Standard Bank announced the launch of its innovative Sustainability Academy, a comprehensive learning platform designed to bridge the sustainability knowledge gap and empower business clients across the continent with practical sustainability and Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) solutions.

The academy addresses a pressing challenge in today's business landscape: while many companies recognise the importance of sustainability, there remains a significant knowledge gap in implementing practical, actionable sustainability strategies. With ESG criteria increasingly factoring into investment and business decisions, business leaders need concrete guidance on how to transition to sustainable practices while maintaining economic growth. "As one of Africa's largest financial institutions, we are committed to supporting sustainable economic growth by creating a net positive impact through our social, economic, and environmental initiatives," said Dr Manessah Alagbaoso, Executive Head, Business Ecosystems & Sustainability for Business and Commercial Banking at Standard Bank. "The Sustainability Academy represents our commitment to taking businesses across Africa (our clients and non-clients) along on this crucial journey towards a sustainable future."

The academy offers businesses practical insights and training across key sustainability areas, including:

• Sustainability and ESG principles and how they impact business performance
• Explore the different types of renewable energy options across industries
• Understand the cost and production benefits of Climate-smart agriculture
• Implement water and wastewater management solutions
• Understand and leverage carbon markets

Standard Bank has collaborated with Microsoft and Philanthrosoft to deliver the academy through the Community Training platform, a cloud-based learning solution powered by Azure. This collaborative relationship ensures robust security, scalability, and user-friendly access for businesses across multiple African markets.

The platform, which can be accessed on Standard Bank’s website, features:

• Single sign-on authentication for secure access
• Customised Standard Bank sustainability content
• Sector-specific training modules
• Integrated feedback and assessment tools
• Dedicated support through relationship managers

"We are excited to work with Standard Bank on this transformative initiative," said Terisha Maharaj, Strategic Account Director at Microsoft. "Our training platform is designed to democratise access to learning, and this collaboration perfectly exemplifies how technology can drive meaningful change across Africa. By providing Standard Bank's clients with accessible, scalable sustainability education, we're helping to build a more sustainable future for the continent while empowering businesses to thrive in the evolving global economy."

The Sustainability Academy successfully completed a pilot programme across Eswatini, Ghana, Nigeria, Lesotho, and South Africa, with 93 Business and Commercial Banking clients. This strong uptake highlights the growing demand for sustainability education in the market. Feedback from clients across diverse sectors has been instrumental in refining the Academy’s offerings, reinforcing its relevance and impact.

The Sustainability Academy officially launches across the various countries in which Business and Commercial Banking operates but is open to businesses across Africa and the rest of the world. The content, carefully refined and co-created with our clients during the successful pilot phase, reflects real market needs and ensures relevance across diverse sectors. This milestone marks a significant step in empowering businesses with practical sustainability knowledge and tools to drive meaningful impact.

The academy represents Standard Bank's commitment to expanding beyond traditional banking services by offering value-added solutions that address clients' evolving needs. This free learning service demonstrates the bank's dedication to supporting business success while contributing to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

"This initiative will not only improve the businesses’ understanding of sustainability but also help reduce the knowledge gap in our markets around this critical concept," added Alagbaoso. "We are positioning African SMMEs to make informed decisions that benefit their businesses, communities, and the environment".

Following the launch of the Sustainability Academy, Standard Bank intends to establish strategic partnerships with educational institutions, multilateral agencies, businesses and other stakeholders to further expand the Academy’s value and reach. These collaborations will enhance the Academy’s impact, support broader sustainability goals, and reinforce our commitment to SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals. Through these efforts, we aim to deepen engagement and drive meaningful change across Africa.