Difficult but not impossible – Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in Brussels Article published in Euractiv.

Responsabilité sociale des entreprises : quels liens peuvent se créer avec les ASBL ? Les entreprises voient de plus en plus la RSE (responsabilité sociale des entreprises) comme un enjeu de réussite. Dans ce contexte, quels liens peuvent se créer avec les ASBL ? MonASBL.be s’est entretenu avec Audrey-Flore Ngomsik, spécialisée dans l’accompagnement des entreprises. Le concept de la responsabilité sociale des entreprises (RSE) est apparu pour la première fois dans les années 60. « La RSE c’est savoir qu’une entreprise va créer quelque chose tout en faisant attention à son empreinte environnementale, aux personnes à l’intérieur et à l’extérieur de son entreprise. Tout cela en faisant du profit », explique Audrey-Flore Ngomsik, co-fondatrice de Trianon Scientific Communication, une agence de consultance en management spécialisée dans le développement durable et la responsabilité sociale. Avec les défis environnementaux et sociétaux actuels, la RSE est de plus en plus perçue comme un enjeu de réussite pour les entreprises. Ainsi, selon une étude de 2018 réalisée par Maison des Tendances, en collaboration avec BNP Paribas Fortis, pour 75% des entreprises belges, la RSE était considérée comme un investissement rentable. Le partenariat au cœur de la RSE Une transformation profonde des pratiques dans laquelle les ASBL - qui le souhaitent - ont incontestablement un rôle à jouer. « L’un des 17 objectifs de développement durable de l’ONU (Agenda 2030) est le partenariat. C’est hyper important », explique Audrey-Flore Ngomsik. « Il y a encore peu de temps je voyais surtout des entreprises qui allaient dans des ASBL pour faire du volontariat pendant une journée. Ça, ce n’est pas de la RSE ». Les partenariats, dont Audrey-Flore Ngomsik parle, peuvent être de différentes natures. « Par exemple, au niveau de l’environnement, il y a de plus en plus d’entreprises qui veulent éduquer leur personnel et qui peuvent faire appel à des ASBL », illustre-t-elle. Parallèlement, les entreprises peuvent intervenir auprès des associations notamment à travers le mécénat de compétences. Même si la pratique connait encore quelques limites aujourd’hui en Belgique. En résumé, soit l’ASBL peut intervenir auprès de l’entreprise pour l’aider dans ses bonnes pratiques, soit l’entreprise agit sur l’environnement ou la société en aidant les ASBL de terrain. Audrey-Flore Ngomsik apporte toutefois une nuance : « La RSE ne revient pas à s’intéresser à la manière dont on dépense l’argent mais à la façon dont on l’obtient. Si on a des entreprises qui polluent et qui donnent ensuite de l’argent à des ASBL, ce n’est pas de la RSE ». L’experte accompagne par ailleurs des entreprises particulièrement polluantes, notamment celles actives dans le secteur du textile. « Lorsqu’elles ont leur production en Chine par exemple, on va trouver des associations sur place pour garantir les conditions de travail du personnel. Puis, au niveau de l’environnement on va travailler sur la traçabilité à travers des associations partenaires ». La RSE peut aussi créer des opportunités pour des ASBL afin de se développer. Audrey-Flore Ngomsik estime que les associations doivent casser ce tabou autour « du fait de gagner de l’argent. Aujourd’hui, le personnel des associations est sous payé. Les ASBL se reposent aussi beaucoup sur les volontaires mais il faut tenir compte du fait qu’il y a des personnes qui aimeraient s’engager mais qui n’ont pas les moyens de le faire gratuitement. C’est une perte de ressources importante. » « La RSE doit partir du gestionnaire de l’entreprise » Ainsi, les ASBL qui souhaitent approcher les entreprises dans le contexte de la RSE ont plusieurs options. « Elles peuvent déjà aller voir du côté de leurs bénévoles qui ont un emploi et donc des relations », explique l’experte. Les ASBL ne doivent pas non plus hésiter à faire de la recherche active d’entreprises qui agissent dans le même secteur, par exemple. Quel que soit le chemin emprunté, les ASBL doivent s’adresser au gestionnaire de l’entreprise. « La RSE c’est toujours une décision qui part du top-management car c’est très transversal ». Faut-il davantage s’adresser à des petites ou grandes entreprises ? « Tout dépend des valeurs et de la taille de l’ASBL », assure Audrey-Flore Ngomsik. Toutefois, une chose est sûre : « Les starts up ont tendance à prendre en compte la RSE dès la conception ». Si la RSE s’est clairement développée ces dernières années, l’experte regrette qu’elle reste encore généralement pensée à court terme. « En Belgique, à part les fonds européens tous les financements sont à court terme. Par exemple, il y a beaucoup de fonds pour l’économie circulaire mais généralement c’est sur quelques années ». Article first published by Caroline Bordecq here.

