UBS
UBS is the leading global wealth manager, a leading, global investment banking and securities firm, and one of the largest global asset managers. In Switzerland, UBS is the market leader in retail and commercial banking.
UBS has been supporting Earthwatch's work, specifically in Africa, since 2000 and is currently supporting the following programmes:
- African Scientist Programme - offering annual training grants to young scientists working on or connected to Earthwatch field research projects in Africa. The programme enhances scientists' knowledge of field techniques and research methods among African conservationists and creates a new trained cadre of emerging scientists. It also addresses issues of sustainable development in the countries concerned, by helping to provide practical solutions to important development pressures whilst delivering new and long-term livelihood opportunities for local communities.
- African Teacher Programme - a programme which will help participating teachers (and colleagues with whom they share their experience) bring key sustainable development issues alive in the classroom having been out in the field working with expert Earthwatch scientists to directly tackle those issues themselves.
Partnership Elements
Stakeholder Involvement
Through our Corporate Environmental Responsibility Group (CERG), UBS engages with Earthwatch on development of its Environmental policies.
Community Investment
Supporting the African Emerging Scientists Programme
In 2004, UBS agreed a three year programme of support for the Earthwatch African Programme. This enabled Earthwatch to award four grants per year of up to £5,000 to train young African conservation scientists in project development, field research methods, data management, report writing, leadership and team management skills. This programme enabled Earthwatch to connect young scientists to experienced lead scientists on Earthwatch projects. By facilitating the transfer of intergenerational skills and knowledge, this programme enables the next generation of in-country conservationists to take a lead in the future of their country's biodiversity.
Eighteen scientists received training under the first three year programme of support from UBS. Skills, knowledge and experience gained through this programme have since helped these individuals to plan and conduct field research, build partnerships with relevant conservation non-governmental organisations (NGOs), establish working relationships with local communities and lead teams of volunteers on Earthwatch projects. This has ultimately enhanced the scientific value and conservation impact of Earthwatch research initiatives and partner organisations across Africa.
In January 2007, with generous support from UBS, Earthwatch initiated a further three year capacity building programme in Africa.
Supporting the African Teacher Programme
In 2007 UBS provided funding to support a total of 18 field placements to South African teachers. The programme will engage African teachers as volunteers in practical scientific research and professionally-facilitated group discussion sessions to develop relevant teaching materials for use at the end of the project.
The programme was designed to:
- build the capacity of African teachers to deliver science and sustainable development education, by enabling them to take back to the classroom the knowledge they gained on the project and enthuse their students about conservation;
- enhance the curricula of participating schools by encouraging the teachers to create lessons plans and other classroom activities based on the Earthwatch research. The training sessions will be linked to the new life sciences curriculum of the Further Education and Training (FET) band that is being phased in from 2009 onwards in South Africa.
Marketing and Philanthropy
Earthwatch and UBS have set up a joint initiative to encourage UBS employees to get involved in Earthwatch's work. Over fifty UBS employees have taken up opportunities to participate in Earthwatch's research projects around the world. To encourage employees to take part, the UBS two-day volunteering allowance can be used for this purpose and the firm also makes a donation to Earthwatch for every employee volunteer. The financial contribution also offsets the CO2 emissions from travelling to the research location.