We strengthen community relations
SDG
The Organization is committed to contributing to Social Progress, with the aim of helping communities to overcome social challenges and to achieve deep transformations and sustainable environments.
We contribute to improving the life quality of our communities, and jointly with our related companies we develop initiatives that:
- Strengthen the capabilities of social actors that work towards the development of their territories and to participate in their social and economic dynamics.
- Facilitate access to public services by vulnerable populations and contribute to the improvement of community infrastructure.
These activities are implemented directly or through agreements or partnerships with public or private institutions, which enables optimizing resources and maximizing the positive impact on the communities, such as the projects we describe under the section on the work carried out by Fundación Promigas.
During 2021, we were able to return to face-to-face performance of the scheduled communication events, workshops and activities,
which enabled achieving greater coverage and proximity to the communities, while abiding by the bio-safety measures.
The return to face-to-face activities was a key aspect for the contribution to social progress, because the reactivation of the infrastructure expansion and maintenance projects led to the creation of local jobs and to hiring people from the communities, which thereby contributed to the economic growth of the territories.
In line with our sustainable management approach and our objective of improving community relations, during the year we carried out surveys to identify social investment opportunities for the development of the territories. Based on the approach of creating value and capitalizing on opportunities to strengthen relations and build trust in the territories where we operate, we carried out voluntary social investment activities in the neighboring communities of our construction and maintenance projects, and in other cases to fulfill commitments related to licenses and environmental permits.
The following are some of the most noteworthy projects:
We highlight the following indicators on community relations:
Operations with local community engagement, impact assessments, and development programs
Promigas and its related companies create channels to enable the communities in our areas of influence to actively participate in the development of the Company’s social initiatives, as well as to share relevant information both for the community and the Company and to build relationships based on trust.
The companies also participate in task groups and committees, jointly with local administrations and other entities, to work together for the development of the territories.
Fulfillment of 100 % of the local community participation plans and development programs. The social projects reported by each affiliate were implemented based on the needs of the local communities.
100 % of the environmental and social impact assessment results were published. All information related to environmental and social impact assessments and monitoring, among others, is available to the general public.
We have a formal process for receiving community complaints through emergency hotlines and confidential reports (telephone and website). All such complaints were managed and addressed in a timely manner in accordance with established guidelines, and most were related to inconveniences due to the company’s activities.
Fundación Promigas
Fundación Promigas joined efforts with Fundación Surtigas and Fundación Gases de Occidente, and the three were merged into a single foundation. This merger is intended to leverage the results and impact of the strategic social investments of the Promigas Organization, to contribute to one of the strategic focus areas of its sustainable management model.
The new foundation defined two strategic lines of action, which group together strategic social investment programs and projects and are aligned with the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals.
The first line is Education for Youth Employment and Entrepreneurship, and the second is Sustainable Production Projects.
The following cross-sectional criteria are taken into consideration for the design, approval and implementation of the programs and projects under these strategic lines: Youth, Innovation, Environment and Community Development.
Under this line, we have reached
12 departaments, equivalent to 40 % of the Colombian territory, through 26 projects, 19 of which began to be implemented in 2021, and 7 of which were completed in the same year, with total investment of over.
COP 12 billion, of which 44% was funded by Fundación Promigas, and the rest through fund raising. These projects are intended to impact a total of 31,948 people, and 38% of the projects include beneficiaries from ethnic communities.
Nine projects related to the Education for Youth Employment and Entrepreneurship:
- English for Work
Impulso Joven Cartagena O-Key
Cooking for All Buenaventura Jóvenes Participando Alternativamente
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- Visión Joven
Cooking for All Cali
- Social Impact spending coupons.
ProTalento
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Fundación Promigas has defined a series of activities to be carried with the aim of growing and strengthening community relations. The following activities were carried out during 2021:
Fundación Promigas has 19 projects under implementation, and 7 programs were completed. The following are the strategic lines of the 19 programs being implemented:
Eight projects related to the sustainable production projects line:
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- Pescando Progreso (Puerto Badel)
Manos al Campo (Dibulla and Sincelejo) Manos al Campo (Paiva, Cañito, Crucero and Sabanas del Potrero).
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Two projects were designed to address specific community needs:
- Strengthening of Access to Water
- Dance for Life.
The following projects stand out:
The English for Work Project, which aims to increase the employability of unemployed people in Barranquilla by increasing fluency and knowledge of the English language. The target of this project is for 189 people to find jobs at a BPO company.
The Cooking for All Program, which operates in Cali and Buenaventura. The purpose of this program is to improve the economic conditions of vulnerable youth through training for work and human development. The target of this program is for 58 youth to be trained as cooking technicians.
The objective of the Manos al Campo Program, aimed at 408 rural producer families in Bolívar, Córdoba, Sucre and La Guajira, is to provide technical, socio-organizational and business strengthening with the aim of improving their income and food security.
Lastly, in 2021 the following budgeted projects were completed: The Mokaná Indigenous Education Project, Socio-occupational Orientation (OSO, for the Spanish original), Schools that Learn Bolívar, I Learn with my Family Magdalena, Promigas Illuminates, Responsible Use of Internet and A Viva Voz.
With the objective of strengthening community relations and increasing the implementation of projects to foster their development and their surrounding areas, Fundación Promigas has set the following growth targets and outlook:
The 2021-2024 action plan calls for deploying COP 50 billion in social investment to contribute to the economic reactivation of the most vulnerable communities in the areas of operation of our companies. This investment will benefit
11,000 families, representing over 40,000 people, through projects aimed at building capabilities, establishing production networks, promoting employment and driving household productivity.
It will promote employment for approximately 8,000 young men and women, and drive income generation, build capabilities and skills, develop the economy and close the gender gaps of 2,650 rural families and 350 businesses with greater opportunities for profitability and expansion.
We will focus our efforts and resources on promoting productivity, strengthening education for employment and generating social equity, especially to support our youth, care for the environment and innovate, to bring out the best of each community member.
In 2022, Fundación Promigas will start up at least 17 projects that are currently in the structuring and formalization stage, with the aim of continuing to contribute to social progress in the municipalities where the Promigas Organization is present. An intervention model will also be developed for each action line.
For more information and details on these projects, please see the Management Report of Fundación Promigas atwww.fundacionpromigas.org.co
Social investment:
Number of social programs: 74
The programs of the corporate group focus on the prioritized action lines, which are: Education for Youth Employment and Entrepreneurship and Sustainable Production Projects. Additionally, some programs are undertaken to fulfill activities that benefit the social license to operate.
Impacted communities: 158
