Operators should align individual approaches to the U.N.'s sustainable development goals (SDGs) with that of the broader telecom industry while maintaining a narrow focus to ensure meaningful results are achieved, GSMA Sustainability Director Nadia Chelache said at MWC Barcelona 2022.

In case you missed it, GSMA shared what it considers best practice strategies for operators aligning their corporate social responsibility work with sustainability targets.

The process begins with studying the 17 SDGs and deciding which ones make the most sense to address. One area to begin incorporating the SDGs is through broader sustainability strategy materiality assessments, Chelache explained.

Alternatively, some companies map the SDGs to their supply chains to assess their greatest positive impact potential based on corporate strategies and business models — and where a company's largest negative impacts might be mitigated. But regardless of the approach taken, "careful analysis is required in prioritization" of the SDGs, Chelache noted.

When it comes to the number of SDGs operators focus on, "the shorter the list the better," Chelache said. Although she sometimes sees companies with specific targets relating to a majority or all of the SDGs and understands some enterprises have the ability to contribute to many of the goals, "it's about that focused attention and really delivering action. That's really important to demonstrate."

A narrowed focus is beneficial because it's a more realistic one. And it allows operators to show a commitment to deliver on the targets they set without being spread too thin across the SDG landscape.

The next stage is to select key performance indicators, which relates to how operators report progress on SDGs. After an SDG-related commitment is made, operators must determine what success looks like, how to measure it, and how to demonstrate progress from year to year, Chelache explained.

These indicators may align with the existing targets in the SDG framework, but it might be appropriate for a company to select its own targets.

This next piece of the process, which often gets forgotten, is "embedding those goals and getting buy in" from top leadership, Chelache said. This is important for ensuring the support and longevity of sustainability initiatives.

Some companies even rewrite their existing business strategies around their sustainability goals. Internal communication on the integration of SDG-related goals into the core of a business' strategy is "not just paying lip service to the goals, but really getting all of your people and your partners involved," Chelache explained. "That communication is not a minor thing to consider here."

The final strategic stage GSMA recommends is expanding SDG initiatives beyond your organization and considering which outside partners might help you deliver on the goals. SDG-related issues should be treated with urgency, and pursing collaborative partnerships is a crucial step in delivering on SDG commitments, Chelache said.