Impact Report
2021, a pivotal year

Saying that 2021 was an extraordinary year understates the reality. The phrase “before COVID” has rapidly become normal but the consequences are anything but that. The wider impact of the pandemic across the planet, the accelerating vulnerability of communities to climate change, and the less visible but no less dramatic impact of uncertainty and inequity on the mental well-being of our societies and the confidence of the youth of the world in particular, are all too big for just one organization to change. The appalling crisis in Europe has brought with it scars that will drive down even further a generation’s trust and confidence in our future. 

Against this darkening backdrop, I am incredibly proud of the actions that the Z Zurich Foundation (the Foundation), the people of Zurich Insurance Group (Zurich) and the charitable organizations we work with are taking. Individual actions can and do make real and lasting difference to the vulnerable in our society. They also create momentum for society-wide change. Today, there is widespread recognition of the need for action to protect our planet and its people. The early activists were not always popular or listened to but their legacy is felt every day. 

We took early action to focus in 2021 on the impact of the pandemic on the vulnerable. Globally, our campaign supported UNICEF’s efforts for the COVAX Facility, aiming to deliver COVID-19 vaccine doses to those who were particularly disadvantaged, was the right action undertaken rapidly. Working in about 50 countries across the world, we have responded to the incredible humanity of Zurich people committed to making a real difference to the communities in which they live and work. We also continued to support the charities we work with so they could focus on the needs of their beneficiaries safe from immediate financial challenges. 

The outstanding Foundation management team, led so well by Gregory Renand, ensured that we didn’t lose sight of the long term change we can effect, for example through preventative work on floods. In fact, we have accelerated this work and its impact rapidly – in 2021 we helped 300 communities in 21 countries put themselves in control to protect themselves from the ravages of flooding and supporting stability for 600,000 people, 90% more than last year. 

The program in Peru has been a key contributor to this increase. The Zurich Flood Resilience Alliance is now globally recognized and responded to by governments. Likewise, we have pushed forward with more programs in more countries than ever that support mental wellbeing and deal with social exclusion and inequity. Programs like Tackle your Feelings and collaborations like those with the Forge Foundation and Junior Achievement are having even more impact and last year, through our country programs alone, we were able to make a difference for 925,000 people in 28 countries across the world.

As we turned to 2022, Zurich people and the Foundation showed their humanity once more, this time providing support and homes for those fleeing the horrors of Ukraine. At the same time, we committed to a coalition of the willing to help the mental wellbeing of the youth of the world. By reducing stigma and taking early and preventative action we have already seen that change can happen but it needs society wide commitment to make this happen.
Thank you to the Foundation Team, champions and volunteers across the world, the charities we collaborate with for the impact delivered, my fellow Trustees for your commitment and Zurich for your support to the Foundation.

Gary Shaughnessy
Chair of the
Z Zurich Foundation