In Benin, VINCI Energies carried out a range of actions, particularly in connection with the country’s Sustainable and Secure Access to Electricity Project, which began in 2021 and is scheduled to be completed in 2024. This project, which is on an almost unprecedented scale in Benin, is particularly crucial for the country and aims to bring electricity to 70% of its population, while the current rate of access to electricity is 35%. VINCI Energies is employing local resources in Benin for almost all its staffing requirements. The teams therefore have close links with local communities, and VINCI Energies has a dedicated member of staff to handle workforce-related, social and environmental issues on site. Illustrating this approach, more than than 700 tables and benches produced by local businesses and various school uniforms were supplied to a school.
Wherever they operate, Group companies support solidarity and development initiatives. Tailored to address local challenges, these initiatives vary depending on the region and its socio-economic circumstances. They are also tied to the nature of the work carried out by Group companies (large-scale projects completed in short time frames or recurring work), as well as to the presence or not of Group companies over the long term, etc.
In connection with the Bogotá–Girardot highway project in Colombia, VINCI Construction Grands Projets launched the Semillero Rosa programme in 2019. This initiative offers opportunities for women living in nearby communities to receive training for careers in the construction industry. These women are able to study on site in certified training centres. They are employed by the project, which funds their training. Five women were trained to drive heavy vehicles in 2021, followed by a further 14 women in 2022. In 2023, 112 women benefited from access to training for one of the five positions offered: heavy machinery operators, heavy vehicle drivers, mechanics, construction agents and welders. This initiative reflects the commitment to having a social impact on the 13 municipalities and the two departments concerned by the project’s development. It aims to enable women living in communities around the project to benefit from a job, a good level of education and relevant technical skills for working in the construction sector. The vast majority of the women are from the Fusagasugá, Silvania, Bosachoque, Subía and Melgar municipalities.
Vía Sumapaz (formerly known as Vía 40 Express), a subsidiary of VINCI Highways (VINCI Concessions) and the concession holder of the Bogotá–Girardot highway, has been recognised for its commitment to Venezuelan refugees after opening the Vía Esperanza reception area with the Community Award at the 2023 GRI Infra Awards Andean for the humanitarian support it has provided to migrants in transit. Since 2019, Vía Esperanza has supported more than 40,000 migrants during their journey along the Bogotá–Girardot highway, providing food and water, road safety kits and first aid.
In June 2022, VINCI Energies signed a four-year partnership agreement with Unicef to support projects in Benin, Brazil and East Timor that will provide children with quality education through access to the digital world. Around 20,000 children will have better access to education and be able to build their own digital skills, which are essential for their future professional life.
Since it was launched 16 years ago, the Initiatives Sogea-Satom pour l’Afrique (Issa) programme has supported social entrepreneurship projects and access to essential services through both financial assistance and skills-based sponsorship by employees. It involves local projects initiated in various areas (education, health, energy, local crafts, food production self-sufficiency, etc.) with a special focus on women-led projects. To date, Issa has supported 355 projects for a total of more than €6.4 million in 22 countries. In 2023, 23 new economic and social initiatives were supported, for a total budget of about €518,000.
The key projects funded include:
| non-inclus | Number of projects supported | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| non-inclus | Access to essential services | Social entrepreneurship | Total | Number of countries involved | Total amount paid (in € thousands) |
| 2023 | 12 | 11 | 23 | 13 | 518 |
| 2022 | 15 | 11 | 26 | 11 | 551 |
| 2021 | 13 | 11 | 24 | 10 | 507 |
Fondation VINCI pour la Cité
The VINCI Group encourages local civic engagement by on the part of its companies and employees, through its corporate foundations and endowment funds. Community projects that support social and professional integration for underprivileged people are a key focus.
Since 2002, the Fondation VINCI pour la Cité has supported around 4,250 projects, thanks to the dedication shown by more than 9,300 employees from companies across the VINCI Group and a total of €64 million in funding has been provided. As one of France’s largest private foundations in terms of both the funds deployed and the number of projects supported, it illustrates the Group’s commitment to ensuring that its actions are closely aligned with communities over the long term.
To adapt to local contexts and firmly establish civic engagement on the ground, the Fondation VINCI pour la Cité has put in place a decentralised organisation, with seven regional managers who work closely with the various stakeholders, including the non-profit sector.
