Our global citizenship strategy

A joyful woman in a green sweater holds a smiling child in a cozy room. Both have curly hair, radiating warmth and happiness in the serene setting.

For more than 100 years, Roche has partnered with non-profit organisations to empower healthier and more resilient communities. Through these collaborations, we help to advance science and education, support humanitarian responses, foster vibrant arts and culture, protect and nurture the environment and enable communities to thrive. We also connect our employees with communities and good causes, enabling meaningful impact beyond the workplace. The common purpose of our activities is to make a lasting impact by building stronger and healthier communities. We are global citizens supporting local efforts.

We aim to strengthen communities where we live and work via our local offices in more than 90 countries around the world and contribute to broader society through our global headquarters. We are global citizens supporting local efforts.

Our aspirations

We have three key aspirations that guide us in our mission to empower resilient and healthy communities where we live, work, and beyond.

Protecting what sustains us

We support primary healthcare systems and help to conserve, protect and build back the nature around us so that communities around the world can benefit from innovative healthcare solutions.

Equipping future generations

We empower people, especially youth, in cultivating both scientific and artistic understanding so that they are equipped with the knowledge, emotional intelligence and creative risk-taking to shape the future.

Sparking purposeful engagement

We create opportunities for employees to step beyond their daily routines and connect them with communities and impactful initiatives so that they are inspired and involved in our collective contributions to society.

Our focus areas

We primarily support programmes that will benefit from an active, long-term commitment on our part. An emphasis is placed on projects that make a difference through innovation, collaboration, quality and sustainability.

Funds and in-kind contributions are directed toward four areas:

Humanitarian and social projects that have long-term impact and benefits
Science and education programmes for students and teachers
Arts and culture with an emphasis on vibrant contemporary and innovative activities
Community and environment projects, including disaster relief

By selectively developing and supporting innovative solutions and by applying our core knowledge together with leading partners, the aim is to apply simple measures that result in lasting improvements for society. We believe that this collaborative, value-based approach demonstrates that Roche and its partners are committed to effective outcomes. Our expectation is that our partners share the risk, commitment and investment of respective resources in the implementation of a project.

Collaborating locally and internationally

Roche-supported projects are managed at the respective global and/or local affiliate levels. By selecting and managing local philanthropic projects through the respective local offices, we can better focus on community needs and circumstances to maximise impact.

On the global level, collaborations with NGOs are typically for long-term projects that may encompass multiple countries. Examples of signature, international corporate projects are:

The Roche Children’s Walk: our biggest employee engagement & philanthropic event
Roche Continents: our science and arts education programme
Our disaster responses: rebuilding activities after significant disasters
Unjani Clinic: empowering nurses to run their own clinics in South Africa

Monitoring and assessing impact

When assessing projects, the main measure of success or value is potential impact to the community and beneficiaries - not material return on investment. We believe that good corporate citizenship is fundamental to our company practices, rather than something undertaken for publicity purposes.