Sort by
Sort by

Nestlé renews partnership with the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies

woman

Nestlé has announced the renewal of a long-standing collaboration with the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), committing to contribute CHF 5 million over five years to the organisation.

Nestlé was the IFRC's first corporate partner in 2002. Since 2006 the IFRC and Nestlé have been working together with a particular focus on improving rural communities’ access to water.

Through the collaboration, to date, 100,000 people in Cote d’Ivoire cocoa communities now have access to clean drinking water and sanitation facilities.

Nestlé said it will expand the water access and hygiene project to neighbouring Ghana as well as sponsoring the production of the IFRC's annual World Disaster Report.

Nestlé CEO Paul Bulcke said that both organisations had benefited from each other’s expertise.

"We have moved from a purely philanthropic relationship to one that embodies our CSV business model and results in a lasting difference for the communities that surround our operations," Mr Bulcke said.

The IFRC's Secretary General Elhadj As Sy said that the organisation’s staff and volunteers were always there on the side of communities in support of their response to humanitarian challenges across a continuum of crises prevention, response and recovery.

"Our work on water and sanitation is a key component of the continuum, and we are pleased to partner with Nestlé in that area. Safe access to water and sanitation provides a fertile ground for better health and quality of life," he said.

The agreement was announced at the company’s annual Creating Shared Value Forum, held at the group’s global research centre in Lausanne, Switzerland.

Nestlé believes that for a company to be successful over the long term and create value for shareholders, it must create value for society.

This year’s forum, co-organised by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), is focusing on returning business to the heart of the societies in which it operates.

Follow a live webcast of the forum and find out more about Nestlé’s work with the IFRC.