EDF / 2018 Reference document

ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIETAL INFORMATION – HUMAN RESOURCES Sponsorship

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SPONSORSHIP

Partnerships Through the various partnerships it has formed, the Foundation is striving to gradually involve its employees in support for general interest causes. For example, with regard to disabilities, employees participated in solidarity challenges consisting in providing information on places accessible to people with disabilities, on behalf of the Jaccede non-profit. Similarly, EDF R&D research engineers offer their technological expertise to institutes that work for the public interest. More precisely, they offer medical research and cultural expertise, through skills-based sponsorship. The EDF group Foundation is a long-standing Téléthon partner. In addition to the financing provided by the Foundation for genetic disease research, hundreds of EDF group employees are taking action through various initiatives (donating their time, events, bike rides, etc.). The Foundation also contributes to the social and solidarity economy through the Fonds Agir Pour l’Emploi (2) (“Act for Employment”) as part of a unique grant matching scheme. In 2018, there were 12,289 donors among the Group's current and retired employees. The amount of financial assistance provided amounted to €2,243,880 which created or consolidated 3,473 jobs. Each year since 2010, through the Trophées des Associations, the Foundation has rewarded around 50 exemplary actions in favour of youth by small non-profits. In 2018, for the first time, these related to future projects rather than actions carried out. Certain prizes are now also awarded by region. The Foundation abroad Internationally, the Foundation supports projects run by non-profits for which electricity aids in access to water, health, education and development, by providing them with a combination of funding and technical expertise. In 2018, it supported about 40 projects that resulted in 56 technical assignments by 35 employees in 13 different countries. It also supports the voluntary commitment of employees who are engaged in international solidarity non-profits by providing solidarity leave: 45 employees benefited from this support in 2018. In the UK, EDF Energy focuses its corporate sponsorship policy on sustainable development and support for local communities. The educational programme Pod, recognised by EDF Energy, was launched in 2008 in order to teach 2.5 million children about the principles of sustainable energy use. EDF Energy also grants employees two days per year to volunteer within their local communities, and to support schools and charitable or non-profit organisations. Employees are also encouraged to raise funds for partner charity Breast Cancer Now, which contributes to breast cancer research, raising the awareness about prevention of the disease and support for employees who suffer from it. In Italy, Edison’s sponsorship activities are part of a corporate responsibility strategy to involve employees in volunteering actions. Edison has chosen to focus particularly on the younger generation to promote a sustainable development culture through schools, thanks to projects with major environmental, musical and cinema associations.

For more than 30 years, EDF group, though its sponsorship, has shown its commitment to promoting actions driven by civil society (1) . The Foundation supports almost 150 social innovation drivers each year. Since 1 January 2016, the EDF group Foundation has worked with several Group subsidiaries represented on its Board of Directors to promote a Group approach to corporate sponsorship. Endowed with a budget of €40 million over four years, the EDF group Foundation has focused its actions on solidarity and progress. Commitment Solidarity is the basis for the EDF group Foundation’s action. In 2018, it supported 35 new initiatives in the fight against precarious work, the social integration of young people and education. Given that scientific and technological progress ultimately contributes to human progress, the EDF group Foundation is committed to: supporting access to knowledge and know-how in order to develop an ■ understanding of technology, promoting science and innovation amongst young people, and encouraging careers in science, especially amongst young girls; medical research seeking to improve quality of life and the life expectancy of the ■ greatest number of people, through technical and therapeutic innovations; digital progress, using the digital revolution as a lever for renewing social ■ cohesion. In 2018, the Foundation dedicated almost €3.5 million to financing initiatives directly relating to solidarity and progress in France. The Foundation runs a cultural space that offers a free programme of exhibitions and meetings. In 2018, it exhibitions “La Belle Vie Numérique!” and “1, 2, 3 Data” had 70,839 visitors. With 43% of employees personally involved alongside associations throughout the country (according to an internal survey), the Corporate Foundation expresses strong attachment to the Group’s values of solidarity, respect and responsibility. For the past four years, it has set up a call for proposals from employees involved in non-profits. This initiative, which is becoming increasingly popular, has made it possible to set up a network of more than 550 employees identified in non-profits of public interest.

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See also: fondation.edf.com/fr. (1) FAPE: fape-edf.fr. (2)

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EDF I Reference Document 2018