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Why sustainability matters in Africa’s development agenda
Africa is home to an unparalleled variety of flora and fauna and is also a global nature hotspot. Many of its ecosystems are under threat from deforestation, poaching, climate change, and urbanisation.
Sustainability from an African context is necessary in the face of our continent’s stark reality. When viewed through the eyes of communities on the continent, Environmental, Social and Governance or sustainability is a reality that organisations cannot ignore but an integral piece of building a more prosperous future for Africa.
Today, Africa has the youngest population in the world, with about 60 per cent of its population younger than 25 years old.
This statistic reflects the immense future prospects for Africa and why the continent cannot afford to turn a deaf ear to sustainability in the public and private sectors.
The adverse direct impact of climate change coupled with its adverse social dimensions are opportunities for organisations in the public and private sectors of the economy to innovate and rethink development and financial prosperity in a sustainable way.
For example, climate change mitigation is the third-most transformative trend overall for future jobs, as noted in the 2025 World Economic Forum’s Future of Jobs Report.
Leaders across the continent must understand why sustainability should form a core part of their strategy execution, recognise the urgency required and take advantage of the opportunities to deliver lasting impact that addresses the developmental gaps on the continent.
For example, as of 2025, about 600 million people in Africa lack access to electricity, representing more than 80 percent of the global electricity gap.
Electricity is essential for development as it underpins growth and improves living standards. Therefore, solving this gap in electricity sustainably is just one area with huge opportunities for the public and private sectors that will ensure the continent’s future prosperity is secure.
The multiplier effect on an economy from this area includes increased productivity and higher incomes, to name a few. Sustainability and development for Africa can be mutually inclusive. However, organisations must avoid paying lip service without acting to match their commitments.
Africa’s sustainable development agenda is moral and economic imperative because solving the development gaps will ultimately lead to a better future for the continent, with economic benefits accruing to organisations willing to take up the opportunities.
This approach of doing good and reaping pecuniary benefits makes sustainability an important piece in the development puzzle for the continent.
