Partnerships
Part of being socially responsible is about working with others to make a difference. So in 2002, we joined forces with the United National World Food Programme, to offer our logistics skills and other resources to help combat world hunger. We also support the North Star Foundation, which is addressing the HIV/AIDS pandemic in Africa.
Moving the World
In December 2002, the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) and TNT launched a five-year partnership aimed at a single common goal: fighting world hunger.
- The WFP is the world’s largest humanitarian aid agency and the food assistance arm of the United Nations.
- In 2007, WFP reached over 90 million people in more than 80 countries.
- Three quarters of WFP’s beneficiaries are people in emergency and relief operations.
- Almost 90% of the people supported by WFP are women and children.
In five years, we have helped over one million children, funded 58 million school meals, and installed 60 water pumps.
TNT’s contribution
Since the start of the partnership, TNT has contributed a total of €32.5 million in-kind to WFP operations and €5.5 million in cash. Besides this, TNT employees have raised €9.0 million for the WFP School Feeding Programme in Cambodia, The Gambia, Malawi, Nicaragua and Tanzania.
- 27 TNT employees actually went to these countries in 2007, to spend three months working side-by-side with WFP on school feeding projects.
- Another 13 TNT staff helped WFP respond to emergency situations in Mozambique, Nicaragua, Sudan, Indonesia, Ghana and Bangladesh.
- TNT provided air, road and water transport and personnel, in addition to a range of other ad hoc activities.
- In Ghana, we provided warehouse space for storing emergency supplies. The depot will enable WFP to respond faster to emergencies in West Africa.
- We also worked in Indonesia, with other logistics companies, on an emergency response project.
How we benefit
Being part of this partnership has clear benefits for both parties. WFP benefits from our financial and practical support, and TNT employees get to do their bit for a very worthwhile cause.
- On a company level, our 2007 engagement survey showed that 62% (excluding Mail Netherlands) of our employees had been involved in the partnership by donating time or money (or both).
- 61% (excluding Mail Netherlands) said the partnership had increased their pride in the company.
- On an individual level, 75 TNT specialists and volunteers were able to improve their skills and knowledge through their work with WFP.
Moving 'Moving the World' forward
We started this partnership in 2002, originally for five years. So in 2007, we got together with WFP to discuss the future, and both expressed our great satisfaction with what we have achieved. We have recently extended the partnership, and we will be looking to inject even greater energy into it, to generate stronger local connections, and fit Moving the World into our larger social responsibility framework.
North Star Foundation
TNT is also involved in the North Star Foundation, which was originally a Moving the World pilot project. Launched as an independent foundation in 2007, the Foundation is addressing the HIV/AIDS pandemic in Africa with a network of drop-in clinics and truck drivers. You can find out more about this partnership at www.movingtheworld.org