Executive training services Thank you for this insightful session! All our senses were put to the test with this challenge! I realized how ignorant we still are on this topics when it comes to making sustainable choices in everyday life! Amina L, Founder

DEI strategy services "I was blown away by Dr. Audrey-Flore Ngomsik's insights and the passion she brings to everything she does. She is an inspiration to all who believe in the power of diversity and inclusion in the business world." Safaa C, DEI expert

Sustainability consulting services (French) Très bon services de Trianon Scientific Communication qui a su comprendre mon besoin et adapter les actions à mettre en place. Leur connaissance du marché ainsi que leurs années d'expériences font gagner un temps fou pour saisir les bonnes opportunités en fonction d'un public qui n'est pas toujours facilement accessible. Action, réaction, et très bonne énergie ! Charline L, Managing Director ________________________________ Very good services from Trianon Scientific Communication, which was able to understand my needs and adapt the actions to be implemented. Their knowledge of the market as well as their years of experience save a lot of time to seize the right opportunities according to an audience that is not always easily accessible. Action, reaction, and very good energy! Charline L, Managing Director

Public speaking services J’ai découvert le Dr Audrey- Flore Ngomsik sur le fil d’actualité d’une amie. Son profil m’a tout de suite interpellé et intéressé. Après avoir assisté à plusieurs événements organisés par Audrey, j’ai eu la chance de la recevoir sur mon podcast afin de mieux comprendre son univers. J’étais déjà impressionnée par son CV et sa personnalité et je l’ai été encore plus en découvrant l’étendue de son engagement pour le développement durable, l'environnement et la diversité. En l’écoutant parler, les pièces du puzzle se sont mis en place, j’ai compris pourquoi tant de personnes parlent d’elle avec admiration et respect. Un engagement profond pour l’humain et la planète, beaucoup de clairvoyance et d’intelligence dans les actions qu’elle pose et surtout une générosité immense quand il s’agit de partager ses connaissances, de challenger et d’élever son entourage. Je suis très fière de compter Audrey-Flore parmi les personnes qui tissent la toile de mon réseau. Elle fait partie de ses gens qui vous font faire non pas un pas mais un bond dans la vie. Anne M, Founder ---------------------------------------- I discovered Dr Audrey-Flore Ngomsik on a friend's news feed. Her profile immediately appealed to me and interested me. After having attended several events organized by Audrey, I had the chance to receive her on my podcast in order to better understand her universe. I was already impressed by his CV and his personality and I was even more impressed by discovering the extent of his commitment to sustainable development, the environment and diversity. Listening to her speak, the pieces of the puzzle fell into place, I understood why so many people speak of her with admiration and respect. A deep commitment to people and the planet, a lot of foresight and intelligence in the actions she takes and above all an immense generosity when it comes to sharing her knowledge, challenging and raising those around her. I am very proud to count Audrey among the people who weave the web of my network. She is one of those people who make you take not a step but a leap in life. Anne M, Founder

Sustainability consulting services I am deeply grateful for Trianon Scientific Communication invaluable guidance throughout the program. Dr Audrey-Flore Ngomsik and her relentless motivation and unwavering positivity have been instrumental in this achievement. The experts' challenge to push my boundaries and step out of my comfort zone has not only helped me articulate my vision better, but has also led to personal growth that I'll carry with me beyond this program. Looking back, it is clear how much we've grown as a startup under their mentorship, and for that, I cannot thank them enough. Sanghmitra B, Founder

