PIB takes its social role very seriously. Based on the principles of Islamic Sharia which call for helping others, it allocates an annual portion of its net profits to its sustainable social responsibility program.
In 2021, PIB implemented 109 projects as part of its social contribution. The projects focused on health and education, as these two sectors are vital for sustainable development. PIB also provided support to marginalized groups to improve their living conditions. It supported associations and institutions that serve people with special needs with the aim of empowering them and integrating them in society.
Sustainability fund
For the second year in a row, PIB contributed to the Sustainability Fund financing programs launched by the Palestinian Monetary Authority to finance medium, small and micro enterprises which were economically affected by the pandemic, to help them overcome the crisis, maintain their sustainability and increase their ability to ensure local employment.
Education
The education sector received the lion’s share of PIB’s social responsibility contributions for 2021. In fact, 52 of the projects implemented were aimed at the education sector across the country.
The support provided consisted of infrastructure development of tens of educational institutions and providing them with educational supplies, equipment and means to allow them to perform their role towards students to the fullest extent.
Health
As part of its social responsibility program, PIB attaches great importance to providing support to the health sector, given its importance. During 2021, it carried out 27 projects with health institutions to improve the level of services they provide.
For example, PIB provided dozens of oxygen concentrators to hospitals and health centers, due to the urgent need for them during the pandemic. The bank also continued to support the Palestinian Blood Bank and the Red Crescent Society. Its support took many forms, mainly the provision of medical devices and equipment to a number of hospitals and health centers across the country.
To alleviate the suffering of cancer patients and to stand by them, PIB covered the costs of medical transportation for dozens of cancer patients through the "Basmat Amal" Foundation in Gaza.
Sustainable development
In all the projects it implements as part of its social responsibility, PIB ensures they contribute to the sustainable development goals (SDGs). In addition to the projects carried out in the health and education sectors, PIB ensured the maintenance of desalination plants it had established previously in the Gaza Strip. These plants give citizens access to safe drinking water. Such efforts are in line with the global SDGs, including access to clean water.
PIB also supported several development projects through institutional partnerships with many entities, such as Injaz Palestine, SOS Children's Villages, and many local institutions and development associations.
Relief
The Prophet, may peace be upon him, once said “Whoever relieves a believer of one of the distresses of this world, Allah will relieve him of one of the distresses of the Day of Resurrection. And whoever relieves the burden from a destitute person, Allah will relieve him in this world and the next.” For this reason, PIB carries out a number of relief projects annually as part of its program for social responsibility.
In 2021, in cooperation with the Falkhair Foundation and the Scientific Committee of the National Security Forces, PIB restored many homes in different governorates in order to improve housing conditions. It also provided support to many charities that help families in need.
People with special needs
PIB attaches great importance to supporting people with special needs as part of its social responsibility program, in order to empower and integrate them in society.
As part of these efforts, PIB provided its support to many agencies helping people with special needs in 2021, such as the Palestinian General Union of People with Disability, the Association for the Care and Rehabilitation of the Blind in Jenin, the Jasmine Charitable Society in Ramallah, the Happy Homes Society and Al-Amal Society for Deaf Children in Hebron. This support allowed them to continue providing their services and support to people with special needs.
Renewed commitment to the principles of the United Nations Global Compact
For the second year in a row, PIB renewed its commitment to the principles of the UN Global Compact. It ensured the implementation of best practices in the areas of human rights, labor, environment and anti-corruption. It adopted socially responsible policies in line with the ten principles of the Compact, the largest global initiative for corporate sustainability.
In this context, PIB presented its annual report on the implementation and adoption of policies and procedures to achieve the highest level of commitment to the ten principles. The report was approved and published on the United Nations Global Compact website.
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Palestine Islamic Bank Award for Scientific Research
As part of its permanent commitment to support scientific research efforts in Palestine, PIB launched its annual award for scientific research, in cooperation with the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, for the seventh year in a row.
The award aims to encourage researchers to increase their production and conduct original and specialized research that adds new value to knowledge. It is supervised by a jury of qualified specialists in scientific research from different Palestinian universities.
The award includes several axes:
Target groups
Employee volunteering program
As part of its social efforts, PIB does not only provide financial support, but it also established a volunteering culture among its employees. It believes in the importance of volunteer work to promote community belonging and develop the values of good citizenship.
PIB’s employees participated in several volunteering activities in 2021, mainly in the town of Sebastia in Nablus, where they planted trees, emphasizing its importance as a prominent archaeological site in Palestine.
In the Gaza Strip, PIB employees cleaned the rubble flowing the war, confirming their belonging to the community and their belief in the role entrusted to them.
Since 2014, the Bank has increasingly relied on clean energy sources to obtain the energy needed to perform its activities, to help preserve and care for the environment. Allah The Almighty says: "Do no mischief on the earth, after it hath been set in order, but call on Him with fear and longing (in your hearts): for the Mercy of Allah is (always) near to those who do good" Surah Al-A'raf: Verse 56.
The impact of the Bank’s environmental policies in one year has been to plant the equivalent of 500 acres of trees (2,100 dunums).
The Bank protects the environment in six key ways:
The number of sites which benefit from the Bank’s solar energy system increased to 15 branches and offices. The productivity rate of these sites is 1.6 megawatts of electricity per day, equivalent to 600 megawatts of electricity annually, which provides an environment free of the carbon dioxide emissions, which result from the use of generators. Annual harmful gas emissions that were avoided due to the use of alternative energy were estimated as follow:
The Bank plans to maximize the benefits of clean energy and increase its production, in innovative ways that contribute to improving the environment.
