Report - COP Prototype

2022 Communication on Progress

Vieira de Almeida & Associados

Published date

May 25, 2022

No. of questions

Supplemental files

VdA's Code of Conduct.pdf

CEO Statement

Signed

Governance

Policies and Responsibilities

1. Does the Board / highest governance body or most senior executive of the company:

Issue an annual statement about the relevance of sustainable development to the company

Issue an annual statement that addresses impacts on both people and the environment

Issue an annual statement highlighting a zero tolerance for corruption

Sign off on organizational sustainability targets

Supervise Environmental, Social, and Governance reporting

Regularly review potential risks related to the business model

None of the above

2. Does the company have a publicly stated commitment regarding the following sustainability topics?

	No, this is not a current priority	No, but we plan to have a commitment within 2 years	Yes, and the commitment is focused on our own operations	Yes, and the commitment includes our own operations and the value chain	Yes, and the commitment includes our own operations and the value chain along with communities and society
Human Rights
Labour Rights / Decent Work
Environment
Anti-Corruption

3. Does the company have in place a code of conduct regarding each of the following sustainability topics?

	No, this is not a current priority	No, but we plan to have a code of conduct within two years	Yes, focused on employee conduct	Yes, focused on employees and suppliers	Yes, focused on employees, suppliers, and other business relationships
Human Rights
Labour Rights / Decent Work
Environment
Anti-Corruption

4. Has the company appointed an individual or group responsible for each of the following sustainability topics?

	No one is specifically responsible for this topic	Yes, with limited influence on outcomes (e.g., limited access to internal information, limited decision-making authority)	Yes, with moderate influence on outcomes (e.g., has access to relevant information, reports to senior manager)	Yes, with direct influence of some outcomes (e.g., has access to relevant information, includes one or more senior manager with decision making rights	Yes, with direct influence at the highest levels of the organization (e.g., has access to relevant information, includes most senior members of organization)
Human Rights
Labour Rights / Decent Work
Environment
Anti-Corruption

5. Does the company have a formal structure(s) (such as a cross-functional committee) to address each of the following sustainability topics?

	No formal structure	Yes, and with limited influence on outcomes (e.g., limited access to internal information necessary to understand risks, poor representation from relevant departments or functions)	Yes, with moderate influence on outcomes (e.g., it includes representatives of some functions, departments, or business units most relevant for addressing the risks concerned, has access to relevant information, reports to senior manager)	Yes, with direct influence on some outcomes (e.g., it includes representatives of functions, departments, or business units most relevant for addressing the risks concerned, has access to relevant information, it involves one or more members of senior management)	Yes, and with direct influence at the highest level of the organization (e.g., full access to relevant information, it involves members at highest level of organization)
Human Rights
Labour Rights / Decent Work
Environment
Anti-Corruption

Prevention

6. Does the company have a process or processes to assess risk?

	No, this is not a current priority	No, but we are planning to develop one in the next two years	Yes, related to our own operations	Yes, related to our own operations and entire value chain and other business relationships
Human rights risks
Labour rights risks
Environmental risks
Corruption risks

Optional comment

Corruption risks: And also related to relevant stakeholders and suppliers.

7. Does the company have a due diligence process through which it identifies, prevents, mitigates, and accounts for actual and potential negative impacts on sustainability topics?

	No, this is not a current priority	No, but we are planning to develop one in the next two years	Yes, related to our own operations	Yes, related to our own operations and entire value chain and other business relationships
Human rights risks
Labour rights risks
Environmental risks
Corruption risks

Optional comment

Corruption Risks: VdA have in place AML procedures which identifies, prevents, mitigates and accounts for actual and potential negative impacts.

Concerns and grievance mechanisms

8. Are there any processes through which members of the company’s workforce can raise concerns about the company’s conduct related to human rights, labour rights, environment, or anti-corruption?

No, this is not a current priority

No, but we plan to within two years

Yes, we have an informal process (e.g., through supervisors, others)

Yes, we have a formal process

Optional comment

VdA is implementing a formal procedure aligned with the whistle-blowing directive.

8.1. Please provide additional detail regarding the process(es) the company has through which members of the company’s workforce can raise concerns about the company’s conduct.

	No	Yes
Is the process communicated to all employees/workers in local languages?
Is the process available to non-employees (e.g., contractors, vendors, suppliers)?
Is the process confidential (e.g., whistleblowing process)?
Are there processes in place to avoid retaliation?
Can concerns be raised about suppliers or other business relationships (e.g., clients, partners, etc.)
Other (Please provide additional information)

9. Does the company provide or enable access to effective remedy to right holders / stakeholders where it has caused or contributed to the adverse impact?

