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As part of our disability commitment, with inclusion as a key differentiator, Standard Chartered Bank continues to partner with Purple Tuesday, a global social movement to advocate and champion the removal of barriers for persons with disabilities, improve their customer experience, increase their accessibility and ensure they have equitable access to meaningful opportunities.
Purple Tuesday for years has been a rallying point for organisations worldwide to reflect on their contributions to disability inclusion and as a Bank each year we renew our commitment to support persons with disabilities by lighting up our Head Office at Speke Road in purple and this year we are also hosting our suppliers to a Purple Tuesday breakfast engagement.
The engagement aims to sensitise our suppliers on the importance of embracing inclusivity, diversity and equity not only within their workforce but across their broader ecosystem, including the supply chain.
By setting our expectations, we signal to our suppliers that disability inclusion is a non-negotiable aspect of our business relationship and actively encourage them to prioritise accessibility, employ persons with disabilities and cultivate inclusive practices which will reinforce a ripple effect that extends well beyond our immediate operations.
As a Bank, we recognise that supplier diversity is an essential yet often under-recognised component of creating economic inclusion for persons with disabilities. When organisations actively seek and engage diverse suppliers, they expand opportunities for businesses owned by individuals from historically marginalised groups, including those with disabilities.
By working with suppliers to champion accessibility and diversity, we enrich our supply chain with fresh perspectives, innovative ideas and products and services that reflect the needs of all. This approach is not merely an act of corporate goodwill, it’s a strategic decision that strengthens our resilience and aligns us with the broader societal push for inclusivity.
This focus on inclusion has resonance in Uganda where disability prevalence data by the Uganda Functional Difficulties Survey estimated the prevalence of persons with disabilities at around 16.5%. This figure highlights the importance of integrating disability inclusion into our supplier policies, our operations in the workplace and across every sphere of daily life, including access to essential services like banking.
At Standard Chartered, our brand promise Here for Good embodies our commitment to inclusivity and accessibility, reinforcing that our mission goes beyond traditional banking to ensure an experience that aligns with the needs of all our clients, particularly those who are differently abled.
To enhance the independence and dignity of persons with disabilities in Uganda, we have delivered disability initiatives by creating equal opportunities for Persons with Disabilities as part of the recruitment process, creating an environment where colleagues with disabilities can thrive and grow with the right tools and software to enable their smooth operation and efficiency.
Our clients are also catered for through our best-in-class and inclusive digital solutions like our SC Mobile App and Straight2Bank which enable Persons with Disabilities to undertake their operations seamlessly and conveniently. Our Branches similarly maintain inclusive design standards, which include; easy ramp access, disabled persons parking spaces and specially equipped washrooms for our customers with disabilities. The lifts at our Speke Road head office are also equipped with voice announcers so that visually impaired users can know the floor number they need to get to.
Additionally, we promote greater economic inclusion for people living with disabilities through our Futuremakers programmes. Our EmployABLE programme helps to create job-ready Persons with Disabilities by providing them with knowledge and soft-skills training, career mentoring and job placements. We have also previously empowered them by organising career fairs where we linked over 100 people with disabilities to potential employers, renovated schools, donated braille machines and computers as well and planted trees at Salaama School for the Blind located at Kisoga – Mukono.
Furthermore, every year we celebrate the International Day for Persons with Disabilities with various initiatives like the donation of white canes and since 2021 we have implemented a Youth Empowerment, Entrepreneurship and Decent Employment programme worth UGX 2.8 billion in partnership with Voluntary Service Overseas. This project has focused on the economic inclusion of 1,000 young people (60% women, and 10% PWDs) through improved employability, entrepreneurship, and strengthening of the enabling environment for entrepreneurship and jobs.
Finally, we continue to conduct Mentors’ Den sessions where we address challenges faced by PWDs who are starting up microbusinesses in various trades.
As I conclude, Purple Tuesday serves as a timely reminder that actions speak louder than words. At Standard Chartered Bank we go beyond advocacy to enact change that is both meaningful and enduring. We are therefore proud of the strides we have made in embedding disability inclusion into our supplier strand and our daily operations. We believe that by fostering accessible environments, inclusive digital solutions and a diverse supply chain, we are actively setting a standard for inclusive banking in Uganda.