Africa Sustainability Matters

09/07/2025

We are always proud when our trainees take bold, meaningful steps after going through our training.

Madikizela Otieno is one such example.

As a seasoned legal professional, Madi spent years practicing traditional law. But over time, she began to sense a shift. Today’s legal challenges — especially around business, risk, and compliance — demand a broader, forward-looking lens. A lens that integrates Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles.

That’s what led her to join our Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) Certification Training.

Through the program, she deepened her understanding of the GRI framework, discovered the strategic value of sustainability, and learned how to align her legal expertise with ESG expectations.

And now? She’s putting it into practice in powerful, real-world ways.

✅ Madi has successfully pivoted to ESG-focused legal advisory, helping companies embed sustainability into their governance and operations.

🌍 Most notably, she recently supported a project developer in navigating carbon market policy across 8 African countries.

This is the future of law — strategic, sustainability-driven, and impact-oriented.

But it’s not just for lawyers.

Whether you are in finance, communications, compliance, development, or strategy, the GRI Certification Training Program empowers you to apply an ESG lens to your work — and unlock new opportunities, just as Madi has done.

📅 Our next cohort kicks off on August 11th.

Ready to pivot?

👉Register here: https://forms.office.com/r/yT73XJrYm1

04/06/2025

Kenya is on the verge of a bold climate move — but can it deliver?

The proposed Carbon Tax has stirred conversations across industries, policy circles, and households. It signals ambition. But ambition needs structure. Implementation is where this tax will either transform Kenya’s climate future — or fall flat.

In our latest article, we dive into how Kenya plans to implement the carbon tax, from digital fuel tracking systems and emissions registries to a Green Transition Fund.

🔗 Read the full piece here: https://africasustainabilitymatters.com/kenyas-carbon-tax-a-blueprint-for-implementation/

Let’s unpack the real story behind the policy. We would love to hear your thoughts.

04/06/2025

As conversations around sustainability deepen, double materiality is becoming a critical lens—one that challenges businesses to assess both their financial exposure to ESG issues and their wider impact on society and the environment.

While the term may sound technical or regulatory, especially for those outside Europe, its relevance for Africa is undeniable.

In our latest piece, we explore the unique challenges African businesses face when conducting a Double Materiality Assessment—and why tackling them head-on could position you for long-term resilience and relevance.

Read the article: https://africasustainabilitymatters.com/double-materiality-for-africas-sustainability-agenda/

03/06/2025

Africa is stepping up as a leader in global carbon markets.

With the new Africa Carbon Support Facility (ACSF) by the African Development Bank Group, the continent is unlocking climate finance, de-risking investments, and ensuring local communities benefit.

Read more: https://africasustainabilitymatters.com/africa-unveils-game-changing-strategy-to-lead-in-global-carbon-markets/

Africa is taking a bold step to establish itself as a global leader in climate finance with the unveiling of the Africa Carbon Support Facility (ACSF), a strategic platform aimed at unlocking billions in climate investments by scaling and de-risking carbon markets across the continent. Launched duri...

30/05/2025

What happens when storytelling meets sustainability?

You get visibility that empowers.

We are excited to announce that Ambi Light Up has partnered with Africa Sustainability Matters (ASM) in a shared mission:

We are amplifying homegrown innovations that are transforming African communities—often in silence, and often unseen.

This partnership isn’t just about sharing stories.

It’s about reimagining how rural innovation is perceived, supported, and celebrated.

Read the full announcement here: https://africasustainabilitymatters.com/africa-sustainability-matters-and-ambi-light-up-unite-to-spotlight-rural-innovation-and-inclusive-sustainability-in-africa/

29/05/2025

Africa is embracing next-generation agricultural solutions that boost yields, restore the environment, and empower farmers.

Curious how innovation is reshaping the continent’s food systems? Discover how tech, tradition, and sustainability are coming together to transform agriculture in Africa.

🔗 Read the full article on Africa Sustainability Matters: https://africasustainabilitymatters.com/next-generation-agricultural-solutions/

28/05/2025

Think you understand the policy and regulatory environment around ESG in Africa?

Let’s put that knowledge to the test. From Uganda’s upcoming sustainability reporting rules to Zimbabwe's reporting framework of choice and the first country to carbon tax — ESG frameworks across the continent are evolving fast.

Here are a few questions to get you thinking:

If these got you curious (or stumped), don’t miss tomorrow's webinar by Impact Africa Consulting Limited and Njogu & Associates Advocates

𝐄𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐝𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐄𝐒𝐆 𝐢𝐧 𝐈𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐭𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐃𝐍𝐀: 𝐋𝐞𝐠𝐚𝐥 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐜 𝐓𝐨𝐨𝐥𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐎𝐫𝐠𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐳𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬

They will break down the legal and strategic shifts shaping ESG across Africa — and how your institution can stay ahead.