	No process to enable remedy to stakeholders	Remedy available to some stakeholders (i.e., some geographies, employees only)	Remedy is available to all affected stakeholders	Remedy is available to all stakeholders, and suppliers are expected to have similar policies
Human Rights
Labour Rights / Decent Work
Environment
Anti-Corruption

Lessons

10. How does the company capture lessons regarding each of the following sustainability topics?

	No lessons are regularly captured	Conducts root cause analyses/investigation of major incidents	Conducts root cause analyses/investigation and changes organizational policies, processes, and practices accordingly	Systematically conducts root cause analyses/investigation and leverages learnings to influence both internal and external affairs
Human Rights
Labour Rights / Decent Work
Environment
Anti-Corruption

Executive Pay

11. Is executive pay linked to performance on one or more of the following sustainability topics?

Board Composition

12. Percentage of individuals within the company’s Board / highest governance body by:

	Number/Percentage	Not applicable (Please provide additional information)
Total number of board members (#)	7
Male (%)	6
Female (%)	1
Non-binary (%)	0
Under 30 years old (%)	0
30-50 years old (%)	14
Above 50 years old (%)	86
From minority or vulnerable groups (%)	0
Executive (%)	100
Independent (%)	0

Data Assurance

14. Is the information disclosed in this questionnaire assured by a third-party?

No assurance for any metrics

Limited assurance for minority of metrics (e.g., GHG emissions only)

Limited assurance for majority of metrics

Reasonable assurance for minority of metrics

Reasonable assurance for majority of metrics

Other (Please provide additional information)

Optional comment

We report our environmental performance and disclose our carbon footprint report based on the methodology of the Greenhouse Gas Protocol, applied to the legal sector, and using conversion factors adapted to the Portuguese reality.

Human Rights

Commitment

2. Does the company have a policy commitment in relation to the following human rights issues?

	No, and we have no plans to develop a policy	No, but we plan to in the next two years	Yes, included within a broader policy	Yes, articulated as a stand-alone policy
Rights of women and/or girls
Freedom of expression
Rights of refugees and migrants
Digital security / privacy
November 2021.
Rights of indigenous peoples
Access to culture
Free, prior and informed consent
Access to water and sanitation

Optional comment

Privacy: compliance with data privacy law. VdA has the ISO 27001 Certification.

2.1. For each human rights policy, is it:

	Aligned with international human rights standards?	Publicly available?	Approved at most senior level of the company?	Applied to the company’s own operations?	Applied to the company’s supply chain and/or other business relationships?	Developed involving human rights expertise from inside and outside the company?	Other (Please provide additional information)
Freedom of expression
Digital security / privacy
Rights of women and/or girls
Access to culture
Rights of indigenous peoples
Free, prior and informed consent
Rights of refugees and migrants
Access to water and sanitation

Prevention

3. In the course of the reporting period, has the company engaged with affected stakeholders or their legitimate representatives in relation to the following human rights issues?

	No engagement on this topic	To better understand the risks/ impacts in question	To discuss potential ways to prevent or mitigate the risks/ impacts in question	To agree on a way to prevent/ mitigate the risks/ impacts in question	To assess progress in preventing /mitigating the risks/impacts in question	To collaborate in the prevention/ mitigation of the risks/ impacts in question
Rights of women and/or girls
Freedom of expression
Rights of refugees and migrants
Digital security / privacy
Rights of indigenous peoples
Access to culture
Free, prior and informed consent
Access to water and sanitation

Optional comment

VdA has the ISO 27001 certification.

4. What type of action has the company taken in the reporting period with the aim of preventing/mitigating the risks/impacts associated with this human rights issue?

	Provided internal training/ capacity building for the direct workforce	Building capacity among relevant business relationships (e.g., partners, suppliers, clients, etc.)	Conducting an audit process and/or corrective action plan	Collective Action with peers or other stakeholders to address the issue	Collaboration with governmental or regulatory bodies	Other (Please provide additional information)	No action within reporting period
Rights of women and/or girls
Freedom of expression
Rights of refugees and migrants
Digital security / privacy
Rights of indigenous peoples
Access to culture
Free, prior and informed consent
Access to water and sanitation

5. Who receives training for the following human rights issues?

	No training provided	Select employees	All employees	Contractors	Direct suppliers of the organization	Indirect suppliers of the organization	Other – such as partners, clients, etc.
Rights of women and/or girls
Freedom of expression
Rights of refugees and migrants
Digital security / privacy
Rights of indigenous peoples
Access to culture
Free, prior and informed consent
Access to water and sanitation

6. How does the company assess progress in preventing/mitigating the risks/impacts associated with the following human rights issues?

