3rd Annual B Lab Africa Summit 2024 to be hosted in South Africa

PRETORIA, South Africa – Themed Resilience and Growth in Africa: Leading Sustainable Businesses, Driving Change, and International Opportunities, the summit is gearing up for its 3rd annual edition, its first in South Africa, addressing the continent’s critical challenges by bringing together industry, academia, and government stakeholders to discuss innovative solutions and strategies for building a sustainable and equitable future for Africa.

The 2-day summit, set to take place from 4-5 September, at Kievits Kroon Wine Estate, Pretoria, Gauteng, will welcome industry leaders, policymakers, academics, entrepreneurs, investors, and funders, as they converge in Gauteng, South Africa, to foster collaboration, share insights, and best practices, and inspire attendees to integrate sustainability into their business operations.

“It’s an honor to host our 3rd B Lab Africa Summit in South Africa, a member of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), where we will be convening decision-makers from industry, private sector, and government, from Africa and beyond, who through our partnership with IMPACT TRADE, will allow attendees to gain practical strategies to integrate sustainability in the organization, network and find partnership business opportunities, and hear from inspiring leaders who are driving positive change both regionally and internationally,” says Lucy Muigai, CEO of B Lab Africa.

Through strategic partnerships and initiatives, the summit, hosted by B Lab Africa in collaboration with IMPACT TRADE, aims to drive positive change, bolster innovation, and create a supportive ecosystem for sustainable business practices in Africa.

Through a series of keynote speeches, panel discussions, talks, interactive networking sessions, and workshops, leading industry voices will unpack the following themes and more:

Approaches to sustainability and best practices: Key discussions will include topics, such as good governance, business resilience, economic growth, the circular economy, climate change, and the Green Industrial Revolution.

Debt sustainability for Impact Financing in Africa: Some of the conversations under this theme will delve into the critical role the financial services industry plays in promoting sustainable development in Africa, by exploring topics such as private investment in sustainable projects, including green bonds, venture capital, and impact investing.

Data in Business as a Force for Public Good: Conversations will focus on the importance of digitization and access to data in Africa for business innovation, digital transformation, resource management, and good governance to bridge the data gap in the region. In addition, discussions will also examine the role of organizations in setting up a UN SDGs-based framework for sustainable and ethical business practices to drive investment across Africa, the power of businesses to address challenges such as inequality, poverty reduction, access to essential services, and restoration of the environment.

Entrepreneurship, Innovation, and Youth: Leading voices to unpack the intersection of entrepreneurship, innovation, and African youth employment, focusing on scalability, liability, and stewardship by all stakeholders.

Trade as a Force for Good: Discussions will focus on trade and sustainability, highlighting the importance of ethical supply chains, fair trade practices, and responsible sourcing initiatives. Speakers will also examine emerging trends in global trade dynamics, such as digitalization and e-commerce, and their implications for sustainable business practices.

Commenting on the importance of strategic partnerships being accelerated through attending the summit, Sebastian Rodriguez, Co-Founder of IMPACT TRADE says that having a platform that builds inter-continental relations is critical for business growth and development. “As a trusted relational infrastructure, we believe that the summit provides an opportunity to expand businesses’ international impact by connecting leaders from different continents, ultimately fostering relationships based on trust and social capital,” Rodriguez concluded. Pedro Tarak, Co-Founder of Sistema B and IMPACT TRADE, further expanded on the Africa-Latin-America working relations being fostered through this summit, describing it as an ample opportunity to nurture mutually beneficial partnerships between the two continents. Says Tarak: “We find the summit as a historic offer to approach our shared social and environmental needs and problems as opportunities of inspiration for good business partnerships for our countries and the world.”

Joining the B Lab Africa Summit as a collaborating partner, the BMW Foundation has always recognised the crucial role economic systems play in driving change. Ensuring fair and knowledge-based dialogue between key industry role players, including business, government, academia, and civil society; such as the ones expected at the summit, promises a prosperous future for citizens, as it provides solutions to drive development of the economy and society. Says Thandi Dyani, Regional Network Organizer for BMW Foundation: “We are proud to support the B Lab Africa Summit, a vital catalyst for sustainable transformation in Africa. By coming together with like-minded partners, we can create lasting impact and empower our continent’s future generations in an equitable way”.

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Author: Yolandé Du Toit from YDT PR on behalf of B Lab Africa.