Better Health for All

The company recorded 222 accidents and two fatalities (health issues) during the year, with 2.6 million clients, resulting in an adverse events rate of approximately 86.15 adverse events per million users.

The company's core business model is designed to serve 2.6 million low-income, mostly female, entrepreneurs and underserved populations, utilizing groundbreaking approaches like doorstep service to eliminate access barriers. Its product portfolio delivers substantial health benefits through the 'ASA LifeCare' microinsurance, which provides hospital cash and life cover, and extensive community health programs including health camps, medical screenings, and water infrastructure installations to reduce waterborne diseases. The company's operations also generate positive health externalities through these water projects. As a microfinance institution, its products do not have addiction potential, nor does it engage in pharmaceutical patents, food production, or clinical trials.

Fair Money & Economic Opportunity

ASA International Group PLC's core business is providing microfinance to underserved populations, with 97% of its 2.5 million clients being low-income female entrepreneurs

. This means 100% of its loan book is dedicated to financial inclusion. The company adheres to the Client Protection Principles (CPP) developed by the SMART Campaign and aligns with industry standards such as IFC and Universal Standards for Social Performance Management, demonstrating proactive fair-lending practices. For financial literacy, a client group leadership training program reached over 50% (37,000) of group leaders and loyal clients . However, the company reinvests a relatively small portion of its profits, with 0.5% to 1% of operating subsidiaries’ profits (2% in India) funding community projects .

Fair Pay & Worker Respect

The company reported an employee satisfaction rate of 75% in 2024.

Its staff retention rate was 75% in 2024, which implies a voluntary employee turnover rate of 25%. The company operates with a Code of Conduct and Ethics, a Human Resource Policy, a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Policy, and a Social Policy. It maintains a zero-tolerance policy towards harassment and non-discrimination. In 2024, four whistleblowing incidents were reported, and the Grievance Mitigation Committee received 32 cases (22 appeals and 10 direct complaints), with investigations leading to corrective actions.

Honest & Fair Business

The company maintains a comprehensive anti-bribery policy with a zero-tolerance approach, explicitly prohibiting all forms of bribery and facilitation payments.

This policy requires due diligence for third parties, periodic agent reviews at least every 18 months, and annual anti-bribery reports from subsidiaries. The policy is reviewed and circulated annually, with employees signing a declaration of understanding. A whistleblowing system is also in place, encouraging confidential reporting without fear of retaliation. In 2024, four whistleblowing incidents were reported, investigated, and decisions made by a disciplinary committee, following zero incidents in 2023. The whistleblowing policy and training materials are currently undergoing revision.

Kind to Animals

ASA International Group PLC operates as a microfinance institution, providing loans to entrepreneurs. Its core business model does not involve animal-related products, testing, agriculture, or direct animal husbandry. Consequently, KPIs such as cruelty-free certification, animal testing, humane operations, ethical input substitution, and animal agriculture ethics are not applicable to its operations, resulting in a score of 0 for these categories. While the company reported planting 27,700 trees in 2024

and has an exclusion list to prevent financing businesses that harm biodiversity, the provided evidence does not include specific measurable biodiversity impact metrics (e.g., species recovery or population increases) as required by the rubric for the 'wildlife_conservation_impact' KPI. Similarly, information on adherence to SECR and TCFD frameworks does not constitute advocacy for animal welfare policy improvement, leading to the omission of 'public_policy_engagement'.

No War, No Weapons

The company's core business is microfinance, providing loans to low-income entrepreneurs.

The provided articles do not contain any evidence of ASAI.LSE's involvement in arms manufacturing, defense contracts, dual-use technologies, or sales to embargoed regimes. Therefore, most KPIs related to war and weapons cannot be scored due to a lack of specific data. However, based on the company's stated business model, there is no indication of exposure to controversial weapons, mineral inputs in products, or technology development in the context of peace vs. military tech, leading to an N/A score for these specific KPIs.

Planet-Friendly Business

Total Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions (location-based) were 7,489 tCO2e in 2024, a 12.65% decrease from 8,574 tCO2e in 2023.

Scope 1 and 2 emissions are disclosed, along with Scope 3 categories 6 (business travel) and 7 (employee commuting). Category 15 (Investments) is not disclosed due to data limitations, but steps are being taken to disclose additional Scope 3 categories for 2024. The company is exploring the adoption of metrics for alignment with frameworks like the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) and plans to take future steps for closer alignment. In 2023, the company reported zero incidents of non-compliance with environmental laws and regulations concerning waste management and disposal, and zero incidents resulting in significant fines or non-monetary sanctions, with a target to maintain this in 2024. No net-zero target year has been declared. The company aligns with the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) on a comply or explain basis, complying with Governance a and b, Strategy C, Risk a, b and c, and Metrics and targets a and b, while partially complying with Strategy a and b, and Metrics and targets c. Scenario analysis was conducted in 2024 to assess transitional and physical climate risks, with long-term planning towards 2050 for selected countries, aiming for 2C scenario alignment by Q3 2024. Fixed assets were deemed not material for stranded asset risk, as most infrastructure is leased and can be relocated.

Respect for Cultures & Communities

The company has no reported cultural appropriation incidents.

No other specific, quantifiable data points were found in the provided articles that directly align with the remaining KPIs for Respect for Cultures & Communities.

Safe & Smart Tech

A PAR 30 days’ breach against the regulatory limit of 5% was reported in Nigeria and Rwanda.

The company conducts yearly third-party Vulnerability Assessment and Penetration Testing, along with quarterly internal reviews of all firewall configurations and Vulnerability Assessments. It also deploys endpoint detection and response, uses regular patch management, and an intrusion prevention system in the firewall. Two-factor authentication has been rolled out across all markets for the AMBS system, with OTP sent via email, and standard password policies are implemented and periodically reviewed. Users have rights to access, rectify, port, object to, restrict, and request deletion of their personal data, subject to limitations, and can withdraw consent and lodge complaints. No IT fraud incidents were reported in 2023. Data encryption is implemented as a security measure.

Zero Waste & Sustainable Products

The company has implemented 370 plastic recycling initiatives

and is digitizing processes to reduce printing. It has set a 2024 target to improve waste management through various reduce, reuse, and recycle initiatives, and aims to achieve zero printing in the future. For customer waste education, the company has a 2024 target to train 300,000-400,000 clients, colleagues, and communities on knowledge sharing and awareness, which includes waste management. However, its waste reduction targets are generally vague, with the 2024 target for improving waste management lacking specific quantitative metrics for reduction, and the "zero printing" goal lacking a clear timeline.