🔗 Register now: 0294f7b5-2236-4f04-b9df-faeaa24b7918@6d5efae5-2fab-4936-ba2f-4cd9bcc758d8" rel="ugc" target="_blank">https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/0294f7b5-2236-4f04-b9df-faeaa24b7918@6d5efae5-2fab-4936-ba2f-4cd9bcc758d8

26/05/2025

Who will steer the continent’s top development bank into the future?

This week, five remarkable leaders from across the continent are vying for the presidency of the African Development Bank Group (AfDB)—a role that will shape how Africa finances its future, builds resilience, and asserts economic sovereignty.

From bold strategies to unlock private capital, to deep reforms aimed at empowering local trade and innovation, each candidate brings a powerful vision for what Africa can become.

Who are they?

What do they stand for?

And why does it matter for Africa's sustainability and development?

👉 We break it all down in our latest article: https://africasustainabilitymatters.com/who-will-lead-the-african-development-bank-into-the-future/

As the African Development Bank (AfDB) prepares to elect its next president this Thursday during its annual meetings in Abidjan, five candidates from across the continent are making their case to lead one of Africa’s most influential financial institutions. With global aid budgets shrinking and bo...

26/05/2025

Ethiopia is aiming to be home to Africa’s tallest skyscraper — and it’s not just about height.

The soon-to-rise Ethiopian Electric Power (EEP) Headquarters will set a new benchmark for eco-conscious design, resilient infrastructure, and clean energy integration on the continent.

At 327.5 meters, this sustainable giant will transform Addis Ababa’s skyline and send a clear message: Africa’s growth can be bold and green.

Learn more: https://africasustainabilitymatters.com/ethiopia-aims-high-and-green-with-africas-tallest-skyscraper/

In a striking move that blends ambition with environmental responsibility, Ethiopia is moving forward with the construction of what will be Sub-Saharan Africa’s tallest skyscraper. The new headquarters for Ethiopian Electric Power (EEP) is set to rise 327.5 meters above Addis Ababa’s skyline, su...

23/05/2025

Spotlight on Edgar Monteiro: Advancing Sustainable Infrastructure in Africa

From Africa’s largest project finance deal in Mozambique’s Coral FLNG S.A to pioneering wind energy in Cape Verde, Edgar Monteiro has been at the legal heart of transformative infrastructure projects for over 15 years.

Currently advising on Rare earths, EV battery supply chains, and infrastructure transactions across Lusophone Africa, Monteiro’s work reflects the scale and complexity of sustainable development on the continent today.

We explore the key projects, legal milestones, and regional trends shaping his impactful career and what they mean for Africa’s infrastructure future.

Read the full feature here: https://africasustainabilitymatters.com/spotlight-on-edgar-monteiro-a-legal-architect-of-africas-sustainable-future/

Edgar Monteiro has spent over 15 years shaping the project finance landscape across Africa, with a strong emphasis on large-scale infrastructure and energy transactions. His legal expertise has contributed to several landmark deals on the continent, particularly within Lusophone Africa. Among the mo...

22/05/2025

As the world prepares for COP30 Belem, Brazil - Extreme Hangout, Brazil is already walking the talk.

Through the newly launched Climate Dialogues — a collaborative initiative by Embrapa, Brazil’s agricultural research powerhouse, and the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) — the country is bringing agriculture to the centre of the climate conversation.

At the launch held in Brasília, leaders emphasized what many of us in Africa have long known: farmers are not just vulnerable to climate change — they are also key to solving it.

With regional dialogues planned across Brazil’s diverse ecosystems and an ambitious presence at COP30 in Belém do Pará, Brazil is showcasing how science, innovation, and farmer-led action can drive real climate solutions.

In our latest piece on Africa Sustainability Matters, we ask: What can Africa learn from Brazil’s model? And more importantly: How can we adapt it to our own contexts

🔗 https://africasustainabilitymatters.com/what-africa-can-learn-from-brazils-climate-dialogues-ahead-of-cop30/

As the world prepares for the COP30 climate summit in Belém do Pará this November, Brazil has set the tone with a bold message: agriculture must be recognized as a climate solution, not just a victim or contributor to the crisis. This message came through clearly at the launch of the Climate Dialo...

22/05/2025

This week, Africa Sustainability Matters (ASM) is proud to spotlight Planterra Africa—a bold and visionary initiative set to reshape agricultural finance for Africa’s small and medium-sized enterprises (agri-SMEs).
Led by sustainability leader, Dr. Edward Mungai, currently in residence at The Rockefeller Foundation’s Bellagio Center, Planterra Africa is in its formative phase. Together with his team at Africa Consulting Limited , he is designing a blueprint for climate-smart financial solutions that will empower agri-SMEs—key drivers of Africa’s food systems and rural economies.
With an eye on closing the agri-SME financing gap across the continent, Planterra Africa is laying the groundwork for a new era of inclusive, resilient, and sustainable agricultural development.
We are excited to follow this journey—from an idea being shaped on the shores of Lake Como, to a fully realized powerhouse transforming agri-finance in Africa.
🔗 Follow the journey and watch this space:
👉 @ https://www.facebook.com/Planterraafrica/