Microsoft South Africa and financial services group Nedbank have joined forces to build a financial-sector-led sustainability capability for Africa.

The partnership will focus on driving multiple programmes, to: amplify the United Nations’ (UN's) 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) with technological advancements, service internal enterprise requirements, and enable customers to participate in the growing green market ecosystem more easily and responsibly.

The sustainability capability is expected to transcend traditional transactional banking activities and embrace innovation, incubation and research with academia.

With market-leading advancements from Microsoft, such as Cloud-for-Sustainability, Nedbank will leverage the greater digital capability that Microsoft has created to expedite environmental, social and governance impact across the continent in geographies where it has operations and clients.

With more than 13 different channels of execution, this is one of the most comprehensive approaches for targeting the UN SDGs, enabling organisations of all types, sizes and sectors to meet the new sustainability imperatives.

The partnership with Microsoft is a natural progression in Nedbank’s disruptive aspiration to be the bank leading the green ecosystem in Africa, says Nedbank Group chief information officer Fred Swanepoel, noting that the continent is disproportionately affected by threats caused by climate change, with droughts, floods and increasing water scarcity having negative effects on food systems and people’s livelihoods.

“At Nedbank, we leverage our ongoing investments in technology to revolutionise traditional sustainability management, not just through a financial lens but also considering the positive impact that our information technology solutions will have on society and the environments that we operate in. We are mindful of how our solutions can shape the future and are guided by our purpose of using our financial expertise to do good.”

Nedbank’s strategy is delivered through five strategic value drivers that include delivering innovative client solutions; engaging in ongoing disruptive market activities; focusing on areas that create value; driving efficient execution; and creating positive impact.

“Our partnership with Nedbank comes in line with our commitment to accelerate progress toward a more sustainable future by helping our customers and partners build sustainable solutions and drive real impact across their industries,” adds Microsoft Middle East and Africa president and corporate VP Samer Abu-Ltaif.

“Leveraging the full length and breadth of the trusted Microsoft Cloud, we will enable new innovations that will empower the financial services sector to drive sustainability, and support Africa’s overarching sustainability ambitions.”

Both entities have been active participants in multiple global initiatives that aim to create and contribute to a more sustainable future for the planet.