ACA is committed to creating lasting positive change across Africa. Through our investments, we focus on five impact pillars with initiatives designed to deliver measurable social, economic, and environmental benefits. Our investments contribute to inclusive growth and align with global sustainability priorities, including the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Our impact pillars are as follows:
We contribute to the creation of quality jobs and improved livelihoods across our portfolio by embedding responsible employment practices into business operations. We work closely with portfolio companies to go beyond minimum regulatory requirements, promoting equal opportunity, safe and healthy working conditions, fair compensation and benefits, strong labour standards, and worker well-being. This includes the adoption and implementation of robust international health and safety frameworks, whistleblowing mechanisms, and sound corporate governance policies.
ACA also supports workforce development through training and skills development, professional growth opportunities, mentoring, employee engagement, and diversity and inclusion initiatives. These efforts strengthen productivity, promote inclusive employment, and support poverty reduction and long-term economic resilience.
In addition, our portfolio companies deliver sustainable social impact through targeted corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives that address key socio-economic challenges such as education, healthcare, access to clean water, youth unemployment, SME development, and infrastructure. These initiatives foster inclusive community development and create lasting value for the communities in which they operate.
This impact pillar aligns with SDG 1, SDG 3, SDG 5, SDG 8
Our Quality Job Impact Pillar Objectives are to:
- Enhance access to quality jobs for individuals
- Promote equal opportunity and inclusive workplaces
- Ensure all employees earn a decent living wage and receive employee benefits
- Improve occupational health and safety standards
- Increase opportunities for employee upskilling.
We recognize the economic and social value of gender-inclusive businesses and are committed to advancing gender equality and women’s economic empowerment across our investments. ACA’s portfolio companies are equal opportunity employers, and we actively support female entrepreneurship, promote women’s leadership, and encourage the development of products and services that address the needs of women and girls.
Our focus is on creating meaningful impact by increasing female representation across our portfolio, strengthening governance and leadership opportunities for women, and embedding women’s rights into the culture of the companies we invest in positioning gender equality as a key driver of long-term value creation.
This impact pillar aligns with SDG 5
Our Gender Equality Impact Pillar Objectives are to:
- Invest in female-owned businesses
- Increase the percentage of women in investees workforce and senior leadership
- Increase women-focused products/services at investees.
We are committed to strengthening inclusive financial systems by extending credit to companies that provide access to useful and affordable financial services. Our investee companies offer a wide range of financial products, including insurance, pensions, payment solutions, and credit, while enhancing opportunities for individuals and businesses including the underserved to access financial services.
Access to financial services contributes to poverty reduction, job creation, gender equality, and improved access to education and healthcare. We support our portfolio companies in delivering innovative financial solutions that enhance economic participation, build financial resilience, and promote inclusive growth across communities.
This impact pillar aligns with SDG 8, SDG 10
Our Financial Inclusion Impact Pillar Objectives are to:
- Increase number of inclusive financial services channels
- Enhance financial literacy
- Design financial products and services targeting underserved persons, leveraging technology where feasible
ACA is committed to bridging the digital divide by investing in resilient, inclusive, and sustainable digital infrastructure that expands connectivity promote digital inclusion and enables economic participation.
Through our investments, we support the development of digital ecosystems that enhance access to information, services, markets, and opportunities particularly in underserved and low-connectivity regions.
This impact pillar aligns with SDG 9 and SDG 10
Our Quality Job Impact Pillar Objectives are to:
- Facilitate affordable and reliable connectivity
- Accelerate economic growth through the provision of digital infrastructure
- Adopt technically and commercially feasible, resource-efficient solutions for digital infrastructure investments
ACA is committed to supporting a climate-resilient economy by integrating climate considerations into our investment decisions and portfolio management. We work with our portfolio companies to adopt cleaner energy solutions, implement energy-efficient practices, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. We also promote resource efficiency initiatives including recycling, water management, and energy optimization that lower operating costs, minimize environmental impact, and strengthen long-term sustainability.
Climate risk and resilience considerations are incorporated into our investment approach to ensure that our portfolio aligns with sustainable and future-ready business practices.
This impact pillar aligns with SDG 7, SDG 11 and SDG 13.
Our Climate Change Impact Pillar Objectives are to:
- Drive resource efficiency initiatives
- Investment in and adoption of cleaner sources of energy
- Reduce potential contributions to carbon emissions
- Incorporate climate risk/resilience consideration
We align our investments with key UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs):
ESG Spotlight:
Cornerstone Tower, Nigeria’s first EDGE Certified Commercial Building
ACA invested in the construction of Cornerstone Tower, a 12-floor office building in Lagos, Nigeria. The tower is the first commercial building in Nigeria to achieve EDGE (Excellence in Design for Greater Efficiencies) certification. EDGE was launched by the International Financial Corporation as a green-building certification programme to help developers in emerging markets reduce their buildings’ energy and water consumption as well as lower greenhouse-gas emissions. Resource-efficient buildings are an important intervention tool in …..
Food Concepts- Quality jobs
Food Concepts continues to demonstrate strong leadership in job creation and workforce development within Nigeria’s food services sector. In 2024, the company supported 5,968 full-time jobs, with 58% women and 91% youth, and created an additional 374 jobs across its operating regions expanding economic participation and strengthening local talent pipelines.
The company prioritises local hiring and provides structured training programmes that build technical, customer service, and leadership capabilities. Guided by its “People Capability Always” philosophy, Food Concepts offers clear career ……..
ACA’s Approach to Health and Safety
ACA promotes world-class health and safety practices among its employees and across its investments. We have an Environmental, Health and Safety (EHS) policy that enables us to proactively manage health and safety risks while promoting safe and healthy working conditions.
Through ESG monitoring and risk assessments, ACA identifies and prioritizes health and safety risks across its portfolio, supporting investee companies in implementing robust interventions that protect employees, ensure business continuity, and benefit local communities.
Gender equality
ACA recognises the strong economic and social value of gender-inclusive businesses. Across our portfolio, women play meaningful roles at all levels from entry-level positions to senior management and board roles across diverse sectors, functions, and supply chains.
ACA’s portfolio companies are equal opportunity employers and have made measurable progress in advancing gender inclusion. In 2024, women represented 50.1% of total employees across the portfolio, up from 38% in 2020, and accounted for 26% of management…..