DHL Express India
Corporate Social
Responsibility (CSR) Policy
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1. About DHL
Deutsche Post DHL Group is the world’s leading logistic company. The Group is home to
two strong brands: DHL offers a comprehensive range of parcel and international
express service, freight transport, and supply chain management services, as well as e-
commerce logistics solutions. Deutsche Post is Europe's leading postal and parcel
service provider.
DHL is the leading global brand in the logistics industry. Our DHL divisions (DHL
Express, DHL Global Forwarding & DHL Supply Chain, Post - E-commerce – Parcel) offer
an unrivalled portfolio of logistics services ranging from national and international
parcel delivery, e-commerce shipping and fulfilment solutions, international express,
road, air and ocean transport to industrial supply chain management. The Group
contributes to the world through sustainable business practices, corporate citizenship
and environmental activities.
As the world's leading logistics company, Deutsche Post DHL Group has a special
responsibility to contribute to the sustainability of our planet. As a longstanding partner
of the United Nations, we strongly support the UN's Sustainable Development Goals
(SDGs) and have made sustainability a cornerstone of our business strategy.
DHL Express (India) Private Limited (referred to as “DHL Express India” going
forward) is part of the globally operating Deutsche Post DHL Group and operates DHL
Express services in India using the extensive global coverage of the DHL Express
Network which connects more than 120,000 destinations, over 500 airports around the
world and offers International Express Shipment Services to its Customers in India.
DHL Express India supports the group’s policy of contributing to the Sustainable
Development Goals through its programs under Corporate Social Responsibility. This
policy provides further details of approach taken by DHL Express India to undertake CSR
programs.
2. CSR Vision: Living Responsibility
With market leadership, comes responsibility. At DHL Express India, the ultimate goal of
CSR programs is impact; the company wants to help make the world a better place, and
do it as effectively as possible. Its approach is to match the Group’s strengths with
priority global needs, and to work with leading international organizations so that
available resources are channelled for maximum effectiveness.
All CSR activities carried out by DHL Express India are thus integrated into the Group-
wide corporate responsibility strategy: “Living Responsibility”, under which the focus is
on protecting the environment (Go Green), delivering help (Go Help), supporting small
and medium sized businesses (Go Trade) and championing education (Go Teach).
Go Teach
DHL Express India will support programs that aim to enhance learning outcomes and
ensure grade appropriate competencies of children from vulnerable segments.
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Initiatives will promote holistic child development as well as teacher professional
development and community sensitization through active collaboration with
institutional and community stakeholders. Initiatives promoting relevant and dignified
livelihood opportunities for unemployed youth and women as well as well-being for
families will also be supported. Programs will be in alignment with Sustainable
Development Goal 4: Quality Education.
Go Help
DHL Express India will undertake programs to enhance the safety of the larger
ecosystem in which it operates in and be a carrier of help. The projects will aim to combat
effects of natural disasters, pandemic, road safety and drug abuse. Programs will be in
alignment with Sustainable Development Goal 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities.
Go Green
DHL Express India will support global mission of Zero Emission by 2050 by undertaking
initiatives to enable carbon offset at scale. Programs will aim to combat ecological
degradation in local communities through initiatives like tree plantation, cleanliness
drives etc. as well as support local agroforestry initiatives. Programs will be in alignment
with Sustainable Development Goal 13: Climate Action.
Go Trade
DHL Express India will undertake programs to support marginalised population in
setting up small and medium sized businesses in order to promote sustainable
economic growth through trade in alignment with Sustainable Development Goal 8:
Decent Work and Economic Growth.
3. Objectives of CSR Policy
The CSR Policy, formulated in alignment with the vision of DHL Express India, lays down
guidelines and mechanisms to be adopted by the company to carry out CSR Projects /
Programs. All CSR Projects / Programs will be conceived and implemented through a
focused approach towards target beneficiaries for generating maximum impact. CSR
Projects / Programs of DHL Express India may be carried out directly or in partnership
with credible implementing agencies.
The CSR Policy shall apply to all CSR Projects / Programs undertaken by DHL Express
India. The Board shall review the CSR policy and may amend the same as per the
requirement of DHL Express India. The Board level CSR Committee may review and
make changes to the policy at any other intervals in case of any change in the Section
135 of The Companies Act, 2013 and The Companies (Corporate Social
Responsibility Policy) Rules, 2014, which deals with the provisions relating to CSR.
4. Governance Structure
The DHL CSR governance structure in India will be headed by a Board of Directors level
CSR Committee. These at present include the Country Manager and CFO of DHL Express
India.
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The Board will review and approve the CSR projects on an ongoing basis presented by
the CSR Committee.
The CSR Committee responsibilities include, but not limited to:
(a) Formulate and recommend to the Board, action plan for CSR implementation as per
CSR policy
(b) Recommend the amount of expenditure to be incurred on the activities
(c) Monitor the Corporate Social Responsibility Policy of the company from time to time
for effectiveness.
