Employee engagement
Meaningful employee engagement is the foundation of a motivated and high-performing workforce
We continue to connect with our people through open communication, celebrate their achievements and provide platforms for collaboration and feedback. Our aim is for every employee to feel informed, valued and able to contribute to our purpose.
Listening to our people
We maintain open communication channels across the Group, including town halls, leadership forums and digital communication platforms that enable employees to connect with leadership and stay informed about business priorities. Senior leaders regularly visit OpCos and engage directly with teams, helping to reinforce transparency and ensuring employee perspectives are reflected in decision-making.
Our 'Employee connect' programme gives independent non-executive directors a regular opportunity to meet with our people across 14 OpCos via virtual channels. This initiative strengthens the relationship between our people and the Board, ensuring that the voices of our people are heard at the highest level of the organisation. Through structured sessions and informal interactions, our people share ideas, discuss challenges and gain insight into key strategic priorities.
Our strong open-door culture is reinforced by formal feedback channels, including confidential grievance processes and the anonymous whistleblowing mechanism, through which employees can speak up safely. Feedback gathered through these channels is translated into targeted action plans at Group and OpCo level to strengthen workplace practices and improve the employee experience.
- See our Grievance mechanism on www.airtel.africa/ESG policies
Recognition and performance culture
Recognition programmes play an important role in reinforcing positive behaviours and celebrating the contribution of our people. Our 'target crusher' challenge, designed for the frontline commercial teams, rewards exceptional performance and reinforces customer focus. Engineering awards recognise teams who maintain critical IT infrastructure to the highest standards. The 'My ideas' platform encourages employees to submit innovative solutions to business challenges, fostering cross-functional collaboration and creative thinking.
These initiatives, along with OpCo-led programmes and quarterly recognition events at our town halls, help build a sense of shared purpose, especially through the 'I am Airtel' initiative – reinforcing our culture and our commitment to creating an organisation our people are proud to be part of.
Employee engagement survey
Our employee engagement survey is conducted every two years to provide deeper insight into employee experience and organisational culture. Results of these surveys provide valuable insights into workplace morale and areas for improvement. We have been encouraged by growing engagement with recent surveys and strong results in culture metrics such as collaboration, customer focus and diversity, and we've developed action plans to address identified areas for enhancement. The next survey is scheduled for 2026/27. Results will be reviewed at both Group and OpCo levels, with action plans developed to address areas for improvement and further strengthen engagement across our workforce.
Employee engagement in action
Leadership engagement across our markets
In February 2026, our CEO Sunil Taldar visited the Republic of the Congo and Kenya, connecting directly with employees and reinforcing the shared purpose that drives our growth across the continent.
In our Brazzaville offices, Sunil met with colleagues across the business, recognising their role in expanding connectivity and digital services in the country. During his visit, he joined teams in Bacongo to mark the opening of a new Airtel shop, celebrating the frontline employees who bring our services closer to customers every day. Through open discussions with our people, Sunil highlighted how their commitment and innovation are helping to support digital transformation in the Republic of the Congo.
Later in the month, Sunil met our people at Airtel Kenya in Nairobi to discuss the market’s strategic role and future growth. In town hall-style conversations and team engagements, he shared updates on major investments, including East Africa’s largest data centre and new connectivity partnerships, and recognised the dedication of employees delivering impact across connectivity and digital financial services.
These visits demonstrate the importance of visible leadership and direct engagement with employees, reinforcing our culture of openness, collaboration and shared ambition to transform the lives of our customers across Africa.
Employee engagement in action
Improving employee experience through digital HR platforms
During 2025/26, we expanded the digital HR platforms, enabling employees to access learning content, HR services and performance tools through a single digital environment. ‘Airtel works’ and the salesforce mobile application allow management and frontline teams to connect in real time, ensuring consistent communication and enabling learning and development content to be delivered at scale. Managers benefit from workforce insights and analytics that support faster, better-informed decisions.
AI-enabled tools are helping to streamline recruitment processes, including candidate screening and learning recommendations, while personalised learning pathways through Percipio ensure employees can access the development opportunities most relevant to their roles.
These innovations help us deliver a more efficient and responsive employee experience across diverse operating environments while enabling our HR teams to focus on the strategic work that will build a stronger, more capable organisation for the long term.