	No monitoring of progress	Review issues on ad-hoc basis	Set annual targets/ goals, track progress over time (internal programs only)	Set annual targets/ goals, track progress over time (internal and external programs)	Other (Please provide additional information)
Rights of women and/or girls
Freedom of expression
Rights of refugees and migrants
Digital security / privacy
Rights of indigenous peoples
Access to culture
Free, prior and informed consent
Access to water and sanitation

Response

7. During the reporting period, has the company been involved in providing or enabling remedy where it has caused or contributed to adverse impact associated with the following human rights issue(s)?

	Yes	No	Choose to not disclose	Not applicable (Please provide additional information)
Rights of women and/or girls
Freedom of expression
Rights of refugees and migrants
Digital security / privacy
Rights of indigenous peoples
Access to culture
Free, prior and informed consent
Access to water and sanitation

8. Briefly describe practical actions the company has taken during the reporting period and/or plans to take to implement the human rights principles, including any challenges faced and actions taken towards prevention and/or remediation.

VdA has participated in the SDG Ambition initiative in the past year. One of the SDG's chosen was SDG 8 (Benchmark "100% of employees across organization earn a living wage") with the following goals: i) Identify current practices related with SDG 8, in order to do more and better; ii) Develop and approve a Human Rights Policy; iii) Exercise advocacy on this topic and influence business partners and other stakeholders.

Labour

Commitment

1. Does the company have a policy commitment in relation to the following labour rights principles?

	No, and we have no plans to develop a policy	No, but we plan to in the next two years	Yes, included within a broader policy	Yes, articulated as a stand-alone policy	Not applicable (Please provide additional information)
Freedom of association and the effective recognition of the right to collective bargaining
Forced labour
Child labour
Non-discrimination in respect of employment and occupation
Year 2020.
Occupational safety and health
Year 2020.
Working conditions (wages, working hours)
Year 2020.

Optional comment

We do not yet have a formal policy, but we will implement a human rights policy by the end of 2022, in which we confirm what our values are and which condemns any kind of discrimination, forced labour or child labour.

1.1. For each labour rights policy, is it:

	Aligned with international labour standards?	Publicly available?	Approved at most senior level of the company?	Applied to the company’s own operations?	Applied to the company’s supply chain and/or other business relationships?	Developed involving labour rights expertise from inside and outside the company?	Other (Please provide additional information)
Freedom of association and the effective recognition of the right to collective bargaining
Forced labour
Child labour
Non-discrimination in respect of employment and occupation
Occupational safety and health
Working conditions (wages, working hours)

Prevention

2. In the course of the reporting period, has the company engaged with affected stakeholders or their legitimate representatives in relation to the following labour rights issues?

	No engagement on this topic	To better understand the risks/ impacts in question	To discuss potential ways to prevent or mitigate the risks/ impacts in question	To agree on a way to prevent/ mitigate the risks/ impacts in question	To assess progress in preventing/ mitigating the risks /impacts in question	To collaborate in the prevention/ mitigation of the risks/ impacts in question	Other (Please provide additional information)
Freedom of association and the effective recognition of the right to collective bargaining
Forced labour
Child labour
Non-discrimination in respect of employment and occupation
Occupational safety and health
Working conditions (wages, working hours)

3. What type of action has the company taken in the reporting period with the aim of preventing/mitigating the risks/impacts associated with this labour rights issue?

	Provided internal training/ capacity building for the direct workforce	Building capacity among relevant business relationships (e.g., partners, suppliers, clients, etc.)	Conducting an audit process and/or corrective action plan	Collective Action with peers or other stakeholders, in particular workers' organizations, to address the issue	Collaboration with governmental or regulatory bodies	Other (Please provide additional information)	No action within reporting period
Freedom of association and the effective recognition of the right to collective bargaining
Forced labour
Child labour
Non-discrimination in respect of employment and occupation
Occupational safety and health
Working conditions (wages, working hours)

4. Who receives training for the following labour rights issues?

	No training provided	Select employees	All employees	Contractors	Direct suppliers of the organization	Indirect suppliers of the organization	Other – such as partners, clients, etc.
Freedom of association and the effective recognition of the right to collective bargaining
Forced labour
Child labour
Non-discrimination in respect of employment and occupation
Occupational safety and health
Working conditions (wages, working hours)

5. How does the company assess progress in preventing/mitigating the risks/impacts associated with the following labour rights issues?