Agroforestry: An opportunity for more sustainability The climate change brings many challenges to our conventional ways of farming, as you, dear readers, will undoubtedly know. That we face an enormous disappearance of insects is also not exactly news any more, and we do not wish to bore you. What is perhaps somewhat less well-known is that there is a novel approach in tackling the problems caused by global warming, and that is agroforestry. What is agroforestry? In general (and as the name implies), it is the concurrent use of both agriculture and forestry. Large, monocultural farming certainly has short-term economic benefits. Planting harvestable plants (tomatoes, grapes, potatoes etc.) in precisely defined lines on a field allows for machines to do all the harvesting. However, it comes at the price of disappearing biodiversity. Whereas in a wild field every pest has got its natural enemy (the birds eat the beetles and so on), pests can ruin entire harvests in a monoculture. To prevent this from happening, farmers spray their fields with pesticides. In these times of climate change, precipitation decreases, which causes groundwater levels to drop. Plants, however, need regular precipitation in order to thrive. As a consequence, farmers have to install irrigation systems. If these irrigation systems draw on the groundwater, the groundwater levels will sink even further. Alternatively, the feed may come from nearby rivers, however, that requires larger investments (pipelines, pumps, etc.). It has been found that rows of trees plant alongside as well as in the fields can have beneficial effects on both the water management and the biodiversity of fields. The economic drawback is immediately obvious: If a fraction X of a field is taken up by trees instead of whatever harvestable plant is planted on this field, the yield per unit area is lower. In addition, farming machines may be more difficult to operate in a field partially occupied by trees. The benefits such as improved water management and increased biodiversity, however, should be taken into account as well. An important economic factor is also that the wood of the trees may be sold once the trees have reached a certain size and age. In addition, the leaves shed by the trees in autumn provide nutrients to the ground and while the contribution of a few trees around and in some fields might seem negligible those trees still contribute to carbon sequestration. Practical examples Viticulture in Southern France [1] Most grapevines can withstand a little drought, they require between 640 and 890 mm of rain per year (preferably in the growing season, i.e. spring and summer). The grape varieties grown in southern France can withstand the usual summer conditions quite well, after all, otherwise they wouldn't be grown. In recent times, however, summers have become significantly hotter, prolonged periods where temperatures reach 45 °C or more are not uncommon any more that can cause grapevines to wither. Rows of trees provide shadow for the grapevines, which reduces the risk of withering. Remediation of barren soils in Honduras The region of Lempira in Honduras has seen a lot of slash-and-burn, which is to say that forests were cut down and burned to make place for farming land. However, without the root-work of the trees, the soil lost its hold on the underlying rock and was washed away by seasonal floods. As a result, farmers had to give up these newly created fields and moved on to slash-and-burn the next bit of forest. In time, plants re-occupied the barren land and so-called secondary forests established themselves. By thinning and pruning these trees, the area has been turned into agriculturally useable land again. This land is now used to grow crops in a cycle that has been shown to be beneficial and sustainable. Pork-farming in Germany In the first two examples, trees were used as beneficial add-ons to agricultural activities. In this example, farming activities are shown to be beneficial to forests. This is known as silvopasture (from lat. silva forest). Here, livestock is made to graze or forage in forests. An old practice that is being rediscovered, it is particularly suitable for pork farming in mixed forest with a reasonably high content of oaks, as the pigs feed of the acorns. Is agroforestry therefore the solution to our agricultural problems? Probably not. Especially in Europe, the practice is only just beginning to be investigated. The potential benefits are substantial, however, many practical questions still need to be addressed, such as: Which trees are most suitable for which problem while still getting the maximum effect? Or: How do you plant the trees so that they don't interfere with farming equipment? Given the time trees take to grow, how can we make sure that they will still be seen as a solution 20 or 30 years down the line, especially since the meteorological conditions we and our world is facing are changing fast? As with questions regarding sustainability there is no magic bullet, no one-solves-all but seeing the combination of positive effects it provides agroforestry appears to be an arrow in our quiver we should not overlook. [1] https://news.mongabay.com/2020/06/better-wines-among-the-pines-agroforestry-can-climate-proof-grapes-french-researchers-show/

