Annual statement on sustainable development

Addressing impacts on people and the environment; a zero tolerance for corruption and a commitment to labour rights.

At Siren, we understand that sustainable development is not just a moral imperative but also a strategic necessity. Our commitment to universal sustainability principles is rooted in a recognition of the interdependence between our business success, the well-being of people, and the health of the environment. Operating in a region that continues to witness the devastating impact of armed conflict, we are reminded daily of the urgent need for principled, resilient, and future-oriented approaches to development. In an era defined by climate crisis, rising political polarisation, and a challenged global legal order, levelling-up on our commitment to internationally accepted environmental, social, and governance (ESG) practices – and embedding them more deeply within our business model – is not only the right thing to do, but the only viable path forward for ensuring the long-term relevance and viability of our work. 

To solidify our ESG commitment, Siren’s has established a comprehensive data-driven framework for ESG monitoring and reporting, based on international sustainability frameworks such as the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Ten Principles of the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC). Our ESG reporting serves to raise awareness around the impact of our business operations on individuals, communities and the environment, with the aim to minimise adverse effects while ensuring continuous improvement of our sustainability efforts in line with global best practice and recommendations.  

Under the environmental dimension of our sustainability approach, we conduct detailed reviews of operational practices across critical areas such as energy use, waste, transportation, and paper consumption. In 2025, our ESG strategy places a special focus on deepening the environmental integration of our programmatic work – particularly in supporting government partners to develop and implement sustainable regulatory frameworks. We are also scaling up efforts to reduce our carbon footprint by supporting clients’ transition to renewable energy sources, minimizing office waste, and offsetting emissions through staff volunteering and local environmental initiatives. Environmental sustainability also remains a guiding principle across our digital interventions, ensuring they are future-proof, economically sound, and environmentally responsible. 

On the social front, we uphold universal human rights and are committed to fostering ethical, inclusive, and safe employment practices within our organisation and across our value chains. In 2025, our ESG efforts place a strong focus on staff training and awareness around key international labour rights, such as the protection against sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment, child safeguarding and the elimination of human trafficking and forced labour.  We furthermore reinforce gender equality and social inclusion into internal operations and programmatic delivery – guided by our alignment with the Women’s Empowerment Principles and initiatives to strengthen accessibility and equitable participation. Through community engagement, volunteering, and partnership-building, we aim to empower more resilient, inclusive societies capable of addressing ESG challenges holistically. 

The Governance pillar of ESG at Siren is rooted in the principles of SDG 16, which champion the creation of peaceful, just, and inclusive societies. As a mission-driven, project-based organisation focused on strengthening public sector accountability, we view governance not merely as a matter of regulatory compliance, but as a foundational ethos that informs our internal systems and external engagements. In 2025, we are reinforcing our internal governance framework through regular policy reviews, audits, cross-departmental coordination, and adherence to international best practice to ensure transparency and ethical conduct. Our programmatic interventions continue to integrate governance standards – fostering institutional integrity, citizen trust, and inclusive decision-making across the public sector entities we support. 

Finally, we recognise that upholding sustainable development principles necessitates transparency, accountability, and a strong commitment to ethical conduct. This is why our pledge to promote a responsible and just future is closely tied to our efforts to combat corruption, both within our organisation, in our supply chain, among our partners and beneficiaries and in the communities in which we operate. A zero-tolerance towards corruption, fraud, aid diversion and any type of financial mismanagement is a fundamental part of Siren’s core values. To ensure that our anti-corruption policy is integrated into our day-to-day operations, we have implemented robust controls to detect and prevent fraud. Through a strong governance and reporting framework, comprehensive third-party due diligence and clear roles and responsibilities, we empower staff members and stakeholders to be vigilant and uphold our commitment to ethical guardianship, ultimately guaranteeing that all funds handled by Siren are devoted to the good of countries, communities, and people – as intended by both the company and its donors.  

Marc Maouad 
Chief Executive Officer 
20 June 2025