	No monitoring of progress	Review issues on ad-hoc basis	Set annual targets/ goals, track progress over time (internal programs only)	Set annual targets/ goals, track progress over time (internal and external programs)	Other (Please provide additional information)
Freedom of association and the effective recognition of the right to collective bargaining
Forced labour
Child labour
Non-discrimination in respect of employment and occupation
Occupational safety and health
Working conditions (wages, working hours)

Performance

6. What is the percentage of employees covered under collective bargaining agreements?

	Percent of employees (%)	Unknown
Employees covered under collective bargaining (%)

Optional comment

Currently we have no employees covered under collective agreement.

7. What is the percentage of employees in a trade union or other workers' organization?

	Percent of employees (%)	Unknown	Not applicable (Please provide additional information)
Employees in a trade union or on a worker committee (%)
VdA has no trade union/ work committee.

8. In the course of the reporting period, what was the percentage of women in:

	Percent of women (%)	Unknown
Senior leadership level position	5
Non-executive board

Optional comment

VdA does not have a non-executive board.

9. What was the average ratio of the basic salary and remuneration of women to men (comparing jobs of equal value) during the reporting period?

	Salary ratio (%)	Unknown	Choose to not disclose
Women / Men (%)

Optional comment

VdA does not measure this ratio. The salary are based on a remuneration table that equals all employees in a professional category, and does not distinguish by gender, race, age or others.

10. In the course of the reporting period, how frequently were workers injured (injuries per hour worked)?

	Frequency of injury	Unknown	Choose to not disclose
Frequency of injury	0

11. In the course of the reporting period, what was the company’s incident rate?

	Incident rate	Unknown	Choose to not disclose
Incident rate	0

Response and Reporting

12. In the course of the reporting period, has the company been involved in providing or enabling remedy where it has caused or contributed to the adverse impact associated with the following labour rights issues?

	Yes	No	Choose to not disclose	Not applicable (Please provide additional information)
Freedom of association and the effective recognition of the right to collective bargaining
Forced labour
Child labour
Non-discrimination in respect of employment and occupation
Occupational safety and health
Working conditions (wages, working hours)

13. Briefly describe practical actions the company has taken during the reporting period and/or plans to take to implement the labour rights principles, including any challenges faced and actions taken towards prevention and/or remediation.

VdA has participated in the SDG Ambition initiative during the last year. VdA has chosen SDG 5 and SDG 8, among others and we are currently working on a Human Rights Policy as well as working towards with stakeholders and clients to improve this topics with them.

Environment

Commitment

1. Does the company have a formal policy on the following environmental topics?

	No, and we have no plans to develop a policy	No, but we plan to in the next two years	Yes, included within a broader policy	Yes, articulated as a stand-alone policy	Not applicable (Please provide additional information)
Climate Action
Water
Oceans
Considering VdA is a law firm this topic will not be a priority.
Forests / Biodiversity / Land Use
Air Pollution
Considering VdA is a law firm this topic does not apply to our activity.
Waste (e.g., chemical spills, solid waste, hazardous, plastic, etc.)
Energy & Resource Use

Optional comment

We are currently preparing an environmental policy on the topics mention above.

Prevention

2. In the course of the reporting period, has the company engaged with affected stakeholders or their legitimate representatives in relation to the following environmental issues?

	No engagement on this topic	To better understand the risks/ impacts in question	To discuss potential ways to prevent or mitigate the risks/ impacts in question	To agree on a way to prevent/ mitigate the risks/ impacts in question	To assess progress in preventing/ mitigating the risks/ impacts in question	To collaborate in the prevention/ mitigation of the risks/ impacts in question	Other (Please provide additional information)
Climate Action
The impact of VdA's activity do not affect specific stakeholders.
Water
The impact of VdA's activity do not affect specific stakeholders.
Oceans
The impact of VdA's activity do not affect specific stakeholders.
Forests / Biodiversity / Land Use
The impact of VdA's activity do not affect specific stakeholders.
Air Pollution
The impact of VdA's activity do not affect specific stakeholders.
Waste (e.g., chemical spills, solid waste, hazardous, plastic, etc.)
The impact of VdA's activity do not affect specific stakeholders.
Energy & Resource Use
The impact of VdA's activity do not affect specific stakeholders.

3. What type of action has the company taken in the reporting period with the aim of preventing/mitigating the risks/impacts associated with these environmental topics?

