Simplifying Sustainability: A Handbook for African SME Leaders
The Handbook is a practical, insight-driven resource designed specifically for founders, owners, directors, executives, and managers of African independent, entrepreneur-led, or family-owned businesses navigating Sustainability and long-term value creation.
This practical guide breaks down complex environmental, social, and governance (ESG) frameworks into clear, actionable steps tailored to the realities of African markets. It enables SME leaders to move beyond theory, understand their current sustainability position, and build a practical action plan aligned with their business goals and position their businesses for long-term growth in an increasingly demanding regulatory and stakeholder environment.
Early bird special €15
Until December 31st, 2025
Regular price €35
from January 1st, 2026
Volume 2 coming out in January 2026
About the Authors
Rosalind Kainyah MBE
Rosalind Kainyah MBE is a trusted advisor to business leaders on Sustainability and ESG. With more than 30 years of experience spanning international law, senior executive leadership, and board roles, she is recognised internationally for her practical, business-focused approach to helping companies operate responsibly, competitively, and with long-term value in mind.
Rosalind has worked with companies and on projects across Africa, the Middle East, Europe, North and South America, and Asia. Her advisory work spans multinational corporations, SMEs, investors, development finance institutions, and governments. She has advised organisations across sectors including energy, extractives, manufacturing, consumer goods, agriculture, financial services, and healthcare.
Rosalind's work is characterised by a deep understanding of emerging markets and a strong commitment to pragmatic sustainability—focusing leadership attention and resources on the ESG issues that matter most to the business and to the societies and environments on which it depends. She has a particular passion for supporting African small and medium-sized enterprises, recognising their central role in job creation and long-term economic development.
Marguerite Ewura-esi Simpson
Marguerite Ewura-esi Simpson has spent over seven years transforming ESG challenges into competitive advantages for Fortune 500 companies across energy, consumer goods, technology, and agriculture, from offshore oil operations in Ghana to executive boardrooms in New York. Her technical mastery of sustainability frameworks, regulations, and risk assessment, combined with an MSc in Sustainability Management from Columbia University, positions her as a trusted advisor bridging regulatory compliance with business value creation. Her goal is to transform sustainability from a compliance exercise into a catalyst for organizational resilience and competitive advantage.
Elizabeth-Mary Arthur
Elizabeth-Mary Arthur has spent over five years supporting businesses across Africa to adopt practical, context-driven ESG approaches. She works with companies to align responsible impact with long-term value, using expertise in strategic leadership, systems thinking, and organisational change. Holding an MSc in Strategic Leadership towards Sustainability and a BSc in Business Administration, she aims to empower African businesses to turn ESG into a driver of strategic growth and resilience.
Why this Handbook?
Most African enterprises operate under intense pressure compared with business in more developed markets: rising costs, limited access to finance, infrastructure constraints, regulatory uncertainties and unpredictable markets. Nevertheless, through determination and ingenuity that match the best in the world, they keep moving - creating jobs, supporting families, and strengthening communities and nations.
Despite this, a lingering perception remains that African businesses have little to contribute to global Sustainability conversations and must adopt frameworks created far from their realities. But African business leaders must craft Sustainability strategies grounded in their own experience, strengths, and context.
Sustainability and Environmental management, Social performance and corporate Governance (ESG) practices need not be complex or costly. In truth, when clearly and relevantly framed, ESG factors can contribute to profitability, stability and long-term value.
That is why Rosalind, Maguerite and Elizabeth felt the need for this Handbook.
Who is this Handbook for?
If you lead an SME in Africa, this resource is for you and your team.
The Handbook is created for independent, entrepreneur-led, or family-owned businesses with up to approximately 200 employees, although many have fewer than 50.
It speaks your language, honours your realities, and is built on the conviction that you can and must shape your own Sustainability agenda — confidently, creatively, and in a way that fits your business, your markets and your aspirations.
It also recognises that shaping your agenda does not happen in isolation. A host of external drivers affect how a business survives, grows and thrives. This Handbook helps you understand these factors and respond to them appropriately.
