Last updated: August 2025

Our Commitment

As a pan-African research and advisory institute, iARAi is committed to advancing sustainability through knowledge, policy, innovation and collaboration. Our work is rooted in the belief that Africa’s future must be shaped by data-informed solutions that are not only visionary but environmentally and socially responsible.

Though we are not a carbon-intensive organisation, we recognise that research institutes carry a vital responsibility in promoting low-carbon practices, influencing sustainable policy and modelling climate-conscious leadership.

Our Principles

We align our sustainability approach with the following principles:

• Africa-first Sustainability
  Our priorities are shaped by African ecological realities, regional policy frameworks such as the African Union’s Agenda 2063 and community-informed needs.
• Research with Impact
  We embed environmental consciousness into our research cycle from design to dissemination, minimising travel emissions, leveraging digital tools and promoting themes that support SDG 13 (Climate Action) and SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption).
• Partnerships with Purpose
  We seek to collaborate with institutions that demonstrate a commitment to environmental and social sustainability, encouraging mutual growth and accountability.
• Operational Integrity
  As iARAi grows, we intend to implement energy-efficient systems, sustainable procurement practices and transparent reporting on our environmental footprint.

 

Where We Are Now

iARAi is committed to sustainability from the outset of its institutional journey. As a growing research and advisory institute, we are actively laying the groundwork for robust systems that will support long-term environmental stewardship across our workstreams.

While we are not currently publishing detailed carbon metrics, we are investing in the frameworks, partnerships and capacity that will enable transparent reporting aligned with global and regional standards. This includes setting the foundations for our Sustainability and Net Zero Policy, which will reflect both our operational realities and our commitment to the African sustainability agenda.

In the interim, we continue to integrate low-carbon thinking across our research cycle, digital infrastructure and institutional partnerships. We affirm our intent to lead by example within our scope and to contribute meaningfully to Africa’s climate-resilient development.

 

Looking Ahead

As we continue to scale our impact, we are committed to:

• Developing a context-specific Net Zero and Sustainability Policy
• Integrating sustainability into research governance, staff training and digital operations
• Publishing a baseline impact review when feasible
• Remaining transparent with our stakeholders about our progress

 

Contact

For questions, suggestions or collaboration on sustainability, please contact:
info@theiarai.org