	Provided internal training/ capacity building for the direct workforce	Building capacity among relevant business relationships (e.g., partners, suppliers, clients, etc.)	Conducting an audit process and/or corrective action plan	Collective Action with peers or other stakeholders to address the issue	Collaboration with governmental or regulatory bodies	Other (Please provide additional information)	No action within reporting period
Climate Action
Water
Oceans
Forests / Biodiversity / Land Use
Air Pollution
Waste (e.g., chemical spills, solid waste, hazardous, plastic, etc.)
Energy & Resource Use

Optional comment

Considering VdA is a law firm there's no impact on oceans and air pollution.

4. How does the company assess progress in preventing/mitigating the risks/impacts associated with the following environmental topics?

	No monitoring of progress	Review issues on ad-hoc basis	Set annual targets/ goals, track progress over time (internal programs only)	Set annual targets/ goals, track progress over time (internal and external programs)	Other (Please provide additional information)
Climate Action
Water
Oceans
Forests / Biodiversity / Land Use
Air Pollution
Waste (e.g., chemical spills, solid waste, hazardous, plastic, etc.)
Energy & Resource Use

Optional comment

Considering VdA is a law firm there's no impact on oceans and air pollution and therefore no monitoring is carried out.

4.1. For each environmental topic in which the company sets timebound goals / targets, what kind of targets has the company set?

	Description of targets (e.g., what is the target, absolute vs. intensity, externally verified, on track, etc.)
Climate Action	During the 2018-2022 period, we have set a target of reduction of 5% per employee in the carbon footprint until 2022.
Energy & Resource Use	During the 2018-2022 period, we have set a target of reduction of 5% per employee in the consumption of energy until 2022. During the 2018-2022 period, we have set a target of reduction of 5% per employee in the distance traveled in kms (business travel), until 2022. During the 2018-2022 period, we have set a target of reduction of 5% per employee in the consumption of paper, until 2022.
Water	During the 2018-2022 period, we have set a target of reduction of 5% per employee in the consumption of water until 2022.
Forests / Biodiversity / Land Use	Under the protocol executed between VdA and Gorongosa National Park in Mozambique we have guaranteed specific educational awareness regarding biodiversity protection in the curricula of the five schools which equipment VdA is currently financing in the National Park. Under the protocol executed between VdA and Mafra National Forest Protected Area, in the outskirts of Lisbon, VdA ensures the management and maintenance of an area of 31 hectares (VdA Carbon Zero Zone) in accordance with a forest management plan drafted under the applicable legislation.
Air Pollution
Waste (e.g., chemical spills, solid waste, hazardous, plastic, etc.)	During the 2018-2022 period, we have set a target of an increase of 5% in the waste recycling rate until 2022.
Oceans

4.2. For each environmental topic in which the company sets timebound goals / targets, how is progress against target / goal tracked?

	Progress is reviewed against goals annually or more frequently	Progress is reported internally to the most senior level	Progress is reported externally	Other (Please provide additional information)
Climate Action
Energy & Resource Use
Water
Forests / Biodiversity / Land Use
Air Pollution
Waste (e.g., chemical spills, solid waste, hazardous, plastic, etc.)
Oceans

5. In the course of the reporting period, has the company been involved in providing or enabling remedy for any actual impacts associated with the following environmental issue(s)?

	Yes	No	Choose to not disclose	Not applicable (Please provide additional information)
Climate Action
Water
Oceans
Forests / Biodiversity / Land Use
Air Pollution
Waste (e.g., chemical spills, solid waste, hazardous, plastic, etc.)
Energy & Resource Use

Optional comment

As from july 2020 VdA law firm consumes electricity exclusively from renewable sources (100% certified renewable).

Climate Action

6. What were the company’s gross global greenhouse gas emissions for the reporting period?

Scope 1 Emissions

Full

None

Emissions (tCO2e)

Scope 2 Emissions

Full

None

Considering VdA consumes exclusively green electricity (100% of the electricity consumed is certified renewable) the measurement of scope 2 emissions is equivalent to zero tCO2e

Emissions (tCO2e)

Scope 3 Emissions

Full

Partial

None

Emissions (tCO2e)

137

Optional comment

VdA only measures part of scope 3 emissions: fuel and energy-related activities; waste generated in operations; business travel.

7. What percentage of the company's revenue was invested in R&D of low-carbon products/services during this reporting period?

Percent of revenue (%)

Unknown

Not applicable (Please provide additional information)

VdA is a law firm and therefore this matter is not applicable.

