Attijariwafa Bank has published its first ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) report, marking a new step in integrating sustainability at the core of its strategy. For the banking group, the goal is now to transform these commitments into concrete and measurable actions that can have a real impact on the economy and society.
According to Talal Ouazzani Chahdi, Chief Sustainability Officer and Head of Investor Relations, this publication does not represent a starting point but rather a natural evolution of work that has already been underway for several years through corporate social responsibility (CSR) reports. The difference today lies in the ambition: ESG is becoming a strategic pillar fully integrated into the governance and performance of the group.
The bank specifically aims to strengthen its role in the energy transition. Its approach is to act on both its own environmental footprint and that of its clients. The main impact lies in financing and supporting businesses, particularly SMEs, to aid their transition to more sustainable models. This transformation is also presented as a competitiveness lever for companies, allowing them to improve their access to markets and optimize their costs.
On the social front, Attijariwafa Bank emphasizes financial inclusion. The Dar Al Moukawil initiative supports entrepreneurs and very small enterprises through training, advisory programs, and project structuring support. The group plans to extend this framework to all its countries of presence in Africa.
At the same time, the subsidiary Wafacash is developing solutions to broaden access to financial services in under-served areas. The goal is to ensure a presence in nearly 800 rural locations to facilitate the integration of populations into the financial system.
The ESG strategy is also integrated at the highest level of governance. The group has established an ESG committee within the board of directors, responsible for overseeing environmental, social, and governance issues and ensuring their alignment with the overall strategy and risk management.
To measure the effectiveness of this strategy, the bank relies on specific performance indicators that allow for tracking the real impact of actions taken. The results are analyzed at different management levels to adjust the policies in place.
ESG ratings also serve as an indicator of progress. Among more than 1,200 banks evaluated globally, Attijariwafa Bank currently ranks in the top 10% of the highest-rated institutions according to these criteria.
For the group, the challenge now is to avoid a purely declarative approach to sustainable finance. The priority is to connect ESG commitments to real economic decisions, set measurable objectives, and integrate these issues into governance and daily operations. The ultimate goal is to make sustainability a lever for value creation and long-term performance.