INTELLIGENT BRANDS // Green Technology

Previously focused on India , the HCLTech Grant program is expanding to the Americas . This move aims to empower NGOs and amplify their grassroots innovations in climate action .

The program comes with a US $ 5 million commitment spread over five years . Each year , three NGOs with sustainable and innovative projects will be chosen through a strict screening process . The grants will total US $ 1 million : one NGO will secure US $ 500,000 while the remaining US $ 500,000 will be split between two other organizations .

Dr . Nidhi Pundhir , Vice President , Global CSR , HCLTech , commented : “ We are deeply committed to our sustainability goals and believe that collective effort is required to combat the challenge of climate change . Through this program , we aim to accelerate innovation in climate projects and build a sustainable planet . Our ambition is to identify organizations that are truly making an impact at the grassroots and help them scale their unique projects .”

NGOs from 10 countries including the US , Canada , Mexico , Guatemala , Costa Rica , Brazil , Panama , Peru , Argentina and Colombia are invited to apply . HCLTech will conduct a series of virtual regional roundtables to inform NGOs about the program and aid them in the application process . To ensure unbiased and comprehensive technical advisory , the company has partnered with a leading global consulting firm that will manage every stage of the selection process .

HCLTech is committed to sustainability . It aims to achieve net-zero emissions by 2040 and cut its scope 1 and 2 emissions by 50 % by 2030 . Since FY20 , HCLTech has reduced its per capita scope 1 and 2 emissions by 22 %. The firm is also a member of the Water Resilience Coalition and has endorsed the CEO Water Mandate . Several organizations such as MSCI , S & P and Sustainalytics have acknowledged HCLTech ’ s sustainability milestones .

The company ’ s CSR arm , HCLFoundation , has had a significant impact in India . It has touched over 5.5 million lives , conserved almost 58 billion liters of water and planted more than 1.45 million trees over 66,000 acres . Their investment has totaled US $ 150 million over 10 years . The HCLTech Grant has been operational since 2016 , aiding projects in environment , healthcare and education and disbursing nearly US $ 16 million to benefit marginalized and rural communities .

Globally , HCLTech has engaged in partnerships with renowned nonprofits such as Feeding America , the European Food Banks Federation , Girl Up , One Tree Planted and the UpLink Innovation Platform of the World Economic Forum . p

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