work in the sector of achieving sustainability. This comes in line with our belief in the company’s important role in achieving Egypt’s 2030 vision, and the government’s orientation to environmentally friendly projects. After hosting the COP27 climate conference that was held in Sharm El-Sheikh last November, where Vodafone Egypt was a strategic partner for the conference” said Ayman Essam, External Affairs and Legal Director at Vodafone Egypt. “Vodafone, like all other big institutions, realizes the importance of having a strong strategy for sustainability and the important role the company plays in enhancing resource efficiency, supporting risk management, and building trust with stakeholders.

Vodafone also worked to provide full support to the Egyptian government in preparing for the COP27 Climate Conference at the highest levels through the development and improvement of the network in Sharm El-Sheikh and through “Every little act today creates a better tomorrow” campaign to raise environmental public awareness. Vodafone also signed an MoU with the New & Renewable Energy Authority (NREA) to initiate discussions on the possibility of using renewable electrical energy produced from the Authority’s projects to feed the components of the company’s network.

Vodafone provides all financial and economic digital services and solutions to help its customers deal easily and efficiently with their transactions. This includes Vodafone Cash service, which owns more than 65% of Egypt’s financial electronic wallet transaction share. V-HUB platform, which aims to empower small and medium-sized companies, and “Ta3limy” platform, which serves more than 2 million beneficiaries to improve their quality of education. And Instant Network Schools program that connects 54,000 refugee & Egyptian students in public schools.

Vodafone Egypt has partenered with the Ministry of Environment in line with “Go Green” initiative under the auspices of H.E. President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi and has significantly took part in “E-Tadweer” project for recycling and safely disposing electronic waste.

Source: https://identity-mag.com/vodafones-first-digital-sustainability-report-in-egypt-raises-the-bar-on-esg-transparency/
 

Cairo, Egypt, 29^th of January, 2023

 

Vodafone Egypt launched Direct Carrier Billing (DCB) service, allowing Apple users to pay for any application or service while adding the payment value to their monthly bill or deducting it from their balance, as part of its effort to provide the best e-commerce solutions for its customers to carry out all their payments effortlessly and efficiently.

The new service aims to provide a fast, easy, and convenient payment method that is easily reachable through customers' phone accounts. It provides the ability to pay for subscriptions for apps, games, music, video content, and all other preferred services provided by the App Store, Apple Music, and Apple TV applications. 

"We are pleased to be the first telecom operator in Egypt to provide this e-payment service to its consumers; validating our position as a market leader. "The new service will save customers time by allowing them to make payments in a simple, easy, and trustworthy manner, while also providing users with detailed reports on each transaction that will be sent after each purchase," said Kareem Eid, Consumer Business Unit Director at Vodafone Egypt. 

"The new service could be activated through the customer's phone number only without any registration or sharing any confidential details, such as credit card number or bank account details, to protect data privacy. All Vodafone users in Egypt will be able to use it by adding the value to their monthly bill or deducting it from their balance."
Customers can activate the new service by logging in with their Apple ID, the same account they use to access all Apple services, and selecting mobile phone as the payment option in Account Settings in the App Store or iCloud, or within the Apple Music or Apple TV apps on their Apple devices, such as the iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple TV, or iTunes. 

Kinawi: We are always committed to establishing a cohesive work culture in HR sector and build a respectful work environment

 

Cairo - December 5, 2023

As a recognition for their efforts in integrating youth and women into the workforce, Vodafone Egypt received the Gold Award for Excellence in Diversity and Inclusion at the 2023 SHRM Mena conference. The HR team was specifically acknowledged for continuous innovation, effective crisis management, and the application of excellence in management principles.

Vodafone Egypt's achievement in providing equal opportunities and fostering diversity, especially for youth and women, was highlighted as the Company became the first in Egypt to receive this award, emphasizing its dedication to creating an inclusive work environment. Yasmine Dessouky, Talent Management, DE&I and Leadership Development Senior Manager at Vodafone Egypt, participated in a session titled "Women in Leadership Roles: Awareness Meets Ambition," shedding light on the Company's vision for women in leadership roles and the vital role diversity plays in an organization's success.

"We are always committed to establishing a cohesive work culture as it is important to support women in all sectors, develop gender equality principles, and build a respectful work environment for all employees," said Nagla Kinawi, Human Resources Director at Vodafone Egypt.  "That’s why I want to express my deepest gratitude to our teams for their continuous efforts in achieving this accomplishment."

Vodafone Egypt adopts an impactful strategy to create an environment based on the principles of justice and gender balance. The Company views female leadership as an essential part of its vision, promoting women's ascent to leadership positions, empowering women, and developing their skills to support their roles in economic and social progress. The percentage of women in leadership positions in Vodafone Egypt has reached 40%, with a target of reaching 50% by 2025. Vodafone Egypt is committed to providing employment opportunities specifically tailored to women, supporting those seeking suitable opportunities that align with their life and professional requirements. One of Vodafone's key programs, the "Returnship" program, aims to train women who have been out of the workforce for an extended period, ranging from 3 to 5 consecutive years, and to reintegrate them into the work environment. Additionally, Vodafone has launched the "Fekretek" Ideathon, designed to support women in achieving their dreams and ideas by overcoming the challenges they face in the initial steps of realizing their thoughts and goals.

Vodafone Egypt's strategy aims to empower and invest in the youth, intending to build a generation equipped with technological skills and competencies. This is achieved by providing them with knowledge and enhancing their digital capabilities through the offering of suitable opportunities, such as summer training programs and support for startups through the provision of technological solutions. Additionally, the Company seeks to support individuals with special needs through initiatives that promote their inclusion in the work environment, including the hackathon launched in 2023. Furthermore, the Company is committed to annually appointing a percentage of individuals with special needs, providing technological services that contribute to transforming their ideas into practical tools or products, with the aim of improving all aspects of their daily and professional lives.