5. Annual Allocation of the CSR Budget
The Board shall ensure that DHL Express India spends at least 2 (two) percent of the
average net profits made during the 3 (three) immediately preceding Financial
Years in pursuance of its Corporate Social Responsibility Policy.
The 2 (two) percent CSR budget to be spent will be allocated as per the provisions of the
Companies Act, 2013. In the event that the amount indicated above is not spent in its
entirety in that Financial Year, the reasons thereof will be outlined and necessary action
to be taken as per provisions of the Companies Act 2013 and Rules made thereunder.
All CSR projects and programs implemented by DHL Express India will be in line with
its declared CSR policy and statutory regulations as per Schedule VII (Section 135)
of the Companies Act 2013.
In the event that DHL Express India makes any surplus or profit from pursuing its CSR
Projects / Programs, these will not form part of the business profit and will be invested
back into CSR Projects.
6. Annual Action Plan
The CSR committee of DHL Express India submits an Annual Action Plan to the Board
(reviewed on a regular basis). The Annual Action Plan is divided into two sections and
elaborates on the following components:
Section 1: Summary
CSR budget allocated
CSR budget pending for allocation
CSR budget utilised by implementation agencies
Section 2 - Detailed plan (covering allocation and utilisation)
List of approved projects
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Implementation mode and timeline
Budget
Programmatic and Financial utilisation status
The Annual Action Plan is reviewed by the Board and alterations are made based on
reasonable justification provided
7. Operationalization of CSR Programs
In implementing its CSR Projects/Programs DHL Express India may choose to
implement programs itself or partner with a Registered Trust, Society or a Section 8
Company that fulfil all requirements of Section 135 of Companies Act, 2013. DHL
Express India may also enter into partnerships with the government, business
partners and communities to achieve a significant impact of the social projects.
DHL Express India will undertake CSR activities as stated in the Annexure, in the
above-mentioned focus areas preferably around the operations and/or areas of
presence of DHL Express India. The CSR Committee may, if required, recommend to
the Board of Directors as part of the CSR Policy, activities outside of the above-
mentioned areas.
All activities will be undertaken in project mode with defined objectives and
deliverables, clarity on target beneficiaries, implementation plans with schedule of
timeline agreed prior to commencement of activities
As applicable and appropriate, necessary processes including baseline, midline and
end of project assessments will be undertaken to allow for a structured approach
and mid-course correction as required
This Policy builds on the learning and good practices of the CSR projects initiated by
DHL Express India and its ongoing CSR projects will be aligned to this Policy.
8. Monitoring and Evaluation Practices
In compliance with the Companies Act 2013 and to ensure funds spent on CSR
programmes are creating the desired impact on the ground, a comprehensive
Monitoring and Reporting framework will be used. A robust monitoring and evaluation
system will be developed for each project as per its specific requirements. As and when
appropriate, third party evaluations may be built in to assess impact on beneficiaries and
progress towards achievement of the objectives of the CSR Policy. Documentation and
reporting will be undertaken for all projects to aid availability of updated information
and to capture learning for posterity. Suitable framework for financial controls,
processes and reporting will be put in place for CSR activities
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Key objectives of monitoring throughout the implementation period will be to establish
whether:
The projects are making satisfactory and timely progress towards the
objectives agreed
The financial management and reporting are satisfactory
To flag any course correction required
Projects will evaluate the success of social investments at the end of their
implementation period and document any lessons learned.
Annexure: Projects
Sr.
Project / Program Sector as per Schedule VII of Act
no.
Education towards holistic education Promote education; Promote livelihood
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and education towards employment enhancement
Reclamation of degraded and
deforested land and promotion of Ensure environmental sustainability, ecological
2 sustainable and ecological land use balance, conservation of natural resources and
through tree plantation drives in maintaining quality of soil, air and water
urban and/or rural areas
Ensure environmental sustainability, ecological
Generate community engagement
3 balance, conservation of natural resources and
through plantation drives
maintaining quality of soil, air and water
Support farmer livelihoods, create
Ensure environmental sustainability, ecological
awareness about best plantation
balance, agroforestry, conservation of natural
4 practices and generate community
resources and maintaining quality of soil, air and
engagement through plantation
water; Promote livelihood enhancement
drives
Support drug rehabilitation efforts
through outreach programmes,
5 Promote healthcare including preventive healthcare
counselling and visits to rehabilitation
centres
Training of fleet drivers, police / first
responders etc in anticipatory driving,
6 Promote healthcare including preventive healthcare
accident prevention and road safety
norms
Funds may be spent for various activities related to
COVID-19 under items nos. (i) and (xii) of Schedule
7 Covid relief and aid projects VII relating to promotion of health care including
preventive health care and sanitation, and disaster
management
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