NAIROBI, Kenya, September 2, 2026 — B Lab Africa has launched the seventh cohort of its Pan-African Resilient Sustainable Business (RSB) Programme, expanding a training initiative aimed at helping small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) integrate sustainability into core business operations as African companies face growing pressure from investors, lenders and export markets to demonstrate stronger environmental, social and governance (ESG) performance. Applications for the new cohort close on September 9, with businesses from across the continent eligible to participate.
The programme’s expansion comes at a time when sustainability considerations are becoming increasingly intertwined with business competitiveness across Africa. While multinational corporations have spent years building compliance, reporting and risk management systems, many African SMEs continue to face the same market expectations with significantly fewer resources. According to B Lab Africa, SMEs are navigating rising climate-related risks, increasing insurance and input costs, tighter financing requirements and a growing number of export regulations linked to environmental and supply chain standards.
These pressures are becoming particularly relevant for African businesses engaged in international trade. New sustainability-driven regulations in major markets, including due diligence requirements and carbon-related trade measures, are reshaping how companies access global value chains. For African exporters, the ability to demonstrate responsible sourcing, environmental management and governance practices is increasingly becoming a commercial necessity rather than a voluntary corporate commitment.
Since its launch in 2025, the RSB Programme has expanded from a single training cohort into a continent-wide initiative. A total of 211 participants representing 195 businesses across nine African countries have completed the programme, with 17 companies proceeding to pursue full B Corp certification, the internationally recognised framework that assesses social and environmental business performance. Africa currently has 112 certified B Corps, representing a 25% increase over the past year. More than 7,600 organisations across the continent also use B Lab’s impact measurement tools, according to the organisation.
The nine-week programme combines online learning with in-person sessions in Kenya and South Africa. Participants are trained across six areas that are increasingly relevant to corporate sustainability and governance strategies: impact measurement and management, workplace culture, sustainable supply chains, responsible branding and marketing, financing sustainable practices and impact-focused sales. Businesses also work through the B Impact Assessment framework, which forms the basis of B Corp certification and is widely used as a benchmark for responsible business performance.
For African economies, the growing emphasis on sustainability among SMEs has implications that extend beyond individual firms. SMEs account for the majority of businesses and employment across the continent and play a critical role in economic diversification, innovation and job creation. Their ability to adapt to changing market requirements will influence competitiveness in sectors ranging from agriculture and manufacturing to tourism and services.
According to Tatyana Kathurima, Senior Programme Coordinator at B Lab Africa, sustainability is increasingly being viewed through the lens of operational resilience and business performance rather than reporting obligations alone. She noted that companies are placing greater emphasis on understanding their impacts, improving transparency, strengthening supply chain management and embedding sustainability considerations into strategic decision-making.
That shift reflects broader changes taking place across financial markets. Investors and lenders are increasingly incorporating sustainability-related risks into capital allocation decisions, with governance quality, climate exposure and supply chain resilience becoming important indicators of long-term business performance. For African SMEs, stronger sustainability practices may therefore influence access to finance at a time when capital constraints remain a significant barrier to growth.
Lucy Muigai, Chief Executive Officer of B Lab Africa, said the organisation views responsible business practices as an avenue for strengthening growth and resilience rather than simply meeting compliance requirements. Her comments underscore a wider trend across Africa’s private sector, where sustainability is increasingly being treated as a governance and risk-management issue alongside more traditional business priorities.
Practical examples of this shift are beginning to emerge among participating companies. David Eliskia Mbaga, Sustainability Manager at Attitude Hotels in Tanzania and a graduate of the programme’s sixth cohort, said the business is reviewing food waste management practices as part of efforts to better understand both financial and environmental impacts. Such initiatives illustrate how sustainability measures are often linked to operational efficiency, resource management and cost reduction rather than environmental outcomes alone.
The programme’s growth also reflects the gradual maturation of Africa’s sustainability ecosystem. As governments advance climate policies, financial institutions strengthen ESG requirements and international markets raise expectations around transparency, the demand for sustainability expertise is increasing across sectors. However, capacity gaps remain significant, particularly among smaller enterprises that often lack dedicated sustainability teams or technical resources.
For Africa, the significance of initiatives such as the RSB Programme lies in their potential to bridge that capacity gap at a business level. As sustainability-related regulations, financing standards and market expectations continue to evolve, SMEs are likely to play a central role in determining how effectively African economies adapt to these changes. The ability of smaller firms to integrate sustainability into governance structures, operational decision-making and market strategies could increasingly influence investment flows, export competitiveness and long-term economic resilience across the continent.