What will you learn?
The Handbook will help you understand
what Sustainability really means for your business and context;
identify the ESG impacts, risks and opportunities that significantly affect your business and those your business has on people or the environment - including areas where you can contribute positively; and
build a Sustainability strategy that fits into your business strategy and contributes to your business goals
What is the Structure of the Handbook
The Handbook will be released in two volumes. The first volume, Modules One to Four, published in December 2025, sets the scene. It explores the landscape of Sustainability and ESG and clarifies why they matter for African SMEs today - answering a question many SME leaders ask: Can ESG practices really contribute to financial performance and business success?
Having established the “what” and “why” of Sustainability, the second volume of the Handbook, Modules Six to Nine, to be published in January 2026, focuses on the “how.” It guides you through developing and implementing a Sustainability Strategy tailored to your business, thereby creating value for or protecting its value.
The Handbook is simple, but not simplistic, providing practical guidance you can use immediately without compromising on depth, rigour, and ambition.
The Case Study, Real Life Examples and Exercises
We created a fictional company, Mamili Foods Ltd, to bring Sustainability and ESG to life in a way that is practical, relatable, and grounded in African business realities.
In addition to the Mamili Foods story, the authors use real-life examples to illustrate concepts, best practices, common challenges, and opportunities. They focus on African businesses, enterprises whose realities, constraints, and innovations mirror yours. However, where helpful, they draw on carefully selected examples from outside the continent that offer lessons relatable, transferable, and meaningful to you as an African SME leader.
To support you in applying the concepts to your own company, each Module includes exercises that you can work through with your team.
How long will it take to go through the Handbook?
This Handbook is more of a middle-distance relay race than a 100-metre sprint. You cannot and should not work through it on your own. The Handbook is a team effort. As the leader, you will need to involve others in your business as you reflect, discuss, and decide together.
Each Module is a building block. By the end of the Handbook, with the help of the Mamili Foods story and the exercises, you will have a Sustainability strategy in place that you can embed in your business operations.
Developing a Sustainability Strategy and embedding it effectively within a business can take between six months and a year. You will find a suggested timetable at the end of Module One but adjust it to your context and pace.
What else comes with this Handbook?
The Handbook will be regularly updated with new insights, tools, and resources designed to deepen your learning, strengthen the development and implementation of your strategy, and provide expert support to you and your team. These include interviews with Sustainability professionals and with African SME owners and leaders who share practical experiences and lessons learned.
For 12 months from the purchase date, you will have access to updated versions.
We will let you know as soon as there are updates.
After you have completed the Handbook, you will have the opportunity to join a
60-minute group consultation session of approximately 20 to 30 representatives from different companies at a time. This session is an opportunity to ask questions, seek clarification or explore how best to apply the concepts within your business.
Frequently Asked Questions
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You can buy the Handbook directly through our website using Credit or Debit Cards. Simply click the Access Now button on the The Sustainability Handbook page, enter details, complete checkout, and you’ll receive a secure download link by email.
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At launch, the Sustainability Handbook will be available as a digital download (PDF).
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Your download link will be delivered automatically after successful payment. You’ll also receive a confirmation email with your receipt and a copy of the download link.
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Each purchase is for individual use only. Please do not distribute or resell the file. If you’d like to arrange bulk or institutional access, contact us at info@kijaninexus.com for licensing options.
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Yes. Kijani Nexus Publishing plans to release additional titles and collections in the near future. You can subscribe to our newsletter or follow us on LinkedIn for updates.
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Because the Handbook is a digital product, all sales are final. However, if you experience any issues with your download or payment, please contact us and we’ll ensure it’s resolved promptly.
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If you have any questions about your purchase, the Handbook, or future publications, please email info@kijaninexus.com
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If you choose to renew your access to Handbook upgrades and additional benefits after the first 12-month period, we will offer you a 60% discount on the Handbook price at the time of renewal.