Alliances: the fuel for a sustainable future

When we talk about sustainability, few things are as powerful — and as necessary — as collaboration. Global challenges demand collective responses, which is why alliances between different actors have become an essential strategy to ensure a sustainable future. Within the framework of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), established by the United Nations in 2015, SDG 17, “Partnerships for the Goals”, emphasizes the need for collaboration between governments, businesses, and civil society, positioning the 2030 Agenda at the heart of the policies and actions of all of them.

The value of partnerships lies in the possibility of uniting forces, sharing knowledge, and optimizing resources to generate effective and lasting solutions. A survey conducted by the UN Global Compact reveals that 78% of companies supporting the SDGs do so through alliances. That is why collaboration between organizations is essential to address problems that transcend borders, such as climate change, resource scarcity, and social inequality. According to Jaap Boonstra and Marcos Eguiguren in their book Alianzas Estratégicas Que Crean Valor, “purpose-driven alliances are special in the sense that they focus on contributing to a better society. They are based on clear values and principles that guide the alliance in a specific direction and guide the members in their collaborative activities.” This vision has been the foundation upon which MAPFRE has built a network of strategic alliances, enabling us to maximize our impact and strengthen our commitment to true sustainable development.

We know that a partnership is a relationship based on trust and the willingness to create value for everyone. This is reflected in our Strategic Plan 2024-2026, which sets specific objectives for decarbonizing our investments, promoting renewable energy, and advancing social and financial inclusion. This plan is inseparable from the alliances that support it, as cooperation between public administrations, private companies, and non-governmental organizations ensures greater effectiveness in implementing measures. Thanks to synergies with multilateral organizations, business networks, and international dialogue platforms, we have been able to integrate sustainability into each layer of our operations, from corporate strategy to daily decision-making. We actively participate in key forums such as the United Nations Global Compact, the Net-Zero Asset Owner Alliance (NZAOA) and the Climate Disclosure Project (CDP), where we share knowledge, develop common roadmaps, and commit to specific decarbonization and social responsibility objectives. We are also part of the ILO Global Business and Disability Network (GBDN) and the United Nations Environment Programme Finance Initiative (UNEPFI), among others, which allows us not only to share best practices but also to promote initiatives that enhance financial inclusion, support gender equality, and advance labor equity in particularly vulnerable contexts.

In line with the 2030 Agenda, overcoming the challenges that hinder the achievement of the SDGs requires mobilizing and exchanging knowledge, expertise, technology, and financial resources through strategic alliances, where the private sector plays a crucial role. In fact, 53% of the leaders in this organization consider companies to be the "most important" partner for implementing the SDGs, emphasizing their capacity for innovation, resources, and reach in driving solutions both locally and globally. However, this capacity only reaches its full potential when it is dedicated to a shared purpose, guided by ESG principles (environmental, social, and governance), and realized through strategic alliances.

From driving responsible investments to integrating sustainability criteria into decision-making, strategic alliances are proof that the private sector can be a positive agent of change. According to the Better Business, Better World report, published by the Business and Sustainable Development Commission, sustainable business models could open up economic opportunities worth at least 12 trillion dollars and generate up to 380 million jobs per year by 2030. But beyond the economic impact, strategic alliances also have direct effects on people’s quality of life. For public administrations, these collaborations make it possible to optimize the use of resources, improve the effectiveness of public policy and promote the participation of society in decision-making. For citizens, the existence of agreements and synergies between different actors facilitates access to better services and opportunities, in addition to guaranteeing greater transparency and accountability in sustainable development projects. Ultimately, a solid, well-structured network of alliances can accelerate the fulfillment of the SDGs and generate a real change in the way societies face the challenges of the future, because if we’ve learned anything over the last number of years, it’s that real change doesn’t start from an individual perspective – it starts with collaboration. 

Our commitment to protecting the environment materializes across different actions. We’ve committed to being carbon neutral in all countries we operate in by 2030, and we’re taking different action on a number of fronts to make this happen. These actions materialize in objectives through a sustainability policy and the Sustainability Plan 2022-2024. 

Our Sustainability Plan 2022-2024 focuses on the global challenges that we can contribute to in a meaningful and balanced way across three dimensions: environmental, social and governance. Sustainability is a strategic element for us because each pillar of our plan enables us to continue advancing in our purpose: taking care of what matters to you.

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