Risk Insights ESG GPS Sustainable Newsletter
DEAR VALUED RISK INSIGHTSTM /ESG GPSTM SUBSCRIBER,
As we close out 2024, Risk Insights extends heartfelt gratitude to our valued stakeholders for their unwavering support, encouragement, and partnerships throughout the year.
This year has been one of remarkable milestones for both Africa and Risk Insights as an SME. With significant achievements, including our expansion into three new exchanges—Rwanda, Uganda, and Tanzania—we’ve strengthened our commitment to advancing sustainable investment and ESG integration across the continent. We are deeply appreciative of the trust and collaboration that have propelled our growth, both regionally and globally. These partnerships inspire and enable us to deliver impactful solutions while building a stronger foundation for a sustainable future in Africa. Together, we look forward to driving even greater strides in 2025. Thank you for being an integral part of our journey.
2024 has also been a transformative year for Africa, marked by pivotal developments across environmental, political, and social fronts that will shape governance in the years ahead.
The escalating climate crises have profoundly impacted the continent, with extreme droughts and floods affecting over 110 million people, exacerbating food insecurity, and triggering economic instability. On the political front, 20 of Africa’s 54 countries underwent elections, reflecting a dynamic shift in governance and socio-economic priorities.
These elections were unified by key themes:
• Strengthening democratic norms for transparency and accountability.
• Transitions from autocratic to democratic rule in some nations.
• Conflict and security challenges balancing democratic aspirations with stability.
• Economic and social reforms aimed at sustainable progress.
• Amplifying youth and women’s voices to enhance inclusivity.
• Ensuring legitimacy and electoral integrity for free and fair governments.
• Shifts in voter sentiment as liberation movements ceded ground to opposition and emerging parties.
As these changes unfold, they underscore both the challenges and the opportunities that lie ahead for Africa’s journey towards resilience and sustainability.
Amid these developments, Risk Insights has successfully expanded into three additional countries, launching partnerships with three more stock exchanges to drive ESG disclosure, mitigate climate risks, and build capacity among senior leadership for robust ESG strategies.
This progress comes against the backdrop of political and economic uncertainties, including the shifting global landscape and the U.S. Presidential elections. The outcome of this election is poised to influence policies on climate action, trade partnerships, and security collaboration—areas that directly impact Africa’s dual role as a key player in global affairs. These shifts underscore the critical need to align local and global strategies to address shared challenges such as climate change, economic equity, and sustainable development.
Encouragingly, ESG reporting has seen notable progress across a number of African stock exchanges. This reflects a growing commitment among listed entities to adopt strong disclosure practices, setting benchmarks for markets across the continent. However, no country in Africa has yet adopted the IFRS S1 and S2 regulations, signalling opportunities for further alignment and leadership in global sustainability standards.
At Risk Insights, we remain committed to connecting the ESG value chain by fostering partnerships that extend our footprint across Africa and beyond.
Our approach bridges public and private sectors, governments, regulators, and auditing firms to create an ecosystem of effective collaboration and strategy alignment. Key efforts include shaping ESG policies with regulators, partnering with auditing firms to provide assurance, and facilitating critical dialogues between private investors and public officials. These initiatives lay the groundwork for a coordinated approach to sustainability and resilience across sectors.
Over the past nine months, Risk Insights has broadened its international reach through strategic partnerships. Our alliance with CASI (Capacity Building Alliance of Sustainable Investment) in China bridges the African and Chinese ESG investment landscapes, while our collaboration with the Firoz Lalji Institute for Africa at the London School of Economics supports the development of future African leaders through Master’s and PhD students. Together with Prof. Tim Allen and the students at LSE, we aim to shape Africa’s resilience and sustainability journey with active engagements with leadership across Africa.
On the continent, we have partnered with the University of Johannesburg to develop an ESG curriculum for senior leadership and undergraduate students, and with INSEAD to bring ESG insights to C-suites and boards. Additionally, our work with the Rwandan, Botswana, and Mauritius stock exchanges pioneers ESG reporting in these markets, setting a new standard for sustainable investment practices across the region.
Risk Insights has made significant strides in 2024, and as we look ahead to 2025, our commitment to advancing sustainable development and ESG integration across Africa remains unwavering.
This year has demonstrated the power of collaboration and strategic partnerships in driving meaningful change. From bridging African and global ESG markets to pioneering reporting in emerging exchanges, we continue to set new benchmarks for sustainable investment practices.
In 2025, we are excited to expand into North Africa and further refine our proprietary tools—built by Africans, for Africa. These innovations will be instrumental in embedding ESG principles into organizational risk culture and strategy, paving the way for a more sustainable future for all.
We invite you to stay connected as we embark on this next chapter of progress. Together, let’s continue building a resilient and sustainable Africa.
HAPPY HOLIDAYS AND LET 2025 BE A PROSPEROUS, SAFE, AND STABLE YEAR FOR THE GLOBE!