8. Has the organization acted to support climate change adaptation and resilience?

We have taken action to increase organization-wide resilience to climate change

We have taken action to increase resilience in our supply chains

We have taken action to increase resilience in the communities in which we operate

We have provided funding for climate change adaptation and resilience initiatives and projects

We have not taken actions to build climate change resilience in the reporting period

Other (Please provide additional information)

Unknown

Optional comment

Under the protocol executed between VdA and Gorongosa National Park in Mozambique VdA has financed the equipment of five schools in the park and guaranteed specific educational awareness regarding biodiversity protection in the curricula of said schools; Under the protocol executed between VdA and Mafra National Forest Protected Area, in the outskirts of Lisbon, VdA finances and ensures the management and maintenance of an area of 31 hectares (VdA Carbon Zero Zone) in accordance with a forest management plan drafted under the applicable legislation.

Energy / Resource Use

9. Please report the company's renewable energy consumption as a percentage of total energy consumption in the reporting period.

% of total energy consumption

Unknown

Optional comment

100% of VdA's electricity consumption is purchased certified renewable electricity. 2% of other energy sources relates to i) consumption of fuel in the installations for heating of water; ii) fuel for the companies motorbikes.

Technology

10. What percent of the company's revenue came from environmentally friendly products / services during this reporting period?

Percent of total revenue (%)

Unknown

Not applicable (Please provide additional information)

VdA is a law firm and therefore this matter does not apply.

Overall Environment

21. Briefly describe practical actions the company has taken during the reporting period and/or plans to take to implement the environment principles, including any challenges faced and actions taken towards prevention and/or remediation.

1. VdA has participated in the SDG Ambition initiative in the past year. One of the SDG's chosen was SDG 13 with the following goals: i) Approve a formal statement/ policy with the firm’s commitment and approach to emissions reduction; ii) Adopt internal sustainability guidelines applicable to suppliers; iii) Raise internal awareness and engagement on the topic. 2. As from July 2020, VdA consumes 100% certified renewable electricity.

Anti-corruption

Commitment

1. Does the company have an anti-corruption compliance programme?

No, it is not an immediate business priority

No, but we plan to in the next two years

Yes

2021

2. Does your company have policies and recommendations for employees on how to act in case of doubt and/or in situations that may represent a conflict of interest, e.g. with regard to gifts and hospitality, donations, sponsorship, or interactions with public officials?

No, and we have no plans to develop a policy

No, but we plan to in the next two years

Yes, included within a broader policy

Yes, articulated as a stand-alone policy

Optional comment

Please find attached the code of conduct

Prevention

3. Who receives training on anti-corruption and integrity?

Optional comment

VdA's onboarding program includes training on anti-corruption and integrity

3.1. How often is such training provided?

	One time only	Every year	Every two or more years	We do not collect this data
All employees
Select employees
Contractors
Direct suppliers of the organization
Other – such as partners, clients, etc.
Indirect suppliers of the organization

Optional comment

Besides the onboarding program, VdA provides training from time to time to refresh this topics.

4. Does the company monitor its anti-corruption compliance programme?

No, we do not monitor the anti-corruption compliance programme

Review issues on ad-hoc basis

Yes, through internal employee self-evaluations

Yes, through automated controls monitoring

Yes, through external independent monitoring

Yes, through other mechanisms

Optional comment

VdA is working on the implementation of a regular monitoring control.

Response and Reporting

5. Please report the company's total number and nature of incidents of corruption during the reporting year.

	Number of incident(s)	Unknown	Choose to not disclose
Confirmed during the current year, but related to previous years	0
0
Confirmed during the current year, and related to this year	0
0

Optional comment

N/A

6. Within the reporting period, what measures has the company taken to address suspected incidents of corruption independently or in response to a dispute or investigation by a government regulator?

Initial case assessment

Internal investigation

Review by risk / ethics committee

Review by board of directors

External audit / review

Other (please provide additional information)

Not applicable/no incidents in the reporting period

Optional comment

N/A

7. Does your company engage in Collective Action against corruption?

No, it is not an immediate business priority

No, but we plan to in the next two years

Yes (please explain)

VdA is engaged with several collective action initiatives against corruption.

8. Briefly describe practical actions the company has taken during the reporting period and/or plans to take to implement the anti-corruption principle, including any challenges faced and actions taken towards prevention and/or remediation.

VdA has implemented and created a client intake platform with the purpose of detect and monitoring any relevant red flags/events that may raise a corruption incident.