The impact of the heat island effect on sustainability? How can it be tackled? It is hot! Global warming has detrimental effects on nature in general and thus also on us humans. However, rising temperatures pose a direct danger to humans too, and not just in sub-saharan Africa but right here in the temperate zones. In the EU, some 70% percent of the population live in cities or towns/suburbs, almost 40% live in cities.[02] Exaggerating only slightly, cities can be seen as mountain ranges made of concrete. The Heat Island effect The concrete heats up depending on solar radiation and ambient temperature. As we know, the summers (and winters) are getting warmer,[03] and so do our cities. This is known as the heat island effect and it most people will have experienced the fact that the city seems warmer than the surrounding countryside. Many people flock out of the city during summer weekends in search of cooler places, such as a forest. Heat waves are killing us Heat waves put lives in danger. For instance, the World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that "in 2003, 70,000 people in Europe died as a result of the June-August event, in 2010, 56,000 excess deaths occurred during a 44-day heatwave in the Russian Federation."[05] The heat exerts direct and indirect adverse effects on our health. Direct effects are dehydration and heat strokes. Since heat lowers air quality, heat waves also leads to increased respiratory problems. Indirect effects are psychological in nature such as reduced awareness resulting in accidents, but also societal such as an increased pressure on the health services. The heat also facilitates transmission of food- and waterborne diseases. All these effects can lead to disruptions in our infrastructure (power and water supply), and transport facilities. How to fight heat waves? The obvious The WHO advises to keep your home cool, to keep out of the sun (subject to occupational requirements), and to stay hydrated, in particular if you're elderly, very young, or infirm. Seeing as we cannot all move to the country-side it is strongly advisable to build cities in such a way that they do not accumulate that much heat, however, that applies to new developments. Roof garden: the solution? The micro-climate of cities can be significantly improved by installing roof gardens, sometimes referred to as green roofs. A building's roof that is partially or entirely covered with plants and a growing medium that is planted over a waterproofing membrane is referred to as a green roof or living roof. Additionally, it could have root barriers, drainage, and irrigation systems as additional layers. Green roofs have many advantages They reduce the heat island effect: In urban areas or other constructed environments with little natural vegetation, using green roofs might reduce the heat island effect, especially during the day. They have a cooling effect: Green roof bind water and thus exert a cooling effect, and can cool the city's air by up to 5 degrees. They improve air quality They improve bodiversity: They provide a habitat for species, thus improve bio-diversity. They sequester CO2: As terrestrial plant life depends on photo synthesis, they also sequester CO2. It is true that the rate of carbon sequestration by grassland is not very high (approx. 0.2 - 1.5 kg m-2 year-1 [06]) and it won't make up for the CO2 released into the atmosphere by the forest fires that have plagued Europe (and other parts of the world) this summer but every little helps. They improve human health: By limiting heat transfer through the building and by improving the quality of air Energy savings: The primary advantage green roofs provide is the added insulation to the apartments or office spaces underneath and this effect is two-fold: In summer it provides a cooling effect and in winter it reduces the cost of heating. Is it expensive? Although green roofs initially cost more than conventional materials, building owners can help make up the difference by managing energy and storm water costs more cheaply, and perhaps by taking advantage of the longer lifespan of green roofs than that of traditional roofing materials. In conclusion, as with all approaches to mitigating climate change, the installation of green roofs is no silver bullet but it has a role to play in any holistic strategy. Of course, not all roofs are suitable, in particular, flat roofs are more suited than sloped roofs. Considering, however, the available area in many city centres there are significant gains to be had. Many proponents of green roofs think one step and look at ways of greening up facades as well. This is sometimes known as vertical gardening (but that will be for another article). If you would like to know more about environmental, social or economic sustainability, talk to the experts. For a selection of similar articles, subscribe to our blog. [01] DOI:10.1016/S0140-6736(15)01156-3 [02] https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/web/products-eurostat-news/-/EDN-20200207-1, last accessed 2022.05.24 [03] https://www.science-by-trianon.com/post/ipcc-report-2022-the-need-for-radical-changes, last accessed 2022.08.29 [04] https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Urban_heat_island.svg#/media/File:Urban_heat_island.svg, last accessed 2023.01.24 [05] https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/climate-change-heat-and-health, last accessed 2022.05.24 [06] https://www.d.umn.edu/~rmoen/docs/BMWR/Ch_13_Topic_1_Primary_Production_And_Forage_In_Different_Plant_Communities_5_32.pdf, last accessed 2022.08.29

