Cassa Depositi e Prestiti (CDP) joins the #EmbraceEquity communication campaign promoted by International Women's Day- IWD a network bringing together numerous institutions and enterprises around the world, including the MEF and EIB, with the aim of raising awareness and understanding on gender equality values.
To mark the occasion, the exterior façade of the via Goito headquarters was lit up purple, the colour chosen by the organisers for the initiative to symbolise justice and dignity.
Gender equality is one of the qualifying objectives of the Group's 2022-2024 Strategic Plan and ESG Plan, and with the aim of further strengthening CDP's commitment to these issues, it adopted its first Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Policy (DEI) last August. The Policy, which was drafted in dialogue with civil society, defines the inspiring principles and operating methods to promote the values of diversity, equity and inclusion among internal and external stakeholders, with measures in four macro areas: people, business, suppliers, culture and communication.
The importance of a culture based on respect for diversity, inclusion and equality was also confirmed in February 2022 with the appointment of the CDP Group's first Diversity Equity & Inclusion Manager, Paola Mele, who recently outlined in an interview with Corriere della Sera the various measures that our organisation has taken and will take to pursue this mission, including the target of having 30% of senior positions filled by women by 2024.
In particular, Paola Mele announced the CDP Group's recent decision to start the process to obtain Gender Equality Certification by 2023, a certification introduced as part of the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRPP). The certification, awarded by an independent body, certifies that an organisation is inclusive and respectful of gender equality across six areas: culture and strategy, governance, human resources processes, growth opportunities and inclusion of women in the company, gender pay equity, parental protection and work-life balance.
Progress has already been made on some of the targets to build a more inclusive and diversity-conscious organisation: the number of women hired rose from 37% in December 2021 to 48% in December 2022 , and those in senior positions increased from 23% to 25%. The number of young people under the age of 35 hired in recent months has also improved: from 61% in 2022 to 70% today.
CDP is also committed to pursuing the training and involvement of its people. By 31/12/2022, 100% of employees had completed at least one DEI course, and in 2023, workshops and compulsory courses on inclusive language and behaviour will begin for all employees.