Environmental and Social Policy

Table of Contents

Policy Statement

Invest in Africa is committed to integrating environmental and social risk management practices across all its operations and in its support of partner enterprises, in an ecologically sustainable and socially inclusive manner.

Invest in Africa has developed, will implement, and will maintain an Environmental and Social Management System (ESMS) applicable across all its offices and programmes, supporting operational effectiveness and regulatory compliance.

Purpose

This Environmental and Social Policy affirms Invest in Africa’s commitment to protecting the environment, combating climate change, preserving natural resources and biodiversity, while promoting inclusive and sustainable economic development across the African continent. It guides all our actions to ensure sustainable, responsible development in compliance with applicable regulations in each country of operation.

Principles and Values

Our environmental and social approach is grounded in the following principles:

      • Environmental responsibility: Integrating the environment into all strategic and operational decisions.

      • Prevention and precaution: Anticipating the environmental impacts of our activities and adopting preventive measures.

      • Continuous improvement: Implementing a proactive approach to improving our environmental performance.

      • Transparency and communication: Informing and raising awareness among our stakeholders in a clear and open manner.

      • Participation: Encouraging the involvement of all parties in the implementation of this policy.

      • Ethics and sustainability: Promoting economic growth that is respectful of people and nature.

    Concrete Commitments

    ENVIRONMENT

        • Reduce greenhouse gas emissions from our activities

        • Optimise the use of resources (energy, water, raw materials)

        • Reduce and recover waste generated

        • Prevent pollution (air, soil, water, noise)

        • Promote eco-design, the circular economy, and responsible procurement

        • Promote renewable energy and energy efficiency

        • Integrate environmental criteria in the selection of suppliers and subcontractors

        • Train and raise staff awareness on environmental responsibility

      SOCIAL

          • Promote local job creation and support social inclusion by encouraging diversity, equal opportunity, and equity within partner enterprises

          • Promote the health, safety, and well-being of workers across all economic activities supported by Invest in Africa

          • Respect the land and cultural rights of communities in areas of intervention

          • Support social initiatives aimed at improving the living conditions of local communities, particularly in the areas of education, health, and access to basic services

          • Publish this policy on our website, produce annual reports on our environmental and social performance, and maintain a feedback mechanism accessible to all stakeholders

        GOVERNANCE

            • Promote transparency, integrity, and ethical business practices among enterprises benefiting from our programmes

            • Encourage the adoption of good corporate governance practices, including regulatory compliance, risk management, and corporate social responsibility

            • Establish an accessible grievance management mechanism for all stakeholders

            • Support governance capacity-building among local enterprises to promote effective and responsible management

          Implementation Tools and Means

          To implement this policy, Invest in Africa deploys the following tools across all its offices and programmes:

              • An Environmental and Social Management System (ESMS)

              • Environmental and social performance indicators to measure progress

              • Regular internal and external audits to ensure compliance and effectiveness

              • An environmental and social action plan updated annually

              • Training and awareness programmes on environmental responsibility for all staff

              • Integration of environmental and social considerations into the Group’s strategic planning processes

            Organisational Responsibilities 

            BodyRole
            Group ManagementApproves the policy and ensures the allocation of resources required for its implementation.
            Advisory CouncilMonitors overall compliance with the E&S policy across the Group.
            Programme TeamsEnsure operational implementation across each office and programme.
            E&S OfficerOversees the day-to-day application of the policy and coordinates reporting.
            Partners & SuppliersSign and comply with the provisions of the Group’s E&S code of conduct.

            Monitoring, Review and Continuous Improvement

            This policy is subject to regular monitoring and revision every two (02) years to ensure its relevance, effectiveness, and compliance with regulatory, climate, technological, and social developments, as well as stakeholder expectations. Stakeholders will be involved in this review process.

            MANAGEMENT COMMITMENT

            Invest in Africa commits to making available the human, technical, and financial resources necessary for the effective implementation of this policy across all its offices, to ensuring its dissemination among all stakeholders, and to publishing its results annually.