2024 Integrated Annual Report

Sarika, can you walk us through the Green Rising partnership with UNICEF and Generation Unlimited in 2023 and how it began?

Sarika Naik - Our partnership with UNICEF and Generation Unlimited on Green Rising is a long-term commitment, built on a foundation of previous collaborations. Our support for the project itself grew from Capgemini’s recognition of the urgent need to address climate change, beyond our own operational impact, and the opportunity we saw to bring our experience of developing skills in the community to empowering young people to be agents of change. This partnership felt like a natural fit given our existing positive relationship with UNICEF and its proven impact in this area.

Carla, how are you delivering these skills to young people and what success can you tell us about in this first year?

Carla Haddad Mardini - At UNICEF, we believe that every child, no matter where they live in the world, has the right to live in a safe and clean environment. The Green Rising initiative empowers children and adolescents with the education and skills needed to mitigate climate change, while supporting their bold ideas to shape a sustainable future. The objectives are threefold: to support young people in taking tangible green actions; to provide them with the skills relevant to a green economy; and to address the impact of climate change in their communities, particularly in the Global South. This is crucial because climate change disproportionately affects vulnerable populations. Green Rising brings together a constellation of supported programs that encourage youth action in communities. Capgemini’s involvement cen- ters on three key GenU programs: the Global Volunteer Initiative (GVI) connects young people with volunteer opportunities focused on environmental action, encouraging both practical skills and community engagement. The Youth Agency Marketplace (YOMA) operates as a digital marketplace offering youth access to various learning and earning opportunities, increasing their technical and soft skills. Green Rising India, through the MeriLiFE platform, engages young people directly in climate action projects, empowering them through online tools and community mobilization.

We have made significant strides. We launched at the end of 2023 with an ambition to mobilize 10 million young people in three years. In the first year alone, we managed to surpass that target, reaching more than 11 million young people. Our revised target is now to reach 20 million by 2026.