Public speaking services (environmental & social sustainability) J’ai découvert le Dr Audrey- Flore Ngomsik sur le fil d’actualité d’une amie. Son profil m’a tout de suite interpellé et intéressé. Après avoir assisté à plusieurs événements organisés par Audrey, j’ai eu la chance de la recevoir sur mon podcast afin de mieux comprendre son univers. J’étais déjà impressionnée par son CV et sa personnalité et je l’ai été encore plus en découvrant l’étendue de son engagement pour le développement durable, l'environnement et la diversité. En l’écoutant parler, les pièces du puzzle se sont mis en place, j’ai compris pourquoi tant de personnes parlent d’elle avec admiration et respect. Un engagement profond pour l’humain et la planète, beaucoup de clairvoyance et d’intelligence dans les actions qu’elle pose et surtout une générosité immense quand il s’agit de partager ses connaissances, de challenger et d’élever son entourage. Je suis très fière de compter Audrey parmi les personnes qui tissent la toile de mon réseau. Elle fait partie de ses gens qui vous font faire non pas un pas mais un bond dans la vie. Anne Meto, Afropeenne __________________________________________ I discovered Dr Audrey-Flore Ngomsik on a friend's news feed. Her profile immediately appealed to me and interested me. After having attended several events organized by Audrey, I had the chance to receive her on my podcast in order to better understand her universe. I was already impressed by her CV and her personality and I was even more impressed by discovering the extent of her commitment to sustainable development, the environment and diversity. Listening to her speech, the pieces of the puzzle fell into place, I understood why so many people speak of her with admiration and respect. A deep commitment to people and the planet, a lot of foresight and intelligence in the actions she takes and above all an immense generosity when it comes to sharing her knowledge, challenging and raising those around her. I am very proud to count Audrey among the people who weave the web of my network. She is one of those people who make you take not a step but a leap in life. Anne Meto, Afropeenne

Let's make equality a reality - A podcast by The Nine "One of the most sincere forms of respect is actually listening to what another has to say." --Bryant H. McGill Thank you Georgia Brooks, for this conversation. To "𝐌𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐞𝐪𝐮𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐚 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲", we need to talk about #intersectionality. Why? Because we want a society that is inclusive of everyone and where everyone have 𝐨𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬 to succeed and grow. The most diverse teams (inherent & acquired diversity) perform better, innovate more and are more profitable for any organisation. So why do we still have to make the case for more #equitydiversityinclusion? Because homogeneous team feel easier... but easy is bad for performance. Yes, diversity can increase conflict within teams, but conflict means that you will find outside resources to prove your point. And these additional resources will make your team 3 times more likely to find the right solution for a problem compared to an homogeneous team, where everybody just agrees, because they think alike. When the conflict is corrosive, it is because people bring different values at the table, not different perspectives!!! -𝘏𝘢𝘳𝘷𝘢𝘳𝘥 𝘉𝘶𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘙𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸, 𝘚𝘦𝘱𝘵 2016 At Trianon Scientific Communication, we show our clients the power of #diversityequityinclusionbelonging to increase their #profit and decrease their CO2 emissions faster. Remember that #sustainability is not just about the #planet. When we all die the planet will recover from it. #people, #planet and #profit should be tackled concomitantly for success! So let's make equality a reality! Listen to the podcast by clicking on the button below:

Strategy sustainability consulting (...) It was refreshing to see these concepts embraced, cast into strategies, and put into action not by people from an HR background but by scientists. Their scientific background certainly helps them when it comes to analysing data and spotting the trends hidden therein. To conclude, I can wholeheartedly recommend Trianon Scientific communication as advisors in the fields of Sustainable Development and Corporate Social Responsibility. Nicolas D, Managing partner