Our Movement

The Digital with Purpose Movement is the next stage of GeSI’s initiative following the launch of its Digital with Purpose report in 2019.

The report found that digital technologies could have a transformational impact on our ability to meet the 2030 Agenda and the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

To achieve this ambitious target, GeSI’s Digital with Purpose Movement will catalyse collective action and deployment of impactful digital technologies throughout the Information and Communications Technology sector (ICT).

Working with supply chain organisations, private and public partners, GeSI is committed to taking a leading role in implementing an ambitious and measurable approach to tackling the gravest challenges facing our planet.

The Movement is not about repackaging existing efforts or restating previously declared intentions – it is a race to the top. Members share an ambition to create business value through radically accelerating the enabling power of digital technology for the SDGs whilst minimising negative externalities that may arise.

What are the implications and obligations?

Members of the Movement are required to make a public commitment to the “Digital With Purpose Movement” – to pledge to adhere to the four universal commitments that make up the ‘Digital with Purpose Framework’ (the Framework provides a rigorous and robust process for corporates to articulate their ambitions for SDG impact and to track their progress through impact measurement).

The four universal commitments are as follows:

1. We commit to supporting the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and to establish practical and incremental steps to become a purpose-led business;

2. We take and report concrete action on climate change;

3. We embrace the principles of impact transparency and report accordingly every year;

4. We develop and deploy digital technology with positive societal impact.

Our framework for sustainable success

Our framework for maximum impact for DwP member companies, signing the pledge is just the start of a journey towards the delivery of a range of ambitious goals.

In order to track company progress we have developed a robust framework of measures that monitors performance in both delivering digital solutions to societal and environmental challenges, as well as in minimising the negative impacts arising from the deployment of digital products and services. The framework assesses how a company has embedded the SDGs into its core purpose, the targets it has set and the outcomes it delivers.

Companies will be scored against a sliding performance scale, with a minimum score required by all member companies. The six priority areas identified include Purpose, Climate Change, the Circular Economy, Supply Chain, Digital Inclusion and Digital Trust & Responsibility.

What are the implications for the members of the Movement in terms of benefits?

1. Create the conditions that lead to new digital growth opportunities by:

a.  Producing thought-leadership that defines the possibilities and positive contributions that digital solutions can provide.

b. Engaging, educating, and mobilizing key opinion leaders to advocate

c. Helping key policymakers, industries, stakeholders, and households understand the role ICT can perform (through the Digital with Purpose Movement) in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

2. Improve performance, build trust, enhance reputation, and manage risk by:

a.  Supporting Member companies to meet and exceed the evolving expectations for responsible behaviour of customers, citizens investors, employees and stakeholders.

b.  Continuously improving Members’ sustainability performance by using GeSI’s world-renown thought-leadership, sustainability tools, knowledge forums and peer-to-peer exchange.

3.     Help define business cases for digital solutions for sustainability.

4. Develop and maintain global relationships, social networks, business and political ties.

5. Position companies to have a seat at the table in policy discussions that matter.

6. Steer the transformation to a world that will achieve the SDGs by embracing the digital revolution.

Governance

A DWP Performance Framework Co-ordination Board has been established to have oversight of the evaluation criteria, chaired by the Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership, which includes Be Shaping the Future, The Capitals Coalition, Circularity Capital, CDP, Columbia University, ENEL Foundation, World Benchmarking Alliance, and two GeSI members, AT&T and Deutsche Telekom.

The movement is funded by GeSI and its Member organisations and governed by GeSI and ETNO, supported by Deloitte in its strategy and operations, Ridley Scott Productions on branding and communications and Arabesque on the reporting and insights

Framework Co-
ordination Board

Jake Reynolds

Executive Director – Sustainable Economy at the Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership (CISL)

Mark Gough

CEO at Capitals Coalition

Jenny Boyd

Reporting and Compliance Lead at Circularity Capital

Paul Dickinson

Executive Chair at CDP

Paul Druckman

Chair at World Benchmarking Alliance

Birgit Klesper

Senior VP – Group Corporate Responsibility at Deutsche Telekom

Stefano Quintarelli

Advisor at Be Shaping the Future

Tim Fleming

Enterprise Sustainability Director at AT&T